National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-29

Tho Nationalists and their Cause.
II Is hoped that Ireland may secure home
rule at the hands Of the newly elected par.
lament, but it is feared that, after a brief
and stormy period, there will be a dissolu-
tion and an appeal to the country In cam
raign the chief aud almost only issue Of
which will he the Irish question.
Salisbury could not IL he would, aud
would not II he could, carry any home rule
measure through the commons.
II is scarcely a supposable case tina Mr.
Parncll has ever expected TO reach success
through coalition Of his forces with the
tories. lie knows the temper Of the landed
aristocracy too well to have hoped for direct
aid In that quarter When, on the eve Of
the elections, he threw the Irish vote In
England on the tory side, his sole purpose
undoubtedly was to prevent the liberals
from getting n clear majority over all. lie
worked from beginning to end Of the can
vass for the balance of power; worked with
such consummate sagacity rs has rarely
been displayed by any leader, and his sue
GEES has commanded universal admiration.
Even his enemies arc compelled to concede
his demonstrated greatness. English nows-
papers printed in the United States, which
were accustomed to sneer at Parncll not
many years ago, have changed their tone
as the prosecuted prisoner in Kilmainham
Jail has risen, step by step, to the magniil-
cent height which Parnell has attained.
1t is probable that Mr.. Gladstone would,
If lie could, give home rule to Ireland as
the last Of his great reforms. TIeis near
the end Of q remarkable career-a career
that will occupy good many pages In his
tory. One Of the greatest acts OF this or
any other age was the extension OF suf-
frage, which Mr.. Gladstone carried through
the last parliament. Home rule for Ire
land would be In harmony with the prinei-
pic on which that reform was based. II
Mr.. Gladstone could add this capstone TO
the monument he has built for himself,
there is little doubt that he would do 1t.
But Salisbury is far more likely TO dissolve
parliament than to turn over the govern
ment TO Gladstone and the liberals. And
even II Mr.. Gladstone should be called to
form ministry, there is ground for the fear
that very large faction Of his party would
There have been no direct ctnegotiations of
late between Mr.. Gladstone and Mr.. Par
nell, hut there has undoubtedly been full
exchange Of views between friends of each
who were authorized to represent them to
certain extent. Mr., Gladstone, having
sounded public opinion, became satisfied
that genuine home rule could not be car
red, and, therefore, suggested such modi-
Gcation as Mr.. Parnell was bound to reject.
The condition suggested was that the Brit
ish parliament should have the veto on all
the "leg!slationn Of the Irish parliament.
This Is, of course, q manifest absurdty.
Such home rule as that would be miscr-
able mockery and shallow sham. The
Irish parliament would be but moot par
lament, big boys debating society. To
suppose that Mr.. Parnell and his follow RS
could give respectful consideration 20 q
proposition Of that kind would be to
write them down us fools and traitors.
When ireland gets u parliament It will be
one that can settle domestic questions
without interference from any quarter. and
the movement that has made such mag
niticent progress under Mr.. Parnell's SUI
perb leadership will not halt until that con-
summationis is achieved.
Judging by the tone Of the English pa
pers and the London press kilograms, there
has been something Of reaction on the
NJ, a"':tion within the last ten days.
fle Rome rulers appear to be less confident
of an early victory, and their enemies are
more brutally insolent. The Christmas
message of the London Times-martial law
for Ireland and expulsion of the nationalists
from parliament-was almost diabolical in
its brutal heGrtlessness. But who will say
that the Times, in that utterance, did not
reflect the sentiments Of the tories and the
whig contingent Of the liberal party? We
greatly fear thGt there are more voters In
England who are with the Times than would
be found supporting any measure of home
rule that the nationalists would accept.
This view may be pessimistc II so, we
shall be more than glad to exchange IL for
more hopeful one when the facts shall war
rant the change.
Still, when we compare the present status
Of the Irish question with what it was but a
little while ago, when we see what progress
has heen made in two or three years, when
we note the altered tone of English states.
men on this question, we feel that doubling
were indeed dastardly. Not many years
perhaps not many months-of such prog
ress will bring the final victory.