The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-09
ma. GLADsr"NE's AOv0C SOY or
IKlsH INDEPERD


in the British House of Commons
yesterday, by Mr.. Gladstone, OF
the long-predicted bill providing
for the legislative independence
of Ireland. It was q sacred moment
for the English no less than for the
Irish people, when the Prime Minis
ter, the actual ruler Of the greatest
empire on earth, standing in his place
in the House of Commons, confessed
before the assembled representatives
of that empire that eighty-three years
of coercion in Ireland had been fruit
full only of turmoil and confusion,
agitation, revolution, bloodshed and
bankruptcy, and that to win and hold
the loyalty of Ireland and Irishmen
theirlove and affection must be enlisted
through self-government. Every pro-
test against the act Of union and the
usurpations under it, made, many Of
them, upon the e'gallows and by suffer
ing patriots in the distant prisons of
New Zealand, was thus indorsed and
the patriotic sacrifices OF a bravely
persistent people completely justified.
No other living Engl shman in public
life, save Gladstone, could have
made such an admission. No
other one has the moral strength
to confess the wrongs of four genera
tions and press them upon the atten-
ton of his countrymen as the impell-
ing reason for justice. In the great
speech, Of which we give lengthy re-
port elsewhere, the illustrious and
venerable statesman states all his
reasons for this measure-conspicu
Gus among them, most conspicu-
GUS after the recital of the re-
suits of coercion, being that all
powers OF COVE nment should be de-
rived from the consent of the gov
erned. He did not say it in these
words 30 familiar to all classes and
conditions of men in this country, but
he said as much when he enforced the
effect Of the local coloring OF laws up
on free people. Referring to the
colonies Cor example, he said they did
not want good English laws but good
local laws; they did not want laws
from the mother country even
when unquestionably as good
and delivered with as good intent
and purpose as was possible to consid-
crate and patr otically just representa-
tives in Parliament They wanted
their own laws, and wanted England
to be hands off. They wanted politi-
cal autonomy. This, after many years
of contention, was granted them,
and the result is that, as Mr.. Froude
states in his recently published OceGna,
the colonies are more devotedly loyal
to the empire, more anxious for its in
tegrity and welfare than they ever
were, and as much so as the most
equity of High-Church Tories. They
are absolutely Independent, and are
only tied TO the empire by love and
affection for the mother-land. And so
it was in Ireland from 1882 until 1898,
during which period she enjoyed COM
plete national autonomy. When Eng
land, while during that time with
standing the whole civilized world in
arms, appealed to the Irish to defend
themselves, they sprang to arms, and
Catholic We'd with Protestant in the
organization of one of the most
superbly equipped, best drilled and
intelligent armies of that day in
Europe. No other 100000 men under
the flag OF Great Britain has ever
equaled IT, Time and opportunity
served these devoted patriots then to
strike for separation and absolute ma
tional independence, but they pre-
ferred that Ireland should be part
of a great empire equal to
boldly aggressive independence than
like Belgium and Holland, hold its
rights by sufferance of the powers.
And 80 it is to-day. The tendency of
our time is to consolidation, not
disintegration. Language marks the
limits OF nations. Speech bears sym
pat y TO the human heart with light.
ming speed and swells the emotions to
tidal strength and sway. The English
language is the language of Ireland as
it is OF the United States. 1t
is the language that Grat-
tan, Burke and Floyd and poor
Goldsmith enriched; it is freighted
for Irishmen all over the world with
sacred memories, and is to them as to
the English nd the American people
the power that pushes them to their
best deeds in individual enterprise
and patriotic purpose. Ireland il
bound to England by a thousand
ties. Their history has been a common
OAO AOi ONAALiiNSg ClbOlb IL Wdo bdu
for Ireland, and they share the glory
of the illustrious deed that signalize
the British empire above all others in
ancient or modern times. 1t is fair,
therefore, to conclude with Mr.. Glad
stone thst like Hungary, whose ma
tional independence was conceded by
Austria after many years Of OPP
preston and rebellion, Ireland
will become, under the inspiration of
the independence provided for in the
bill introduced in the Commons yes
terday, as loyal IN word and deed to
the empire and as eagerly anxious for
its supremacy on land and sea az
England herself. Pruned this bill
will dOu btless be of some appar-
ent defects and strengthened by
to be proposed by
the immediate friend of Ireland, but
it is fair TO assume that in its general
integrity OF purpose and aim it will |
become q law, if not this year, most !
surely next, and thus the repeal of the !
act Of union for which 0'Connell |
fought so bravely, but unsuccessfully, |
Iii - nnA s,aopa and rNrnu- I