The Irish standard., 1886-05-08
GLADsTONE'S MANIFESTO.

\ HLADSIUNE'S MANltESIU.
Mr.. Gladstone's manifesto to his Mid
lothian constituents is remarkably con.
elusive one. 1t begins by explaining
that his advanced age has prevented him
from taking part in the speeches of the
Easter recess, and has obliged him to re-
serve lis limited powers for the House
of Commons, and that for this reason he
uses his pen instead Of his voice. Con-
tinning, he says:
Never have known an occasion when
q parliamentary event so rang through
out the world as the introduction of the
Home Rule bill. From public meet
ings, from the highest authorities in the
British colonies and in America, from
capitals such as Washington, Boston
and Quebec, from remote districts lying
beyond the reach Of ordinary political
excitement, i have received conclusive
assurances that kindred people regard
with warm fraeernal sympathy the at
tempt to settle, once for all, the troy.
bled relations between England and Ire
land, which exhibit the only great fail
ure of the political genius Of our race to
confront q master difficulty and to obtain
in reasonable degree the main ends Of
civilized life. You must not be discour-
aged if in the upper ranks Of society at
home, you have variety of discordant
-discordant alike from our policy
and from one another. Gentlemen, you
have before you cabinet determined i'll
it's purpose and with all Ineligible plan
Of it's own / see very little else in the
political arena, either determined or in
telligible. will now proceed to speak
of the state Of affairs within and without
parliament, and the nature and import
of the next great step to be taken for the
progress of my measure. speak now
of the Home Rule bill, and leave the land
purchase bill SO stand on the declara-
tion already made, adding only an ex-
preston of regret to find that while the
sands are running from the hour-glass
the Irish landlords have given no indi-
cation Of a desire to accept the proposal
framed in spirit of the utmost allow
able regard for their apprehension and
interest. I do not underestimate the
grave importance of differences Of opin-
ion among Liberals. Some are inclined
to rule the whole question against us by
authority. They say: Surely, such a
number Of able, consistent, even extreme,
Liberals would not have seeded except
in obedience to the imperative dictates
of truth and reason 1 will say moth
ing of the motives which determined lis
to confront the risk Of such parting.
I earnestly Recommended reference
to the lessons which history has taught.
Tt is not the first time the Liberals,
under chiefs of distinction aud ability,
have aissented from the general view of
the party, to the delight and doubtless
to the advantage Of the Tories. There
was an illustrious secession previous to
the war with Bonaparte. There was a
similar secession when it was proposed
to disestablish the Irish church, but
eventually in both cases it proved that
in principle the party was right and the
secession wrong. Comparing these with
this secession, it is impossible not to be
struck with vital difference. In each
previous secession the dissentients
agreed upon Oh active substantial pol
icy. Tt is not so now. Some are in
favor of unlimited coercion; others of
moderate doses, while few op-
pose coercion altogether. On the
other side, some oppose local gov
eminent; some would give it to
the counties and some to the provinces.
Some again would give an administra-
tion center with Legislative prerogatives,
while some propose Legislative center
without executive power. Some, in
deed, go beyond the proposition of the
government, and actually recommend
federation. Some alter the proposals
which they would recommend with
every new speech. All this is a proof,
not of the weakness of the men, but Of
the helplessness Of their cause We
have at least the advantage Of one voice.
The secession, however united it may be
otherwise, is a perfect babel on Irish
policy. It is admitted on all hands that
social order is the first of all political
aims. To secure this in Ireland the LIB
erals who are in secession offer hum
dred conflicting remedies, or else no
remedy at oil. These remarks are as