The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-06-10
Blaine on Ireland.

The home rule meeting in the city hall,
Portland, Me-, recently attracted an i'm
mense throng. Gov. ROBBIE presided, and
alter several speeches James G. Blaine was
introduced, and said:
Ihave been asked to explain, il could,
just what the Irish question is. / appreci-
ate the request for an explanation OF q
question that calls forth so much sympa-
thy and sentiment on the part OF the world
at large and evokes 30 much opposition
among those who are directly interested.
Now, what is home rule? Why, it is what
States enjoys. and it is what Ireland does
not enjoy. Mr.. Blaine described the pres.
emit legislative helplessness OF Ireland, not
able to do the slightest thing without the
sanction ofparliament, and created amuse-
mont by picturing q similar state OF affairs
in this country. suppose if the question
were left to the United States to de-
eide we should say, adopt the fed
eral SYSTEM, have your legislature
for Ireland, your legislature for Eng
land, your legislature for Wales, your
legislature for Scotland and your imperial
parliament for the British empire. Let
questions that effect the whole empire OF
Great Britain be settled by an imperial
parliament. do not forget, however, that
it would;he political empryicismt attempt
by any prescription to give the exact meas
ure TINT should settle this long dispute be-
tween Great Britain and Ireland. I am adj
monished by what have noticed in the
British parliament in discussions concern.
ing America not to be too forwafd il the,
knowledge OF details or in prescribed exact
measures, because I suppose they would re-
tort that we know quite as little about
their precise troubles as they know about
ours. Therefore I do not stand here sim
ply to say that Mr.. Gladstone's is ~
A PERFECT MEASURE;
but say that am in favor Of any bill
that shall take the first step toward right
ing the wrong and Of handing over the gov
ernment to Ireland. The speaker cited
amusing Illustrations OF the ignorance OF
English people concerning affairs in tho
United States. Lord Salisbury gives the
remedy. He says il the Irish do not wish
to be governed by the British, they should
leave. But the Irish have been in Ireland
quite as long as Lord Salisbury's have
been in England, and very likely Tor ought
know, his ancestors were Danish pirates
or peasants in Norm andy, who came over.
William the Conqueror, centuries after the
Irish were known in Ireland. Therefore
we need not be surprised, we who remem-
Der Salisbury's course in the civil war,
therefore we have to say that Lord Sails.
bury may be called impudent. We would
not transgress. courtesy II we called
him insolent. We would not trans
gress truth il we called him brutal. We
knew him in this country. He was the
bitterest foe that the government OF the
United States had in the British parlia-
ment during the civil war. He has trans.
ferred all the hatred which Missed forth in
the parliament OF Great Britain during our
struggles. Another. objection comes. It
comes from the Presbyterians OF Ulster,
appealing to the Presbyterians OF the
United States against granting this BILL /
was educated under Presbyterian infu-
ences, and have connection with that
church by kindred blood and affinity that
begins with my life, and shall not ceass
until my life is ended, and I would be
ashamed OF the Presby church OF
America IL it responded to an appeal of
that kind, which aaks that five millio ns oi
Irish people shall be kept from free
government because OF tho remote danger,
as they fancy that a Dublin parliament
would interfere with their liberties
as Presby terians. know that the Catho-
lies Of ireland and the Presbyterians OF Ire.
land can live and do just as the Catholics
Of the United States and the Presbyterians
OF the United States live. Mr.. Blaine dis.
cussed Mr.. Gladstone's Irish land bill and
quoted statistics to show that some nor.
tions OF Ireland were marvelously fertile
and productive; yet people there are starry.
ing. BE believed the deliyerance OF the.
Irish people was near at Inland. Mr.. Blaine
urged that the Irish question be kept out
iof ourownpoliticals struggles; land mark, y
said he, "any man is at enmity with their
cause who seeks to use it for partisan ad.
yancement.' - s.91l 2.
Resolutions were adopted expressing
sympathy with MI. Gladstone, and cable.
grains expressing cordial support OF the
home rule bill were sent to Mr.. Parnell and
Mr.. Gladstone. &. & 3; - 3.