New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-28
MP GL1DST0yES PURPOSES.

Home Rule is to have precedence OF land
nurchase. So much is settled by MIR. Glad
stones brief announcement in the Commons
which confirms Mr.. Davitts forecast as given
in TIE TREUNE's cable letter several days
ago Whether the change of plan is anything
more than change in the order OF presenting
the two measures is still an open question. Mr..
Smallcy i'm his cable letter reports that Mr.
Gladstone's explanation is generally inter-
prcted as implying the indefinite poStponement
or abandonment of the land purchase scheme.
Our correspOndrnt's own Judgment is that the
Prime Minister has merely transposcd the order
of Introducing the measures ana that, far from
abandoning land purchase, he adhercs to 1t as
nm essential part Of his Irish programme and
hes resolved to stand or fall by the entire
scheme of legislation. This we think is the
only reasonable construction to be placed upon
Hr Gladstoncs Interior purposes. As Mr..
~raney incisivcly remarks, the Prime Minister
cannot afford to part with Mr.. Morley as we'll as
VIZ Chamberlain and Mr.. Trevclvan, and he
would have to do this, if he were to leave the
landlords at the mercy of an Irish Parliament.
Mr.. Morley's views respecting the land question
were explicitly stated before he became Chei
Secretary. There is no reason to believe that
he has modified those views.
MIR. Gladstone finds it necessary to use a
different lever for each House of Parliament.
In the Commons he requires Radical support
Immediately. To counteract the effect of Mr..
Cham6erans resignation and influence he has
withdrawn temporarily the land purchase
scheme Radical members who stand in dread
of the economic instincts of English constitu-
cncies. will now be enabled to support Home
Rule as an abstract proposition apart from the
bill of costs which it will entail. But If that
measure can ever be carried past second
reading, the prospect of securing favorable
action in the Upper House will have to be con-
sdcred Home Rple in its naked simplicity
while a good lever for removing Radical OPP
position would not leave the Prime Minister
standing ground in the Lords. The measure
by itself would be thrown ont at once by the
Upper House. But if it be coupled in its nd
vanced stages in the Commons with an EXprO-
priation bill, powerful appeal will be made to
the preudices and to the pockets of the land
holding class This second lever may be
strong enough TO force Home Rnle through the
Lords. The Radicals, meanwhile, having COM
mitted themselves on the question OF legislative
independence. may gradually see their way
toward satisfying the equitable claims of Irish
property owners.
These cOnectures take a wide range in the
future What is of immediate concern is the
present attitude of the various factions into
which the Liberal party is divided Is that at
titude so hostile to Home Rule that the Gov
eminent will be defeated p:ematurcly Mr..
Gladstone, if he be allowed time, can ade
duatey present the case in the Commons in a
series of speeches that will tend not only to
"educate" the party in Mr.. Disraeli's sense, but
also to reunite it, VIII he have the Oppor-
tunity Or will Mr.. Chamberlain and Mr..
Trevelyan, in leaving tie Cabinet, succeed in
arraying against it forces that will compass its
speedy downfall Lord Grey, in the important
cable letter published in yesterdays issue, pre-
scented the extreme views of the Wings with
whom Mr.. Trevelyan can hardly be Supposed to
be r full accord. 1t was a very able and lucid
protest against all that Mr. Gladstone has done
in the past or hopes to accomplish in the near
future. Still il contained an unequivOcal adj
mission that the present system of government
is working very badly in England and has
broken down completely in Ireland This is
the major premise of Mr.. Glads tones con-
illusions respecting Home Rule. 1t is the
lamentabe failure of the present method of
governing and legisating for the two countries
that has convinced him that a radical change
even a separate legislature organized on the
broadcast lines and invested with the largest
noWerS-is necessary,