Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-04-13


Mr.. Gladstone's scheme oil Home
Rule for Ireland is being discussed all
over the world. Diminishing the mass
of criticism which would be hostile
to anything which might be proposed
by the British premier, and which
mostly rests upon what remains oil
the spirit OF Strongbow and Crom-
well in England, there are some
aspects of his plan which might, IN
the opinion Of many observing people,
be renedied with great advantage.
For instance, Mr.. Glads66ne proposes
that the English, which no calls the
Imperial, Parliament should no
+ longer contain any representation
tsrom Ireland, and that this body
i,hould nevertheless legislate on tariff,
fexcise and other important matters,
lar Irishmep. This would be, in its
thhlest extent, taxation without rep
uasentation. 1t would constitute pre-
.,isaly the grievance under which the
present United States, then colonies
Of Great Britain, rose up in rebellion.
Why should not genuine Imperial
Parliament be constituted, which
should legislate for the common veal
of all, while local legislatures should
be entrusted with the task OF legisla-
ting for their several distinctive
bodies polite? A number oil Mr.
Gladstone's parliamentary opponents
have objected to the scheme because
1t would logically lead up to local
parliaments for Scotland, England
and Wales. 1t seems to us that this
/. feature, instead OF being objection
able, Is really strong recommends
ton OF the measure. Ireland, Eng
land, Scotland and Wales should
each have local legislatures oil their
own, and they ought all to be equally
Interested in the concerns oil the Inn
perial Legislature in the ratio oil Their
population. 1t would not be a whit
amiss IL the Dominion OF Canada,
Australia and other important depen-
denotes of England, were also admit
ted to the same privilege. Then
there would be truly Imperial Far
lament of Great Britain, and the
plan would work quite as well as the
dual State and national governments
Of the United States. 1t would be
an element Of cohesion, not oil dis
union. 1t would strengthen instead
Of weakening the bonds which attach
the near and scattered dominions OF
England to the mother country.
Notwithstanding the announcement
that Mr.. Parnel and the leading
Home Rulers are willing to accept
Mr.. Gladstone's measure as settle
ment in full OF all present demands
OF Ireland there are not wanting
sngacious friends Of the Emerald Isle
who look upon this innovation as an
exceedingly dangerous one. Under
certain circumstances it might prove
TO be trap, as Ireland surrenders
her right to influence the legislation
Of England while that country would
retain control OF the military, the
constahuiary, the navy and the rev.
eiiue of the Empire. These are
formidable agencies OF oppression
when their course cannot be directed
or modified in any sense by people
against whom they might possibly be
used. Under such circumstances
patriotic Irishmcn might be brought
to bitterly regret having parted with
a very efficient parliamentary instru-
ment through the agency OF which,
only the other day, they were able to
hurl confident British Ministry out
of power.
1t appears to us that the true solu-
ton OF the whole matter is an Inn
perial Parliament on the basis OF
federation. This was the conception
entertained by the illustrious Edmund
Burke, and which he developed, with
luminous ability, in his speeches on
cancellation with the American col
onies during our Revolutionary war,
and which England has only par
TALLY applied to the Dominion OF
Canada and to Australia, and which
she now seeks TO partially apply to
Ireland. 1t will not in the end hurt
the cause of Ireland ii the Conserva-
tives should rally in sufficient force to
defeat Mr.. Gladstone's measure. 1t
would result, in the end, in far
more practicable and wise system,
which would give Ireland Home Rule
and at the same time secure her her
Just influence in the councils OF the
British Empire, of which Mr.. Glad
stone proposes that she shall still re-
main an integral part.
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nNp of tho most spirita1 and plpas-