The Irish standard., 1886-10-09
MIR. GLADSTONE APPRECIATED.

MR.. GLADSTONE APPRECIATED.
IF anything was required to still fur
ther convince the English Tories that
the Irish people were earnest in main
tanning that nothing short Of Home Rule
would satisfy them, we should think the
petition presented to Mr.. Gladstone last
Monday, signed by $50, 600 ladies, would
be sufficient. This is probably the
largest number of names that has eyer
been attached to one petition. The pre-
sentation was made at Hawarden, Mr..
Gladstone's residence. Mrs. T. D. Sui
livan, wife of the Lord Mayor OF Dublin,
and the Irish ladies who were appointed
by the women to present their petition,
were cordially received by the ez-
Premier. Great crowds Hocked to Ha-
warded ali day to witness the event, and
TIE enthusiasm is said to have been
something tremendous. Accompanying
the deputation of Irish ladies were
deputaGons representing the municipal
councils of Cork, Limerick, Waterford
and Clonmel. When Mr.. Gladstone
emerged from the house to receive the
deputations, he was greeted with hearty
and prolonged cheers by the multitude
of visitors on the ground. Mrs. Sulll-
van read the address of the Irish wo-
men. The mayor of Cork, the mayor OF
Limerick, the mayor of Waterford and
the mayor of Clonnel then each pre-
sented Mr.. Gladstone with the freedom
of their respective cities, aud thanked
him for his chivalrous and splendid eff
forts to restore Ireland's parliament. ex-
pressing the hope that he would soon
visit Ireland to receive from the Irish
people at then homes the thanks they
all feel towards him.
I No wonder Mr.. Gladstone was
vis1bly affected when The time came to
reply to these outpourings OF the hearts
of an oppressed people who took this
means CT expressing their gratitude to-
wards him. II would melt the heart Of
o much stronger and sterner man than
England s. greatest statesman. After re-
marking that at his age the request to
visit Ireland was heset with uncertain
ties, he said the whole character OF the
Irish controversy WAS altered.
! "We do not now contemplate, . he con-
tinuea, the dreadful alternatives our
fathers faced q century ago, nor the op-
position Wellington faced when he pro-
posed Catholic emancipation as the al
Tentative to civil war 1t WAS necessary
that the late governments's Irish pro-
posals should have been put forward i'll
accord with the desires of the Irish ma
tion, and also to make it clear that the
proposals stood within the limits Of inn
perial honor, safety and welfare. These
were completely attained and they have
been sustained by the singular mildness
and temperance OF expression which
have so far characterized the conduct of
Irishmen at every state Of the agitation
till now. The cause represented by
these honorable deputations is the
cause Of order, of peace, Of legality. 1t
is the hope Of conduciug to the settle
ment Of this great question in political
affairs. I am quite prepared to with
draw from public life if [ could believe
it we're better for Ireland, but [ am un-
willing to arrive at this conclusion.
Is IS There is a stain upon
England i'll respect Of her relations TO
ward ireland. Full Just
ice to ireland requires careful investiga-
ton of her financial history before we
reach a conclusion as to what should be
accorded her. 1 hope that Ireland's
triumph will come with promptitude,
with cheerfulness and with Joy, and l
hope there will be no intervening period
Of gloom"
This should be q lesson to the English
Tories, but they will not heed it. They
have long entertained that hatred for the
Irish which those i'll the wrong inyari-
ably acquire for those who are wronged
They confound English domination with
British welfare They cannot bear to
give up tie exercise OF their hurtful con-
troll Of fellowship bjects. It has always
been extremely difficult to convince the
strong, proud, obstinate English Tories
that their rule should not place every
body beneath it at the height of human
felicity. One might nearly as we'll ex-
pect bull dog to surrender a good
bone voluntarily as expect Englishmen
to discard any Of their power over those
on whom their Government has once
been inflicted Tie United States had
to rebel end Canada had to rebel to gain
political privileges necessary to their
welfare. IT is this spirit of bulldogism
and greed that has prevented England
for years from according to Ireland her
honest dues. No amount OF addresses
! +o Mr. G1oirtoro will ovnr move the To.