The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-06-30
Politics In England.

Political manifestoes from the vari-
GUS leaders of political factions in Great
Britain have been quite frequent of
late. To his constituents in Midlothian
Mr.. Gladstone has made a clear and
acceptable statement of the issues to
be made in the coming parliamentary
elections. He exposes the false charac-
ter of the coalition against him, and says:
Enfranchised Ireland, gentlemen asks,
through her lawful representatives, for the
revival of her domestic legislature-not on
the face of it an innovation, but restora-
tive proposal. She urges with truth that
the Capitalization of parliament has been
the division of people, but she recognizes
the fact that the union, lawlessly as it was
obtained, cannot and ought not to be re-
pealed. She is content to receive her legis-
lature in form Invested of prerogatives
which might have impaired her imperial in
terests, and better adapted than the settle
ment of 1882 to secure to her regular control
of her own affairs. She has not repealed,
but has welcomed, the stipulations for the
protection of the minority.
Among the benefits, gentlemen, 1 antici-
pate from your acceptance of our policy are
these: The consolidation of the united EN-
pire and great addition to its strength; the
stoppage of the heavy, constant and de-
moralzng waste of the public treasure;
the abatement and gradual extinction of
ignoble feuds in Ireland, and that develop
ment of her resources which experience
shows to be a natural consequence of free
and orderly government; the redemption of
the honor of Great Britain from the stigma
fastened upon her, almost from time i'm
memorial, in respect to Ireland by the whole
civilized world; and lastly, the restoration of
parliament to its dignity and efficiency and
the regular progress of the business of the
country.
Lord Randolph Churchill has made
vigorous attack on the home-rule mea-
sure. Some of his statements are much
overdrawn. He says, among other
things:
The government has been deserted by all
who could confer upon it character or repu-
tation. Gladstone has reserved for his
closing days conspiracy against the honor
of Great Britain and the welfare of Ireland
more startlingly base and nefarious than
any of those numerous designs and plots
that for a quarter of a century have occu-
pied his imagination Nor are the results
of the repeal of the union a matter of mo-
ment to him. No practical responsibility
will fall upon his shoulders. He regards
with inconceivable frivolity the fact that
upon his successors will devolve the inn
possible labor of rebuilding the shattered
empire. Let a credulous electorate give
him a majority, to aid which another Irish
revolution may be consummated, and this
most moderate of ministers will be satisfied
to complacently retire to repose. Nature
cries aloud-nature, to whose cries he so
long has turned "a deaf ear
Lord Harrington, Mr.. Goschen and
Mr.. Chamberlain have also issued
stirring manifestoes. The two latter
are said to be feeling their way to a
system under which England, Scotland,
Wales and Ireland shall all have local
legislatures for well-defned local pur-
poses, with an imperial parliament in
which all four countries shall be repre-
scented, as now, for imperial purposes.
Passages in Lord Hartington's address
point less distinctly in the same direc-
ton. He denies that he, or any one in
his party, advocates coercion as policy,
and points out that Mr.. Gladstone's
measure is no alternative to coercion
since it is certain that without coercion
the Protestants of Ulster would no
submit to the proposed Dublin legisla
ture. For the present the tide of pop
ular feeling seems to be against the OPP
ponents of home-rule. Mr.. Gladstone
: tour through the country has been at
tended by enthusiastic demonstrations
Mr.. Parnell is to make series of eigh
speeches in England and Scotland, ant
as he is himself Protestant it is ex
pected that he will be able to give sat
= isfactory assurance in regard to the re
ligious aspects of home-rule.