The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-07-09

The other party to the controversy
has said: VIII you give Ireland
the local Parliament demanded
by the Premier, and allow
her present members to withdraw
from Westminster and thus take the
first step towards a dismemberment of
this ancient monarchy? Or will YOU
adhere to your old policy, enforce the
laws you have made for Ireland regard
less of the protests Of that people, and
say to this great reformer avaunt? In
short. do you favor the dismemberment
of the empire or coercion?
Says Gladstone: We do not desire
the dismemberment of the empire, we
desire its unity. The soncession Of local
self-government is not the way TO
sap and impair, but to strengthen
and consolidate the unity of
the empire. The best and surest
foundation we can build on is the
foundation afforded by the affections
and convictions aud will Of man. Upon
this, rather than upon any other
method, we shall be able to secure at
once social happiness, power, and per-
maDence Of the empire. To this his
opponents have said: The Irishman is
inc pable of that high order of patriot
ism the above method of preserving the
unity of the empire requires. The
bands you would trust to hold together
the empire are too slender. We prefer
the solid links forged by the p olicy of
the past, to your silken cords of
affections and convictions and int rests
and will of man.
These are the issues which have been
presented to the English people by the
two great political parties of that ma
ton. And although it appears strange
to US how the people could make such
choice-they have chosen to adhere to
the policy of coercion, being inclined TO
it by belief that to adopt Gladstone's
policy would be to take a step In the
direction of the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the
empire. The cry of disunion has de-
feated Gladstone. Yet the great Pre-
mier may say to the victors
what he said to the victors
in the great reform contest of 1866. In
contesting that question-which was for
an extension Of the franchise-Glad-
stone told his opponents that the gov
eminent which he and Lord Russell
led, had crossed the rubicon; had
broken the bridge and burned the
boats; but-for all that government was
beaten on their reform measure by a
vote in Parliament of 3l5 against it, and
3Ui in its favor. But Gladstone said
to the victors: you cannot
night against the future. Time is on
our side. The great social forces which
move on in their might and majesty
are against you; they are marshalled
on our side, and the banner which We
now carry, though perhaps. at this
moment it may droop over our sinking
heads, yet soon again will it float in the
eye of heaven, and it will be borne by
the firm hands of the united people of
the three kingdoms. perhaps not to an
easy, but to a certain ard
not distant victory" His words
were prophetic in that case,
for within a year after the defeat of
Russell and Gladstone on their reform
bill, a more liberal franchise bill was
brought into Parliament and passed.
The strangest feature of the movement
was that the reform was brought about
by the very men who had defeated
Gladstone on that issue the year before.
II may not be that home rule for Ire
land will gain its victory in so short a
time as one year, yet its ultimate
triumph is just as certain as that
truth is mighty and will prevail
Local self-government for communities
with distinct local interests is a true
principle in political science. and in
common with every true principle will
prevail over every obstacle. And though
the banner so firmly grasped in the
withered hand of the aged Minister is
nov dropping over the sinking heads of
himself and his brave adherents, still
the firm hands Of the united people of
the three kingdoms will yet carry it to
3 certain and not distant victory. Eng
land will soon learn that coercion will
not work-the wheels of progress will
not turn backward.