The National tribune., 1886-04-15
GLADSTONE AND HOME-RILE.

GLADSTONE AND HOME-RULE.
The last week has been q most exciting
one in England, and the feeling has extend
ed more or less to this country. On Thurs
day Mr.. Gladstone made the first real move
ment looking towards some degree Of indie
pendence for Ireland, by introducing bill
| into the House Of Commons to give that
country a domestic Legislature to deal with
home affairs as distinguished from matters
pertaining TO the Empire, or to England and
to Scotland.
For many weeks it has been understood
that he had determined to take this step,
having decided that, as he said in his speech,
o stage had been reached Sin our political
transactions with Ireland, where the two
roads part, one from the other, not soon,
probably, to meet again. The time has az
rived when it is incumbent on the duty and
the honor of Parliament to come to some
decisive resolution in regard to the matter"
With the conviction strong upon him that
something must be DONE" he had prepared
bill for the future government of Ireland,
which he presented, and in a speech of
three hours and half in length explained
the policy which he deemed the wisest to
pursue in order to give measure Of peace
and prosperity TO that country to which it
had long been q stranger.
That Mr.. Gladstone had given the deepest
study to this question before making the
presentation of his idea of its correct solu-
ton the browning act Of his political life,
none can doubt The difficulties in his way
were greater than the people in the United
States can readily conceive of. Old laws and
castoms, crystalized by the centuries, have a
rigidity and fxedness which this young
nation knows nothing Of To attempt to
make an entire change of policy in a single
direction that would involve stupendous
consequences in many, required a strength
and courage which could only belong to a
great statesman, and the result cannot be
other than doubtful Mr.. Gladstone has
measured his ground carefully and counted
his forces, and yet the issue must be uncer-
tain.
The main features of the bill are as fol-
lows: An Irish Legislature or Parliament is
to be formed, the first order consisting of %
Peers, now in the House of Lords, and rs
Representatives elected by the people, while
the second order has 2G6 members. These
two orders are to set and deliberate together
with the right of voting separately. The
general power of local taxation, except that
pertaining to customs duties is placed in the
hands Of this body, and the proceeds of the
customs and excise duties are held for the
benefit of Ireland, or really, to put it plainly,
they are to constitute the latter's tribute to
England. The proportions of the Imperial
burdens to be borne by Ireland is as one to
IA. The constabulary is to remain under
the authority of England for the present,
but the Judiciary and the civil service are to
be committed to the charge of the Irish Par
lament, with the understanding that
eventually the whole machinery for preserv-
ing peace viii be given into its hands.
Mr.. Gladstones speech was strong, sensi-
BILE and to the point. He depended upon
no rhetorical flourish for its impression, but
simply upon plain statement of facts and
sound argument built upon them. Being
the result Of strong conviction that the
necessity had arrived of comforting upon the
Irish people that power to make their own
laws, his words could not and did not fail
to make an appeal to the sense Of justice of
all who heard him as was evidenced by the
way they were received.
OF course there is much adverse criticism
Of the proposed measure, and the opposition
is said to be waxing fierce with each day
that passes. Whether it will be powerful
enough to defeat the bill, which is the first
pTaClIcdl SolutlOi VI VIC iIlsl uiIICultieS
that has been offered or not, time only can
determine Mr. Gladstone himself is in
clned to question the present capacity of
the Irish people for self government,
but that does not affect the right which is
theirs to try. One thing is certain. This
greatest of English statesmen has won the
sympathy and approval of the people this
side Of the water by the step he has taken,
and regret, should he be defeated, will be
almost equally divided between the man
and measure. Home rule for Ireland in
some form is fixed fact, however it may be
brought about, but the American people
would prefer to see the honor of securing it
placed where it rightfully belongs.
The problem of which Mr. Gladstone will
next present form Of solution is the one of
land holding and it is almost as difficult as
that of home rule itself
AT the time of the Grand Review in
Washington in May, 1865, an immense
placard on the north end of the Capitol at
tracted much attention. 1t read: