New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-12
THE TIDE IN ENGLAND.

MI. OlaustOnc III Ills great SpccCh NdiHcu H'o
opponents that the flowing tide was with
him and the cbbing tide with them.
Their eagerness to have the elections held as
speedily as possible disclOses their dread OF the
effects of prolonged discussion OF II ONE Rule.
The leading Conservative member OF Parla-
ment whose views were expressed in yester-
DAVIS cable letter to The TRIBUNE, frankly adj
mitted that the Opposition have better chance
of success in the approaching general elections
than they would have had if Lord Harrington
had formed a Ministry and appealed TO the coun-
try. "The feeling against Home Rule for Ire
land he remarked, is stronger to-day In
England and Scotland than it would be after
six months discussion of the subject" That is
to saw, the sober second thought of the cOnsti-
tuencics would be likely to sanction Mr. Glad
stones proposals. Time, discussion and re-
Election would tend TO strengthen the Home
Rule cause. Consequently, the Opposition are
anxious to have the appeal to the country made
before the voters have had too much leisure to
think about the results of their action. The
eminent Conservative already referred to gives
the reason for the Oppositions haste. Public
opinion against Mr.. GladstOne's bill is, he says,
" the expression of the prejudices and passions
for centuries and certain to resent the idea of
"cothing Catholic Ireland with power to act
independently of Protestant England and
scotland" Prejudices, passions and religious
| intolerance must not be allowed time to cool
of The appeal, so far as the anti-Home Rule
coalition is concerned, cannot be made too
quickly, while the country rs still angry resent
full and overweight with excitement
Lord CaInarvon's conversion to Home Rule
| forcibly illustrates the trend of deliberate re-
Election on the relations of England and Ire
land When he went to Dublin as Niceroy
nothing was further from his thoughts than
recommending the concessions which Mr..
Parnell demanded. As the Crimes Act had
been allowed to lapse, lie was forced to adopt a
cDnciliatOry tone in his Irish addresses and to
relax his predecessors rigorous administration
| of law Still he could not have forecast the
effect upon his own mind of the experience he
was to gain in Dublin Castle. The leading
Conservative succinctly tells what happened :
" He went TO Ireland as Lord Lieutenant think
"ing the Irish could not be safely trusted with
@any control of law and order, and he came away
"nclned to offer them a real measure of Home
"Rule.' Lord Carnarvon himself, while deny
ing that he represented the SALISBURY Govern
ment in his negotiations with Mr.. Parnell, adj
mits that he favOrs to-day some system by
which the Irish people can conduct their own
affairs. He insists upon the retention of Irish
representatives at Westminster, but in the
sense in winch Mr.. Gladstone desired the
House to vote upon the second reading that of
affirming the necessity of separate Parliament
for Ireland he is to-day Home Ruler.
fthe late Tory Viceroy can justify in his crisis
his own conversion to the essential principle of an
autonomous legislature it is very clear that
great change is impending in the relations of
England and Ireland. Public opinion is in a
transition stage. If Mr.. Gladstone could
have deferred appeal to the country until
next year, success would have been tolerably
certain. He has been forced to dissolve Parlia.
ment prematurcly and his opponents will do
their utmost to profit by the disadvantageous
conditions under which he makes the appeal.
1t Is the ebb tide with them, but it is running
strongly for the moment The flowing tide in
favor of reconciliation and peace, when it once
sets in, will be irresistible: but i, may come too
late for Mr.. GladstOne's Government.