The Wilmingtonian., 1886-04-10
Gladstone and Ireland

Gladstone and Ireland
| The present is a momentous crisis in the
fate of ireland and still more in the histori-
cal future of the British Empire
1t would be well for the solid; rity of that
Empire did all Englishmen, Scol Gilman and
Ulster Irish sink their purblint prejudices
and join hands with Mr. Gladstt { in un-
animous vote for Irish home rul
The PREMIER arguments 9th sday night
in favor of this measure are in ntestable.
| They are based ON justice. Any mpromse
or bandying with half measures out of or
der at this date. The grand historical mo-
ment has arrived and definite act 9n is look
ed for
| The arguments Of the oppos !, when
compared with the candid, homes and just
words of William E. Gladstone,ai ,ntemp-
tibly INADEQUATE.
Mr. Treveyan's assertion that re is no
guarantee for the repayment Oft millions
to be invested in buying up landlg .ds'ca
is puerile and only furnishes cue for the
poverty Of the arguments of Mr.. Gladstone's
opponents. To imply that tile Irish, as a ma,
tion would repudiate that debt, is most
shameful and unworthy implication. There
is no more RonoraDie race on the face ot the
earth, no people who will hold more sacred
their word Of honor.
But the grand point which these opponents
overlook is the advantage to the Empire that
this concession will develop The gra titude
of the Irish evolved from the granting ofthis
measure and the resultant binding together
with England and Scotland, as genuine
factor of the British Empire, will be Of meal
culable moral and political force for the
Strengthening of the British Empire.
Some of our readers may remember an al
most similar political juncture in Anglo-Irish
history at the time Of the Catholic emanci-
patton bill'when the Duke of Wellington
was in power. The gratitude of the Irish
and their appreciation of that just measure
was robly and eloquently expressed by the
nell Its result was in aff1rding Irish cath
olcs a hope and sincere belief in the future
possibility Of political existence for their
race in British polity. Many of the first
/, families among tbs Irish catholics who to-.
, day are as thoroughly loya to the destiny of
the Empire as their English brethren date
their political conformity from the moment
of the passage of that bill Can there
: be any doubt but that the passage
! of Home Rule enactment would
1 accomplish anything less? 1t would,
e on the contrary bind in an indisOsluble tie
this most important section OF the Empire.
: There would then be no excuse for aught
A less than the political and commercial pic
ture of the two peoples marching onward in
5 real progress shoulder to shoulder. There
, would be no room for distrust, no bitterness,
no suspicion. England would stand secure
' before tile empires Of the world one and
iudivisible nation with Ireland its strong
p right arm. And the world aught to know
= what all that would mean. What is not the
1 gratitude Of such people as the Iish capa
is BILE Of And how easily all this may be at
e tanned. It would be the greatest good for
= tune for the English people did they follow
Z the wise and far-reacling policy Of their EN-
inert leader al this fateful moment in tht
9. history Of their country.