Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-06-11
Blaine on Ireland.


Portland, Me-. recently attracted an inn
nense throng. Gov. Robbie presided and
after several speeches James G. Blaine was
introduced, and said:
have been asked to explain, ii could,
Just what the Irish question is. I appreci-
ate the request for an explanation OF 81
question that calls forth so much sympa-
thy and sentiment on the part OF the world
at large and evokes SO much opposition
among those who are directly interested.
Now, what is home rule? Why, it is what
every state and territory Of the United
not enjoy. Mr.. Blaine described the pres
emit legislative helplessness OF Ireland, not
able to do the slightest thing without the
sanction ofparliament, and created amuse-
ment b. picturing similar state OF affairs
in this country. I suppose if the question
were lett to the United States to de-
eide we should say, adopt the fed
eral system, have your legislature
for Ireland, your legislature for Eng
land, your legislature for Wales, your
legisla ture for Scotland and your imperial
parliament for the British empire. Let
questions that effect the whole empire OF
Great Britain be settled by an imperial
parliament. do not forget, however, that
it would;be political empry icis,n.. to attempt
by any prescription 10 give the exac ct meas
ure that should settle this long dispute be-
tween Great Britain and Ireland. ! am adj
; mo nished by what l have noticed in the
British parliament in discussions concern
ing America not to be too forward in the
knowledge OF details or in prescribed exact
measures, because suppose they would re-
tort that we know quite as little about
| their precise troubles as they know about
ours. Therefore I do not stand here SIM
ply to say that Mr.. Gladstone's is
PERFECT MEASURE:
but say that am in favor OF any bill
that shall take the first step toward right
! ing the wrong and OF handing over the gov
| ernment to Ireland The speaker cited
! amusing illustrations OF the ignorance OF
English people concerning affairs in the
! United States. Lord Salisbury gives the
remedy. He says if the Irish do not wish
| to be governed by the British, they should
| leave. But the Irish have been in Ireland
quite as long as Lord Sa!isbury's have
been in England, and very likely for ought
! / know, his ancestors were Danish pirates
or peasants in Normandy, who came over
! William the Conqueror, centuries after the
Irish were known in Ireland. Therefore
we need not be surprised, we who remem
Der Sa1isburys course in the civil war,
therefore We have to say that Lord Sails.
bury may be called impudent. We would
not transgress courtesy if We called
him insolent. We would not trans
gress truth il we called him brutal. We
knew him in this country. He was the
bitterest foe that the government Of the
United States had in the British parlia
nlent during the civil war. He has trans
ferred all the hatred which Kissed forth in
the parliament OF Great Britain during GU,
! struggles. Another objection comes. 1t
comes from the Presby terians OF Ulster
appealing to the Presbyterians of the
United States against granting this bill.
was educated under Presbyterian inAu
ences, and l have connection with that
| church by kindred blood and affinity that
begins with my life, and shall not cease
until my life is ended and I would be
ashamed OF the Presbyteria church O.
America ii it responded to an appeal o.
that kind, which asks that five millio ms o.
Irish people shall be kept from free
| government because OF the remote danger
as they fancy that d Dublin parliament
would interfere with their liberties
as Presbyterians. know that the Catho
lies of Ireland and the Presbyterians of Ire
land can live and do just 40 the Cathol
OF the United States and the Presbyterians
OF the United States live. Mr.. Blaine dis
cussed Mr.. Gladstone's Irish land bill and
quoted statistics to show that some por
tions OF Ireland were marvelously fertile
and productive; yet people there are starv
ing. He believed the deliverance of the
Irish people was near athand. Mr.. Blaine
urged that the Irish question be kept out
OF our own political struggles; land mark, :
said he, "any man is at enmity with thei1
cause who seeks to use it for partisan ad
| vancement."
Resolutions were adopted expressing
sympathy with MIR. Gladstone, and cable
grams expressing cordial support OF thu
home rule bill were sent to Mr.. Parnell anc
Mr.. Gladstone.