The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-05
IRELAND AND HOME RULE.

The advice that Mr.. Morley, chief secre-
tary for Ireland, gives to the Liberals, to pre-
pare for q general election indicates either
that the government despairs of formulating
scheme of Home rule that will be accepta-
BILE to the Nationalist, or if it has succeeded
in arriving at an agreement with Mr.. Par
nell, anticipates that it will not be sustained
by sufficient number of the Liberal men,
bers Of the House. In the first case the
government would be defeated by combi-
nation of Conservatives and Nationalist; in
the second by union of Conservatives and
Liberal seceders. The practical result would
be the same in either Casa change of min
istry or the dissolution of Parliament and an
appeal to the country. Mr.. Morley's speech
indicates that the latter course has been de-
cided upon in anticipation of defeat
In case of general election, which now
seems probable, the main question will be
the government of ireland, and Mr.. Glad
stone and the Conservative leaders will be
compelled to show their hands and make
known clearly what they are ready to con-
cede and what they are determined to deny
the Irish people, Personally Mr.. Gladstone
is undoubtedly in favor of large measure of
Home rule as the only panacea for troubles
that have resisted all other means of cure,
but there are very few prominent men in the
councils of the Liberals who are ready to go
as far In that direction as he. The mere
mention of such a scheme was sufficient to
send the Marquis of Harrington, the Duke of
Argyle and many other distinguished Liberals
into the ranks of the Conservatives, and
1Ixy tod on tho Grimm
would be likely to stampede considerable
part of the party. Whatever scheme, there
fore, Mr.. Gladstone gives to the country
is likely to be a much less radical measure
than he would propose were public sentiment
as advanced upon the subject as his own. 1t
is altogether probable that it will concede far
less than the Irish demand, and will not full
fill the wishes of Mr.. Parnell and his follow
ers.
But to have any chance of success it must
receive the support of the Nationalist even
II 1t does not command their entire approval.
Were the Nationalist led by an impractica-
BILE enthusiast that would be impossible But
Mr.. Parnell has shown himself to he not on
ly reformer but a practical reformer He
knows that long accepted theories and moth
GUS u DG broken down
all at once. But the breastwork that defies
open assault can be gradually undermined
and finally destroyed. Through ut his po-
Iitical career Mr.. Parnell has acted on this
theory. Though frequently demanding
much he has never rejected a concession be-
cause it was less than he wanted. He has
been content to press back English resistance
to the demands Of his countrymen inch by
inch. Patience has been one of his most
prominent characteristics, and it is largely
by reason of the possession of that quality
which other Irish leaders have usually
lacked, that he has accomplished so much
more for his country than they. 1t is highly
probable therefore, that Mr.. Gladstone will
be able to frame an Irish measure that will
be supported by Mr.. Parnell, even If it falls
short of satisfying him