The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-06-15
ROCK ISLAND, TUESDAY. JUNE Is. 1886
A CALL ON MIDLOTHIAN.


Gladstone Tells His Scotch Friends Why
He Is in the Fight.
LONDON, June lj.--Mr. Glads.yne's s
address to the electors of Midlothian has
been published. He says that at bis time
of life he lays for rest and would gladly
have retired to private life after member
ship in thirteen parliamcnts, but the gravity
of tho issues presented eorstrain him to ask
AN election TO his fourteenth He hoped
that the Conservative ministry would have
presented plan for governing Ireland that
he tould have supported tut as they
offered nothing but continued coercion he
saw them fail without regret. lie says:
Some method Of governing Ireland other
than coercion ought, a, | thought, 10 I've
sought for and TO he found Therefore,
view with regret the fail of the
late cabinet, and when summoned by her
ma Jesty TO form a new one | undertook 1t
on the basis ot an anti coercion policy with
the fullest explanations to those whose aid |
sought as colleagues when proposed To ex-
anime whether II might not bs possible to
grant ireland domestic legislature and
maintain tue honor and consolidate the
unity OF the empire. government was
formed and tie work was at once put in
hand
lie says the Irish question was taking the
front rank in British politics AS ques-
tion of the first necessity OF social order it
forces Itself into the van. 'the consequence
is that 1t must be settiei and in one of two
ways either by home rule OF coercion. lie
passes by the Chamberiain proposals rather
contemptuously and says the Tory plan is
simple enough for any ono TO understand
He denies the right Of the seeding Liberals
and Tories 10 the name t nianists, and de-
ciares the union as it exists is IA paper
unicn obtained by fraud True union
must, he says, be tested by sentiments
OF the people united Tie then proceeds
"Eniranchised Ireland, gentlemen, asks
through her lawful representatives for tn
revival OF her domestic egislature-not, on
the face of 1t, an innoyatiug but Il restora
tive proposal Size urges with truth that
the Capitalization of rarliaments has been
the division Of peoples, but she recognizes
the fact that the union, lawiessly as 1t wa;
obtaIued, can not and ought not to he re
peHled. . She has not repelled but
has welcomed the stipulations for the pro
lection Of the minority. To such provisions
we have given and shall give careful heed.
Scotland is warned against permitting
the religions question 10 enter the discus
sion, and the effect of religious bigotry i
presented by reference to the Belfast
riots. Among the benefits 10 be expected
from his policy are:
THE consolidation of the united eIupir,
and great addition 10 its strength; III;
stoppage of the heavy, constant and de
moraizing waste OF public treasure; the
abatement and gradual extinction of ignoblt
feuds in Ireland, and the development o
her resources, winch experience shows tC
be n natural consequence of free anC
orderly government; the redemption o.
the honor Of Great Britain from the Stigma
fastened upon her almost from time imme
mortal in respect TO Ireland by the juds
ment of the whole civilized world. and
lastly, the restoration of parliament 10 it
dignity and efficiency Sand the regulal
progress of the business of the country
The closing paragraph calls attention t.
the power of the Irish members to imped
legislation, and intimates that unless home
rule is granted England and Scotland vii
suffer l,y the resistance Of the Parneil mem
bers to any legislation at all.