The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-19
LORD SALISBURY.

LORD SALISBURY.
The Conservatives Never Favored an Irish
Parliament-Meaning of Coercion.
LEEDS, June l9-An enormous crowd awaited
the arrival of Lord Salisbury and cheered him
loudly. The hall was packed. there being 1000
persons present Fully double that number of
tickets had been applied for. The audience
passed away the time by singing the national
anthem, "Aud Lang Syne," and various patri-
otic songs, until Lord Salisbury appeared.
Upon his arrival there was an outburst
of vigorous cheering, and the crowd sung He is
a jolly good fellow" Lord Salisbury began his
address by stating that in most cases of an ap-
peal to the tribunal of the people there was
cause, with antagonist to defend it. ''But
now.r said the speaker, I'VE have very living and
vigorous antagonist defending shadowy, i'm
material, unsubstantal cause. There was bill,
but it is Dead and has been abandoned
by its own parents [laughterl, and moth
ing has been proposed to replace it.
For myself, desire to say that was always de-
cdedly of the opinion that an Irish legislature
was impractcable. and that an attempt to es-
tablish would be disastrous to England.
never varied that opinion for a moment nor
ever said anything publicly or privately, to any
body, to justify them in thinking that had, and
may say the same for the rest of my colleagues
The statement y that the Cabinet had
ever entertained a proposal to institute
an Irish legislature is absolutely
without any foundation. The statement
that we had indicated such an opinion to any
person whatever, whether Irish landowner or
otherwise, is equally devoid of foundation.
lCheen,l Ispeak of what know as a fact not
only Known to myself. but to fourteen other per-
sons. Mr. Parneil, Mr.. Gladstone and Lord
Spencer, in supporting the statement,
were speaking foundation of
mere gossip for which they could
have authentic proof whatever / do
not know who the gossiper was who misled Mr..
Parnell and Mr.. Gladstone, but entreat them
not to trust that gentleman for the future. l
assure them that we were never nearer the doc
trne of an Irish legislature than we are to-day.
''Mr Gladstone's manifesto says the question
is simply, will you govern Ireland by coercion or
will you allow Ireland to govern her own affairs9
Here the speaker entered into an argument as
to what constitutes coercion He referred to
the Kilmainham imprisonments as gigantic DO
litcal coercion to an extent never before vent
ured, and to which he hoped an English Ministry
would never again CO. He would not say that
it was not justified. because he did not know
had acted. He continued:
1--WE may say that criminal lawis all coercion
If Mr.. Gladstone is opposed to it we must pre-
sumo that he SvmDathiZe9 with crimin ais
against whom efforts are being made. Our coer-
cion, which he denounces, was directed against
robbery, murder, mutilation, terrorism, and
a system Of organized intimidation which made
life bitter to thousands of innocent people I
wonder if he ever thought for a moment what
following our Cabinet by an anti-coercion Cabi-
net meanta All that we desire is that the law
be sufficiently business-hke and eficacious as to
carry out its own behests Coercion means
nothing else, and to compare that with the CO.
ercion that Mr.. Gladstone exercised at Kilmain
ham, is mere jueglery. [Cheers 1t is Ireland
that speaks with two voices, divided into two
parts. TO persopify such an Ireland as she is,
is to ruin the country. England sympatnized
deeply and rightly with the efforts of Greece and
Italy to obtain independence. but they were
large bodies of men, speaking with single
voice. But in Ireland you have quarter to
third of the whole population absolutely opposed
to the residue upon this Identical question.
Their demands are supposed to be decisive. You
may say the majority should have its way, bullet
US apply that doctrine fairly. Ireland sends Is
members to Parliament opposed to So in favor of
home-rule. You will wonder that l8 bears a
larger proportion to 108. the total number of men
that Ireland returns, than SIS to &c. the total
number of members of the House of Commons.
If the majority is to rule, why is the great
majority of the kingdom not to
govern over the wishes of these
people? If the majority is not to rule why
should not the minority in Ireland be protected
just as much as the majority in Ireland against
the population of Great Britainl Cheers.
The demand of one Mr. Gladstone calls ma
ton struggling for rights the other he speaks of
as an ignoble few. What justice is there in
thatl You must not be deceived by the word
self government, which, in Ireland means be-
ing governed by somebody who detests you; and
you tell Ulster Loyalists, when you have fastened
the manacles and chains of the National League
around their legs, and laid the rod of the League
timable blessings of self-goyernment. Laugh
ter.
Il heartily echo Mr.. Giadstone's wish not to
Introduce religious bigotry into the conflict, but
am not prepared TO treat the case of Ireland as
a matter simply of bigotry. Catholics and Prot
estants, both in England and abroad, work to-
gether in amity and in behalf of civilization.
Depend upon it, religious bgotry has little to do
with the matter If Protestants have shown
their deep. enthralling interest in the matter, it
is because they know by experience that
their dearest interests are involved. They
know that they will have to meet a terrible
enemy. They have an undying recollection of
their long hereditary feuds. They have
the character OF their adversaries before their
faces. They have shown you, though don't de-
fend what has been DONE how near the surface
lie volcanic fires, and have been given fore
taste OF the inevitable result of anarchy, if
England TenoRuces her duties aud responsibility