The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-04-26
IRISH AFFAIRS.

The question OF home RUE IOI IS-
land has become a live issue in British
Imperial politics Mr.. Gladstone has
made it a cardinal point OF his policy to
grant a Constitution and an Independent
Parliament for Ireland His scheme was
briefly outlined in the news summary
published by the ADVERTISER on the 23d.
Although upon several points the report
is vague and uncertain, the central idea
running through all is easily traced. 1t
is the greatest concession ever made to
the Irish national party, or indeed to any
party in the United Kingdom, as the re-
suit OF purely constitutional agitation.
The Imperial Government recognizes the |
right of Ireland to self-government, or |
Home Rule, as it was aptly called by the |
late Isaac Butt, who began life as bril- !
liant ultra Tory and closed it as heir gem !
eral to all Irish national leaders. This is
the real significance OF the action taken
by Mr. Gladstone, and the point was
made with telling effect by the Marquis
of Harrington in his speech opposing the
introduction of Dir. GladstOne's bill to
grant Constitution to Ireland. Should
this measure be defeated its spirit will
live, for it is the minimum concession
the Irish nation will hereafter accept, be-
cause it was proposed as an exact meas
ure of justice by responsible Minister OF
the Crown, in his place in Parliament as
head of Her Majesty's Government.
1t is needless to discuss the details of
this plan of constitutional government
for Ireland, because it is certain to be
modified materially in its passage through
the Imperial Parliament but the opin-
ion NAV be hazarded that the objections
raised by Mr. Chamberlain went to the
practical defects of the scheme. Ireland
should not be content with such COM
promise measure, but as matter OF ex-
pediency it is the duty of her people to
accept it for the present. Our own judg-
ment is that this measure will result In
a scheme of Imperial federation, under
which Ireland would secure large
share of political independence and ex-
ert her due influence upon Imperial
policy Mr.. Gladstone's bill does not
deal Justly with Ireland on these points,
but they may be adjusted in time by
material concessions between the Parlia-
ments of Great Britain and Ireland.
Mr.. Gladstone in his speech did no
more than Justice to the Parliament OF
Grattan. If it had been left free to work
out the destiny of the Irish nation there
would to-day be no more loyal or pros
porous portion of the British Empire
than Ireland, but it was strangled be-
cause. in the words of Mr.. Gladstone,
England listened to the pernicious voice
and claims of ascendency. There was a
spirit in that Parliament, he continued,
that would have done noble work, and
probably would have solved all Irish
problems and saved the British Govern
ment indefinite trouble. The truth OF
these remarks every impartial reader OF
Irish history will admit. The mischief
done by the Act of Union may best be
understood from the fact brought out by
Mr.. Gladstone, that during this long
period of over half century, Ireland en-
loved constitutional government for two
wears only. This is the strongest con-
demnation that could be pronounced
against any administration, processing tc
be constitutional.
1t is manifestly the duty OF the I'm
perial Parliament to remove the cause OF
this deplorable state of things, and If il
can be done by giving Ireland the right
to manage its own affairs, that right
should be conceded. The glory and the
labor will belong to Mr.. Gladstone, whC
would close his great career by the crea
ton of a nation of freemen, He has al
reay disestablished the Irish Church; ht
is now fighting for Irish Home Rule. L
was Gaining, in one of his splendid
bursts of oratOry, who exclaimed: Ike
peal the Union Disestablish the Church
Restore the Heptarchyr' To his minC
the idea of an Irish Parliament was en-
tirely chimerical. Eut we have seen tin
Irish Church disestablished although TIN
Act of Union made its preservation tn
condition of Parliamentary Union. Tn
English Church establishment is like
wise doomed The Union will infallibly
be repealed. And although the Heptar
civ NAV not be restored in form, tn
evolution of the principle OF local govern
ment in England will probably restor
it in substance.
The progress of this great measure
public policy through the British lmpe
rial Parliament will be watched with tn
greatest interest by millions OF people Il
all parts of the world.
Since the foregoing was in type W
have received later news by the Mara
roa. Leave to introduce the HON
Rule Bill was given without division