The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-19
GLADSTONE AT EDINBURGH.
He Does Not Sickle for Details, but Asks an
Endorsement of the Home-Rule Principle


Endorsement of the Home-Ruie Principle
EDINBURGH, June 18.-Mr. Gladstone spoke
in Music Hall here tonight. Tickets of admis-
sion had been issued and the hall, which is capa-
BILE of holding 1000 persons, was filled to its ut
most capacity. The audience cheered for Mr..
Gladstone and Lord Roseberry, and groaned for
Mr.. Chamberlain, and Lord Harrington. and
other Unionists, but John Cowen. chairman of
Mr.. Gladstone's election committee. who pre-
sided over the meeting, called for silence. When
he began his speech Mr.. Gladstone's voice
seemed less powerful than formerly. He said
that Inkermann was a soldiers battle. 1t was
not won by generals tactics or ability, but
by soldiers valor. Equally were the present
dissolution of Parliament and the general elec
tions the peoples battle Referring to the &C.
ceding Liberals, Mr.. Gladstone said the question
was whether the country would resolve, with
strong sense of justice and sympathy for Ireland,
to compensate for these defections IL am
strongly convinced" he said, that the people
have resolved to carry the day, notwithstanding
the opposition of prominent leaders of the Lib
eral party. This contest was fought against US
by the officers of our own army. The Conserva-
tives were content to leave the work In the Sc
ceders hands. They call themselves Unionists
and dissidents. They wish to preserve the pa
per union unaltered. We feel that it should be
specially conserved so far as it is valuable. We
seek the union of heart and mind, which
we are struggling to restore. 1t is
desirable to speedily close this great controversy,
for every interest in this country and the posi-
ton of all parties will be deplorabfe. Public
business will be interrupted and public conf
dence shaken Social order in Ireland will not
be restored unless the people speak clearly, man.
fully and decsively in such way as the ques
ton merits. Do not let it be said that the Ma
question. Some finch from difficulty; some
turn their backs in the hour of trouble. Let the
Nation not do likewise. Rest assured that if the
Nations voice be given in defense of our cause,
when the contest is settled and the excitement
has passed away, it will resemble the
old questions of religious disability,
parliamentary reform and free trade
the people will wonder why opposition
was raised. AS before they forgot the opposition
to the repeal of the corn laws and the removal
of religious disability, so will they now forget
the opposition to the change we are striving to
attain. The Irish claims were defeated by Irish
agency, the Conservatives having obtained forty
seats through the support of the Parnelltes.
Do not praise or blame Mr. Parnel for his ac-
ton. Suppose the forty had been deducted from
our opponents in the home-rule division, it
would have made their number 301 instead of
341; suppose the forty had been added to our 81
it would have made us 351 instead of 81.
cit is important that the electors should real
ize the true issue. which ia much disputed. Is
it choice between opposite policies regarding
Ireland, between opposite principles of action,
or a choice upon the details cf large and COM
plicated bill9 Important journals urge you not
to consider the policy to be pursued, but to en-
tange yoursel YES in the details Of this or that
particular method of establishing that policy
The question you are asked to decide is the
proposition to establish legislative body in Ire
land to manage exclusively Irish affairs. 1t is a
principle upon which you called to vote, and
not details and particulars. or even bill.
propose to reduce the issue to point wherefrom
there can be no escape.
Among the great and painful detections from
honesty and honor, whereof we convinced,
and which we deeply lament. Is that of our
former powerful ally, the Scotsman newspaper.
misses and groansl. which has rendered great
and valued services to the Liberal policy The
Scotsman now goes to the root of the matter and
puts the issue in a way in which i. can be met
more meritoriously, just as our opponents in
Parliament put the issue in way at one time
favoring home rule and the principle of the bill,
and yet voted against 1t, because they objected
to the details of the measure. The Scotsman
puts the question fairly and clearly. 1t says:
"Any general professions by ministerialists of
desire for self-government in Ireland will test
the value or meaning of these professions. Let
candidate be asked if he would. in the new
Parliament support Gladstone's bill if reintro-
duced with the alterations explained at the for
eign Office meeting. If he will, he is for disunion
and ought to be rejected. No play upon words
will help him out of this position"
Now, mark the coming words:
"Safe self government TOR Ireland is the one
thing most desirable in Mr.. Gladstone's bill, but
there is another most undesirable feature"
now make the Scotsman, and all agreeing with
the Scotsman, a very handsome offer. l am sure,
when they mention safe government, they don't
mean by safe to emasculate the substantive.
They mean that, with reasonable precaution,
the Irish ought to have a real effective control
of Irish affairs That is all we want, all we ask
of you. We never asked Parliament to tie itself
to the details of the bill There is no part of it
that Parliament is not perfectly free to change
il the change is compatible with a principle
likely to forward the application of the principle
better than the provisions embodied in the bill.
We would come to accept the change in this
as no novelty. / make this declaration
on behalf Of the government The case
is this; We had before Us principle
to establish an Irish statutory legislative body.