The Irish standard., 1886-09-04


submit to government not their own.
The question of an autonomous govern
ment will always be fixed in the hearts
or the Irish people, Right Hon.
David Plunkett. first commissioner Of
works, denied that the Judicial rents
were too high. He said that they were
fixed during a period of, and on the
basis of, falling prices. The tendency
of the past eighteen months had been
in the direction CT a decrease in the
number of evictions. The policy Of the
government was to extend the act Of
1881, and it's success largely depended
upon the restoration Of social order.
He concluded by saying that the re-
sponsibility taken upon himself by Mr..
Parnell tonight was All awful and ter
lible one.
MIR. GLADSTONE
followed. His rising was the signal
for loud and prolonged applause. He
began by accusing the government OF
having taken an unusual course 10 60
;ng so far outside OF the speech from
the throne. He did not remember an
occasion in fifty years when the gov
ernment thought it polite to use The
address as an opportunity for explain
ing it's policy beyond the compass OF
the speech. He thought the govern
ment should have reserved the main
lines Of their measures until the mea-
sures themselves could be presented. /.
But he was unwilling to complain OF
the action Of the government. He init
mated that he would take no part in
the division on Mr. Parnell's amend
ment, because he deprecated any at
tempt to force definite premature ex-
preston Of opinion on the policy which
the government foreshadowed for their
future guidance. Their policy, how
ever. was open to remarks. 1t bore
upon five diifel ent points, namely: The
issue of royal commissions, questions
of public works, land purchase, on in
uuiring into land rents and the subject
of local government. He believed that
the government policy was not sober
one, but was .eminent}y complex and
difficult. Mr.. Gladstone described the
policy as an absolute inversion OF the
policy Of the late government. In
stead OF giving Ireland government
the present government proposes that
England should govern Ireland to q
greater extent tllani it did at the present
time. The late government had pro
posed that the rents and revenues OF
Ireland be taken as security for the
land purchase loans. He only hoped
that
THE CRITICS VINO CoNDEliNED
that security would be equally vigi]ant
concerning the security now proposed
The government, be continued, evident
Iy intended to adopt a large scheme OF
land purchase. Was the tenant. he
asked, to be treated upon the basis OF
the real rentabla value Of the property,
and the landlord upon the basis OF
judiclous rent? And was the state to
make up the difference? MI. Glad
stone maintained that there was no
power within Parliament eyer to carry
Into effect such a fatal proposition.
EIe had been taunted with having be-
come the leader Of the Irish National
it's, as if that was a charge against him.
But he was delighted at having any
share or part whatever in becoming a
leader or a follower--he did not care
Wilhelm any movement tending to
make smooh the path OF the people OF
Ireland and encourage them to hope
for a realization Of their just rights.
He feared the policy now announced
would increase the difficulties which
the late government had striven to di-
minish because that policy meant
the adjournment Of Ireland's hopes,
because it offered Ireland what
she did not want, and postponed, as
long as possible, q consismmatlon
which alone can give rest and repose to
Ireland.
u,4+Io ~ T:o;fIo-no -nraun