The Labor enquirer., 1886-07-31
The Home Rule Struggle and
j. How II Has Been
+ Reached.
Its Probable Effect Upon the
Socialist Agitation Until
Settled.
A Convention Which Amounted tt
Nothing in Particular-Trade
in England Dead.

For some months past the home rule
question has overshadowed all others.
The political world is IN ferment such
as this country has not known for gen.
erations. Political parties are getting
mixed up and split upin most aston
ishing way. Every prominent politi'
clan seems to be trying to give US as
great surprise as possible. The most
advanced are the most back ward the
oldest are youngest the dullest are the
lveliest, and, in fact, the political world
seems all gone awry to an extent that
battles description and admits ouly of
wonder.
For the past ten years the Irisl4 ques-
tion has been growing in importance.
| The appearance of Mr.. Parneil, with his
new method of agitation put an entirely
new face on Ireland's hopes, When he
first entered parliament he had only two
or three colleagues. Isaac Butt was the
leader of the Irish party, but, good man
as he was, he gave no hope to the work
ers for Ireiand's political emancip patton.
He was succeeded, after his death, by
Mr.. Shaw, demi-semi home ruler, who,
after few months office. was replaced
by Mr.. Parnell. Since Parnell became
chairman of the Irish parliamentary
party the Irish movement went on
new line. The Land League, founded
by Michael Davitt, rapidly spread
throughout Ireland and Great Britain
and gave expression to the diecontent
prevailing throughout the country.
This agitation wa5 carefully worked up
and the organization prospered until it
became really stronger than the govern
ment of the country.
From the first ParnelPs genius as
parliamentary tactician was apparent to
everyone. When he had only half
dozen reliable colleagues he made him
self thorn in the side of the govern
ment. He resisted the annexation of
the transvaal under Beaconfeld's ad-
ministration H97480) and persistently
fought for the abolition Of fogging in
the army. The discussions on the esti-
mates we're also a bone of contention
between the Irishmen and the govern
ment. In the selection of his subjects
for obstructi N Mr.. Parnell showed a
great deal of tact and would have won
the good feeling of the English people if
thev had been less servi ely attached to
their own political leaders. But in spite
of these actions the democracy" of
England remained ignorant and bigoted
as ever on the Irish question.
The land bill of 1880, framed bv Mr..
Gladstone, was an important concession,
although it did little practical good. In
that year Pa: nell's colleagues were in
creased to about forty good. His powers
of obstruction were so much increased
that the procedure rules had to be al
tered. Ia spite of this his powers be-
came stronger and when it was known
that the general election of 1885 would
give him at least eighty staunCh home
rulers he was master of the situation.
The conservatives began scheming for
his support aud got it on condition that
they would, if successful at the polls,
give Ireland parliament. The conser-
vatives promised this but changed their
views when they found that the elec-
tions had resulted in the return of as
many liberals as there were home rulers
and nationalists combined. The conser
vatiye government instead of home rule
proposed more coercion, including the
suppression of the Irish National League.
A few DAYS afterwards they were thrown
out of office by the Irish vote and Mr..
Gladstone again became prime minister.
Then began the struggle which is sure
to end very soon in home rule for Ire
land. Mr.. Gladstone brought in home
rule bill and bill for the purchase OF
land bY the tenants. The Irish party
was full of enthusiasm, and forgetting
| Mr.. GIadstone's many grevlous sins
against them in the past, now gave him
their fall support. But new troubles,
from unexpected quarters, were at hand.
The conservative party went solid
against the bill. The whigs under Hart
ington Joined them, and number oI
white-liveret radicals joined the wings.
The bill was not debated to any exte Mt
but on the second reading it was re
jected by majority of thirty.
The division brought about some curl
GUS friendships. Nj. Chamberlain was
found in the embraces Of Harrington
whom he had dubbed the Rip Var
Wrinkle of politicians, with Mr.. Goscher
the Jew money-lender and Egyptian
bondholder) whom he had likened tc
the skeleton at the feast, and with the
bulk of the tory party, whom he hac
formerly abhorred.
The elections are now going on and a:
l write it is next to impossible that Mr.
Gladstone can secure a majority. Tint
conservatives are winning seats steadily
the liberal unions helping them. Th'
Irish party is improving its already gooC
position. The Gladstonian liberals ar,
going under by the combined influence