Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-14
FOREIGN NEWS.
A MANIFESTO
Issued bv Gladstone to the Electors Of
Midlothian.

-, AokDoN, June 10.
Gladstone has issued manifesto the elect.
ors of Midlothian, in which lie SAYS:
In consequence of the defeat of tn. bill for
the better government of Ireland, the minis
try advised and Her Majesty was pleased to
sanction the dissolution of Parliament, for a
decision BY the nation of the gravest and
likewise the simplest issue that has been sub
mitted to It for half Q century 1t is only the
sense of the gravity of this issue which in.
duces me, at period of life when nature
cries aloud for repose, to seek, after sitting
IN thirteen PaTliaments, seat in the four.
.eenth. and with this view to solicit for the
fifth time the honor of your confidence. AT
the last election endeavored in my addresses
and speeches to impress upon you the fact
that a great crisis had arrived in the affairs
OF Ireland. As weak as the late government
was for ordinary purposes, it had great ad.
vanta0es for dealing with that crisis. A
comprehension measure proceeding from that
government would have received warm and
extensive support within the liberal party,
and would probably have closed the Irish
controversy within the present session and
have left the Parliament of 1885 free to pros
ecute the now stsgpant work of ordinary leg
isiatlon. On the 26 of last January, the op-
posite policy of coercion was declared to have
OF Carnarvon alone refusing to share in it.
The Irish question was thus placed in the
foreground to the expulsion of every other.
The only point remaining to determine was
the manner in which it was to be dealt with.
In my judgment the proposal of coercion was
not justified by fact and was doomed to Ger
tain and disgraceful failure. Some other
method for governing Ireland ought to be
sought for. Therefore, Il view ed without regret
the fall OF the late cabinet and when sum
m0ned by Her Majesty to form a new one.
undertook 1t on the basis of the anti-coercion
policy, with the fullest explanation to those
whose aid sought as colleagues, when |
proposed to grant Ireland domestic legisla.
ture and maintain the honor and consolidate
the unity of the empire. The government
was formed and work at once put in hand. You
will now understand how and why it is that
the affairs of Ireland, and not for the first
time, have thrust aside every other subject
and adjourned our hopes of useful and pro-
gressive legislation. Thus, gentlemen, it is
that this great and simple issue has come
upon you and demands your decision. Will
you govern Ireland by coercion or will you
let Ireland manage her own atfairs? There
are two clear, positive and intelligent plans
before the worlds There is the plan of the
government anu tnere Is the plan OF Lord
Salisbury. Our plan Is that Ireland, under
we'll considered conditions, transact her own
affairs. His plan is to ask Parliament to re-
new the repressive laws and enforce them
resolutely for 20 years, by the end of which
time he assures us that Ireland will be fit to
accept any government, in the way of local
government, on the repeal of the coercion
laws, you may wish to give her. Among the
benefits l anticipate from your acceptance of
our policy are these The consolidation of
the united empire and great addition to its
strength; the stoppage of the heavy, constant
and demoralizing waste of the public treas
ure; the abatement and gradual extinction of
ignoble feuds in Ireland, and that develop
ment Of her resources which experience shows
to be the natural consequence of free and or
derly governments; the redemption of the
honor of Great Britain from the stigma fos-
tered upon her, almost from time mmemo.
rial in respect to Ireland, by the judgment of
the whole civilized world; and lastly the res
toration of Parliament to its dignity and eff
cheney and the regular progress of the busi-
ness of the country.