Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-16
SALISBURY'S FIREBRAND.
RELIGION GRAFTED INTO THE
IRISH QUESTION.


Anxious To Keep Out of Parliament
to Dodge Criticism for Persecution
of Protestants--A New Scheme of
Organization Announced.
LONDON, May 15.--A great meeting Of
opponents OF home rule was held in St.
James Hall tonight, Ell5s Ashmead-Bart-
lett presiding. The side galleries were
crowded with ladies. The hall was pro-
fusely draped with the national colors,
and scrolls bearing the names OF the Con-
servative leaders, past and present, were
displayed. Lords Salisbury, George
Hamilton, Lewlsham, Limerick, Bury,
Sidmouth and Bradburn and many men,
bers OF the House of Commons were on
the platform. The chairman announced
that a new scheme of organization bad
been ratified to-day, making the Conserv-
ative party more party Of the people
than it had heretofore been,
THE RESOLUTIONS.
A. b. Forward, member for Lancashire,
introduced a series of resolutions to the
effect that the meeting represented the
Conservative associations of the king
dom, and that it had confidence in the
ability OF Lord alIsbury to maintain
Great Britain and Ireland as enc united
kingdom. and to guard safely the union
and greatness of the empire. The resolu-
tions were carried amid cheers.
Lord Salisbury said his policy on the
! burning question of the day was the tra-
ditiOnal policy of the Tory party to main
tain the union. This was the unbroken
tradition of the Tories. He would simply
try as an humble instrument to hand over
the burning torch to his successors.
CoNCEALMENT DENIED,
He denounced the abominable insinua-
tion that the Conservatives concealed
! their policy. There was fair grounds for
hoping that to-day week the proposals of
the government would be a matter OF his
tory, but the question would survive.
The loyal party had fight before it. 1t
would take long time to root out the
poisonous weed, because the seed had
been s0wn with an unsparing hand. In
regard to the guarantees alleged TO have
been made by the Irish members thatthe
would accept this bill with an amend
ment providing for Irish represen tatfOn in
W estminster. the speaker said that very
attitude of the Parnellltes showed that
they did not desire to come to the English
Parliament.
WHAT 1T WOULD INVOLVE.
That would involve criticism Of their
| treatment Oftheir Protestant c0untrymen,
/ aud that was what they did not desire
/ After criticising Mr.. GladstOneIs action
toward Ireland since the passage Of the
! Irish church bill. Lord Salisbury said he
| di not wish his audience TO infer that
Mr.. Gladstone was not an honest man.
| but he said the Premier could not be
/ trusted. The speaker cOntended that
| Ireland was not nation, because it con-
| tanned two different deeply-diVided races.
| 1t depended, he SAID. upon the habits of a
people whether self-government should
! be conferred upon them. The habits Of
the Irish were very bad. They had be-
come habituated to the use of knives and
slugs. The question of religion divided
them.
ROMAN CATHOLIC INFLUENCE.
The peculiar influence OF the Catholic
clergy and the manner in which that in
fluence had been used must be considered
before placing such a weapon as home
rule in the hands OF the Irish. There
would be no necessity for coercion If the
Irish abandoned their habits of mutila-
tion and murder, OF robbery, and of pre-
venting men who were attached to Eng
land from earning livelihood.
Ireland wanted frm, consistent
poIicy--a firm government. That was the
policy Of the Tory party. Lord Salisbury
recommended that portion OF the money
with which 1t was intended to buy out the
Irish landlords be spent In helping the
Irish to emigrate. This, be said, would
be the best remedy for ireland. He urged
unity and action, and said that the time for
using both was close at hand. 1t re-
mained with the Conservatives TO say
what would be the result of the present
discussion.
Lord George Hamilton moved a vote of
thanks to Lord Salisbury.
The motion was seconded by Edward
James Saunderson, member OF Parlia-
ment, and was carried with great enthu-
siasm.
The Orangemen of Australia have sent
a cable dispatch TO the Loyalists OF Ire
land promising TO aid them in their en-
deavOrs to prevent the adoption Of Glad
stones home rule scheme.