The Irish standard., 1886-11-06

founded, and more for the informa-
ton of the American portion OF my
audience than for the entertainment OF
nv own countrymen, I will quote from
this speech, delivered some Is months
ago by Joseph Chamberlain. to show
his clear inconsistency in this present
attitude, and to present clear state
ment of the irish demand in seeking the
restoration of parliament for the man
agement of Irish affairs. Speaking in
June, 1885, Mr.. Joseph chamberlain
said: "The pacitication of Ireland at
this moment depends. believe. on the
concession to Ireland Of the right to
govern itself III the matter OF its DO
nestle business What is the alterna-
tive? Are you content, I; fter nearly SO
years of failure to renew once more the
experience of representative leglsla-
ton? Is it not disagreeable to us that
even now it is only by unconstitutional
means that we are able to secure peace
and order in one 0t Her MaJastys
dominions? Lao not believe that the
majority of Englishmen have che
slightest conception Of the system un-
der which England attempts to rule
the sister country Of ireland. 1t is a
system which is founded on the basis
of &c, 900 soldiers encanped as in hos
tile country. 1t is a SUSTAIN such as
that which Russia governs Poland, or
as that which prevailed i'll Venice u1l-
! der the rule OF Austria. An lrishman
at this moment cannot move a step or
lift finger in any parochial, NUM-
cpal or educational work without be-
ing confronted, lnterfered with or con-
troled by an English Official, appointed
10y a foreign government, and without
a shadow Of representative authority. "
The man who stands to-day before
the people of England as tine most in
veterate enemy OF Home Rule is the
Joseph Chamberlain, who gave voice to
those sentiments and those opinions Is
or 16 months ago. " hat is the explaDa-
tion, i may be asked of this remarkable
change in his views on she Irish ques-
,ion. Various theories have been
broached in explanation OF his attitude.
In England and Ireland it is believed
that his position is due more 20 per-
sonal motives than to political conylc-
tlons. MI. Gladstone, it seems, did net
consult "Brammagem" Joe when he
was preparing his scheme of Irish self
government; and then again, he COM
En1itted the unpardonabie offense-from
the point Of view OF Mr.. Chamberlain
that of promoting better and ADLER
man generally to the Chief secretary.
One Of your far seeing American critics,
in trying TO explain this change in the
attitude of Mr.. Chamberlain, has, /
think, given the true version. He
wanted to answer the question by
Mr.. Gladstone why MIR. Gladstone was
in favor Of Home Rule and why Mr.
Chamberlain was opposed to it. The
explanation, he declared, was this, that
one man had q heart and the other Was
was possessed Of q long purse and all
eye-glass.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me SUM-
marize the forces pitted against us, and
the influence called into action 70 de-
| feat Home Rule at the general election
and then let us examine what has been
done by all this calumny and mlsrspre-
sentation. The result was simply this:
That Ireland still returned n OF her
representatives to1 in favor OF Home
Rule, that Scotland elected to 2of her
representatives pledged to give par
lament to ireland, and gallant little
Wales elected 5 to l. England, not
withstanding all the appeals to politi-
cal fears and religious hatred (of which
many of you know right we'll was a unit
in opposition to the Irish cause ten
years ago. actually elected 1875 of it's
members to go to Westminster and
! vote for the restoration of parliament
for Ireland In other words it the
com mparauively small number Of 10000
more votes out OF my electorate OF 49,
l00,000 Of people in Great Britain had
been cast for the Liberal leader lie
would haye been returned, with DOW
er sufficient to give legislative power
to our country.
| Now venture to say, notwithstand-
ing Lord Randolph Churchill's boast
that the general election was final
verdict on the Home Rule question,
that we, in Ireland. are justified in tax
ing an opposite view Of the result aud
in looking upon it
AS A VIRTUAL TRIUMPH
| for the cause Of Ireland. Why, when
YOU recollect What was obtained IN the
English mind five short years ago !;
when YOU remember who the man was
that was then in power, and what he
attempted to do for Ireland when you
bear in mind that at that time Mr. Glad
stone was at the head of affairs and with
powerful party in the House of Conn
mons. and instead OF offering Home
n. :k.,&: TrnIor1 a o77flr.