New-York tribune., 1886-01-17
MR.. LABOUCHERE'S SCHEME.
WHAT THE PARNELLITES WOULD ACCEPT.
II THEY COULD GET II.

lrRcM THE RrGuIAn coRREsroSDESr OF IIE TRIHuNE.l
LONDON, December 20.
Mr.. Laboucherc's contribution to the Home Rule
controversy is an important one. II Is no secret
that he has been in communication with some of
the Parnellics He hints at as much in the long
letter which he has addressed To The Times headed
What the Parnellites would accept" He gives
u.s. III an informal way. his credentials. He fre-
queuty voted in the last Parliament with the Irish
and against Mr.. Gladstone's Government.
Owing TO this he was, 10 use his own language,
thrown into personal and friendly relations with
laany of Mr.. Parnell's party. He was.
to put it in palmer words, the usual
intermediary between the Irish and the
Government whips. 1t was not often
that the Irish would make pledges disclose their
plan of action III particular crisis. But If they
would tell anything they would tell it to Mr.
Labouchere. They regarded him as their best
friend among the Liberals-if he will allow himself
TO be called by SO moderate a name. Mr.. Parnel
showed his gratitude for past, and his expectation
of future, services from Mr.. LabOuchere by except
ing him from the anathema he pronounced at the
late election against Liberal candidates in general
The Irish were commanded 10 vote for him. and did
yote tor him, Just as obediently as they voted
against his colleague, Mr. Bradlalgh.
During the recess Mr.. Labouclere has resumed
the functions he used exercise in the last Parl-
ment He has talked over the Home RUE problem
not perhaps with Mr.. Parnell-I do not know
whether he has not-but with the chief among
his lieutenants. The Information he has obtained
is interesting. True, nothing SAID b. any or all of
Mr. Parnells licutenants can be held binding on
their captain. He devolves none of them any
scrapof his authority None Of them is completely
in his confidence. But Of them must knGw the
general outlines of the scheme he would accept.
Mr. Parnell holds himself far aIoof sbrouds him
self and his purposes in such mystery, that he IL
Obliged to let his suboTdiuates guess, TO say the
least at what he wishes other people to believe
lie was aware that communications were
going on with Mr.. Laboucherc. and
it is not to his interest that his most serviceable
friend among the Liberals, and Radicals should be
deceived Nor is Mr. LabOuchere a man on whom
the most aStute politician would TO play
tricks The scheme which he says he thinks the
Irish would accept may therefore be taken as a
real scheme. IL is not complete, the details have
not been thought ont, and some Of the first conse
duences of it's fundamental principles are kept out
of sight. But 1t is scheme which Mr. Parnell
thinks worth putting before the English public
and rs such it merits every attention Let MS look
at two three out of the many points IL cmbodies
The first item provides for the continued
representation of Ireland in the Imperial
tnOueH
ters alone. 1t is not Mr.. Labouchere's
way to soften disagrceable surprise. lie knows
that if there be an argument for Home Rule which
might incline the English to listen it is that the
Parliament at Westminster would thus be freed
from obstruction and allowed to transact its bust
ness. He brushes away that pleasing illusion. Tho
Irish still TO take part in the proceedings Of the
Imperial Parliament. As an English Ministry may
and often does 90 out on a foreign other Imperial
question, the Irish would still be able to influence
and sometimes to decide, the fate of q ministry.
They would presumably vote theu, as now, with
paramount reference to the interests of Ireland.
Then, therefore. now, the interests OF the whole
kingdom and the gravest issues Of Imperial policy
would be determined, not on their merits, bat on
their relations to some Irish policy. ANYBODY can
Judge for himself whether that is form OF Home
Rule likely to commend itself to English acceptance.
The Irish to vote for thing. on the Budget;
that Is, they are to have a hand in settling the
whole financial policy of each year for the whole
kingdom The quota Ireland is to contribute is to
be fixed by the Imperial Parliament, but ireland is
TO raise its quota as it pleases In other words, the
Dublin Parliament is to control taxation for I'm
pcrial purposes. If 1t chooses TO refuse its quota
altogether it will be at liberty to do-so.
The Government OF Ireland is TO consist Of Vice
ROY IA member of the Royal Family, with
$685. year.. Privy Council, Represent
ative Assembly. aud Ministers. The suggestion of
n Royal Viceroy Is a clever ono. 1t has heretofore
been thought that the first step in Home Rule would
be TO abolish this great Office. TO retain it and to
stipulate that the VcerOy should be member of
the rcigning family looks TO be pledge OF loyalty
II may he doubted whether the effect of it would
not DO to insure kind OF tacit sanction for any
policy which the Irish leaders might adopt The
yiceroy could hardly have greater constitutional