Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-28
GLADSTONE'S CONCESSION
Valuable ACCEssIoNS TO HIS
RANK AND FILE.


LONDON, May 27.-The general Liberal
meeting called by Premier Gladstone as
sembled ct the Foreign Office this after.
noon. The meeting was we'll attended by
the Premier's supporters, but none of the
known Harrington or Chamberlain dissi-
dents were present. Mr.. Gladstone was
heered when be entered.
He at once proceeded to the business on
hand and announced that the government
mad decided to modify clause No. "A of the
| nome rule bill, excluding Irish repre-
sentatives from Westminster.
lie did not state what the nature of the
promised modification was to be, but did
state that the government had decided to
modify the clause, provided that the bill
! passed its second reading and was re-
lerred to a select committee for action
during the autumn session Of Parliament.
AN AMENDED BILL.
Mr.. Gladstone declared that he would,
at the autumn session, introduce an
amended Irish home rule bill. The meet
| ing cordially approved the position taken
by Mr.. Gladstone. The Premier's follow
ers now express themselves as sanguine
of the success of his Irish policy. They
do not speak as If they feel at all that any
concessions have been made TO the Cham
berlain and Harrington followings, but
maintain that Mr.. Gladstone has defined
the governments policy in way so clear
and satisfactory that the Liberal waverers
can no longer withhold their approval,
and must rally TO the Premier's support.
BREAKING DOWN THE OPPOSITION.
This, it Is thought by the government
party, must result in practically break
! ing down the so. called dlssident opposi-
] "a III
actuated by purely personal motives any
further ground for hostile atlliatiOn. A
number of the Liberal dissidents who did
not care to risk compromising themselves
| by attending the meeting have hailed with
undisgutsed satisfaction the attitude of
apparent cOuciliatiOn adopted by the
Premier. These now openly proclaim
their intention to return 10 their party
allegiance and vote with the government
for the second reading.
THE FIRST ACCEssI0Ns.
Among the first to announce their re-
turn have been John Fletcher MOulton,
Radical member Of Parliament for Clap
ham, and Samuel Whitbread, Liberal
member for Bedford. Both were adher-
ents Of Lord Harrington before to-day's
meeting. Both have since announced
| themselves as supporters OF Mr.. Glad
stone. MIR. WhitbTead's accession is per.
haps the most influential that the Premier
could have desired. He is a gentleman
referred to as a vice counsellor by Mr..
! Gladstone in his Great speech intro
ducing the home rule bill on April s,
and by reason OF his high character and
sound judgment has long been a cOnspic-
uOus member of the Liberal party. Be
sides the above named a number Of other
dissidents have openly pronounced them
selves satisfied with Mr.. GladstOne's
present attitude and the concessions he
has promised to make, and declared their
intention to vote for the second reading.
The general opinion this afternoon was
that the home rule bill will now certainly
pass the second reading.
CHEERS UPON CHEERS.
There was a great crowd assembled
outside the building. The Premier's ad-
dress was frequently greeted by his audi
tors with bursts Of applause, which were
heard by the crowd outside and re-
echoed by cheers.
This evening some OF the Liberals who
attended the meeting say they do not be-
lieve that the concessions promised by
Mr.. Gladstone, although very great, will
secure Mr.. Chamberlain's support.
THE ATTENDANCE.
Two hundred and fifty members OF Par
lament attended the meeting. Mr.. Glad
stone was very vigorous and animated in
his address. He said that nobody would
be committed TO the support OF the home
rule bill by listening without protest or
objection to what he had TO say in favor
| of the measure, because he desired the
| fullest freedom TO prevail in the Liberal
| party in respect to it. Lord Salisbury's
recent speech in which he said the bus-
ness Of England and Ireland was to gov
ern had decided the condition OF the con-
trOversy, because he was the official
spokesman Of the opposition. The irish
| policy OF the governments opponents be-
| ing, therefore, coercion the Importance Of
settling the Irish question is now intensi-
fed.
THE ABSTRACT RBsOLUTION.
1t had been proposed to settle the mat
| ter by the adoption Of an abstract resOlu-
tiOn affirming the principle OF home rule
! for Ireland but Mr.. Gladstone thought
the course proposed by the gov vernment
would answer better. An endeavof had
been made to emasculate the principle OF
autonomy for Ireland and convert the bill
into a delusion and a snare. Continuing,
| the Premier said the members who voted
for the home rule bill would by doing so
be In no way committed to the support OF
the Irish land purchase bill, the latter be-
| ing matter which would remain wholly
liwithin the power OF the Imperial Parlia-
ment even after the adoption OF home rule.
! Let those who said concession OF home
! rule 20 ireland would impair imperial au-
! fthOrity remember that the Imperial Par
| lament was omnipOtent and unable 20
diyest itselfof it's powers which belonged
10 the nation.
HARRINGTON EULOGHED.
Mr.. Gladstone warmly euiOgized Lord
Harrington, who be said possessed integ-
rity and manliness. The Premier, how
ever, az no point during bis speech made
any allusion TO Mr.. Chamberlain. Con-
cerniDg the matter OF concessions Mr..
Gladstone said the government was will
ling 10 submit 10 Parliament plan enti-
Ting Irish representatives 20 be invited
70 attend the Imperial Parliament when-
ever proposals Of taxation alcc ing Ire
land were up for consideration. More
over, II the House OF Commons 50 wished
the government was ready TO undertake
the responsibility OF entitling the Irish 10
be heard in the Imperial Parliament on
imperial or reserved questions.
RECONSTRUCTION ENTAILED.
Changes in the home rule bill to 40.
complieh these results would, however,
entail reconstruction OF the measure.
The government therefore thought that
after the second reading OF the bill Il
might be postponed until the autumn ses-
siOaa Of Parliament, or the government
might resummOn Parliament 20 an early
session IN 1887 and then again submit the
bill with such necessary amendments as