National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-06-05
Mr.. Blaine's Inspiriting Words for
Irfsh Home Rule.

New YORK Mail and Express
Mr.. Blaine is not the sort Of man to be
restrained from his full privileges as an
American citizen merely because the news
papers and politicians treat him as the
probable Republican nominee for the presi-
dency in 1888. His speech on Irish home
rule at Portland last night shows this. It
is free, unconstrained, and hearty express
sion OF his own-and Of nearly unanimous
American-sentiment on theme which
has for months been the dominant subject
OF discussion wherever the English lam
guage is spoken. IL Is u warm recognition,
by the most powerful popular leader in this
country, OF the work OF the greatest popular
leader In Great Britain. It sends to Mr..
Gladstone, In this hour OF temporary defeat
and partial darkness, a,message OF intelli-
gent, cordial and courageous appreciation
aud goodwill, that will be OF great moral
and political service TO the cause OF home
rule in its coming conflict. Mr.. Gladstone
knows by his own experience that great
party leader, though out Of power, who has a
following drawn TO him by pure force OF his
abilities and personal winning traits, does
not speak as an individual, but as one
whose utternnces are those OF a great party,
FEELING the responsibilities Of its liability to
DC called TO power when thesulfrLge is next
appealed to-.
MIR. Blaine's speech presents all tho main
aspects OF the home rule question, with his
customary originality, clearness, and per-
suaslveness OF statement. 1t will enable
Engllshmen to understand on what grounds
the best and best-instructed American sen
timent has favored the general propositions
underlying the home rule agitation. IL
VIII, also, enlighten Englishmen as TO tho
methods by which the partial aud not
wholly consistent scheme that Mr.. Glad
stone has been fighting for may be made
complete and consistent. Engllshmen VIII
ponder seriously when they read this state
ment by Mr.. Blaine as TO what the people
oil th,s country would say II the question
were left to them, viz;
Adopt the federal system. have your lcgisla-
ture Tor Ireland, your legislature fcr England,
your legislature for Wales your sgisinitire for
Scotland, mud your imperial 'atllament for
Irish be settled by freshmen, questions that
are English be settled by fns, ishmeu; uucs-
tons that are Welsh be settled ny Weiil..asii,
scotchmen iApplausel let questions that
affect the whole empire OF Great Britain DO
settled BY parliament ia which tho f0ur great
represented. (Applausc). / say that would
be the shorthand method of settling the cues
ton, for We have lived that way for nearly 100
years In the United States of America IAp-
plause)., l do not forget, however, that IL
would be political empiricsm to ATTEMPT by
any prescription TO give the exact measure, the
eNact details OF any measure, that should settle
ms long dispute between Great Britain and
Ireland.
That will be very yeasty bit of political
advice togetinto the average English mind.
1t will be powerful disintegrator Of the
loosely strung together and motley English
opposition to home rule. And Mr.. Blaine's
earnest admonition to the Irish to repress
all deeds OF violence will be very induen-
tial in that quarter. Our Mugwump con-
temporaries will be most seriously exer-
cised by Mr. Blaine's temperate and Judi
cious and yet earnest utterances. They
will he especially embarrassed by his part
ing advice TO Irish.Amerlcaus- these
timely words: ~ have only one more word
to say and that word is that the Irishmen
OF this country should keep this question,
as II has been kept thus far, out of our own
! political struggles [great applause1 and
mark any man as at enmity with their
! cause who seeks to use It for personal or
| partisan advancement. [Applause And
IN that spirit you can, in the lofty language
OF that most eloquent of Irishmen, Ed
mund Burke [applausel, you can attest
the justice Of your cause to the retiring
generation; you can attest It to the ad-
vancing generation between whom we
stand as the link In the chain OF eternal
order: you can justify your policy before
every tribunal; you can carry It with con-
fldence before the judgment day OF God. :"
| lLong continued applause.