The Washington critic., 1886-04-09
WASHINGTON, APRIL 0, 1886
MIR. GLApsroNE,s SPEECH.

world Wlue topic OF COnVersatiOn TO-
day. 1t was memorable occasion and
a wonderful speech. Mr.. Gladstone's
seventy.six Yeas have evidently not
impaired the vigor Of his mind or the
fervor of his oratory. Well might the
Parnell men in Parliament shout them
selves hoarse with cheers and greetings
TO the "old man eloquent"
The Premier's delay in announcing
his Irish programme is explained by
the programme itself. 1t shows how
carefully he has studied the minutest
phases of the great question lie had to
deal with. He said that Ireland had
been wronged and was seriously disaf.
fected, and he was not surprised that
disaffection did exist If either Eng.
land or Scotland had suffered hard
ships similar to those that Ireland has
been called upon to endure the people
Of those two countries would, he be-
lieved, have resorted to means similar
TO those employed by Ireland for
the ventilation and redress of their
grievances.
One great advantage in Mr.. Glad
stones plan is its simplicity. lie goes to
the root of the evil by declaring that all
the trouble has been caused by the alb
sence Of home rule. All peoples.desire
to make their own laws. They naturally
resent and attempt to nullify laws that
are sent to them from abroad. No
matter how good such laws may be,
still it is not the law of the people. Mr..
Gladstone would therefore give Ireland
q Parliament of her own to conduct her
own affairs. 1t would consist of
House of Commons and O House of
Peers, but he would not permit q mem.
Der of either Of those bodies to have
seat in the Westminster Parliament.
He would not have a government for
Ulster and the rest of Protestant Ire
land different from the government for
the whole of the country. 1t would be
too complicated plan and would
recognize the absurd argument that the
minority is to rule, not to be ruled by
the majority. Protestant Ireland
should be protected, but the majority
of the people Of Ireland should have
control of the country.
Mr.. Gladstone does not approve of
the proposed economic ACKNOWLEDGMENT
of the union. Ireland's customs and
excise duties are to be collected and
controlled by the Crown. Ireland is to
bear one-fifteenth of the burdens of the
British empire, and after deducting
that amount and paying the expenses
of her governments administration the
income from the excise and the Gus.
toms is TO be paid into the Irish eX.
chequcr, and together with the reve.
. nue. from other sources, which will be
under control of the Irish Parliament,
be subject to appropriation by that
body.
The disability now existing which
prevents Roman Catholics from holding
offices he proposes shall be removed.
The judges who have been administer
ing the criminal law in Ireland are natu.
rally very unpopular. Mr.. Gladstone's $
plan for dealing with them is a sensi.
bic one. He would antc-datc their pen
sions and future judges would be ap-
pointed by the Irish government. The
constabulary are. to remain under the
present tenure of service and under
their present authority, but the cx-
pense of their maintenance is to be re.
duced about 50 1850, 900 annually The
civil service is, however, to be trans.
ferred to the Irish government, and by
pensioning its present incumbents
gradually the transfer would be made.
Such are the main features of Mr..
Gladstone's plan. About the only SEM
blance of the present misgovernment
of Ireland that will be retained is the
Viceroy, but he will be merely figure
head and have no real authority. On
the whole the plan seems to be wise
and magnanimous--a plan, which If
adopted, will go far towards accom-
plishing the end desired. Mr.. Glad.
stone admits that changes In 1t for the
better may be made as suggested by the
coming debate ON his bill, or by expert.
ence gained In its working should it be
adopted. He seems to have done what
he asks his colleagues to do; that is he
relies less on mere written stipulations
and more on those stipulations written
on the hearts and minds of men.
Second in importance only to Mr.
Gladstone's speech was what Mr.. Par.
nell said about it. He thanked Mr.
Gladstone for what would not only
prove beneficial measure from the
Irish point of view, but would bt
found of equal benefit to England
Some of Mr.. Gladstone's propositions
however, the Irish members would dc
their best to change, he said. They
could not approve Of the financial
propositions nor of the number of mem.
bers of the Irish House of Peers, who
will not be subject to the popular vote.
On the whole he believed that Mr..
Gladstone's plan would be acceptable
to the Irish people. 1t is too early YET
to predict the fate of the bill, but there
are signs that Mr.. Gladstone has
brought back to his standard many oI
the. disaffected Liberals; and that will
them and the Parnell men he can carry
his plan into a law substantially as /
now is, despite the denunciations Of tn,
Tories and Conservatives.
Yesterday was great day for Ire
land; 1t was also great day for Mr.
Gladstone.
THE proposition to admit Washing
ton Territory as q State has an obstacl,