The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-06-10
Blaine on Ireland.

The home rule meeting in the city hall,
Portland, Me-, recently attracted an inn
mense throng. Gov. Robie presided, and
after several speeches James G. Blaine was
introduced, and said:
have been asked to explain, il could,
just what the Irish question is. / appreci-
ate the request for an explanation OF n
question that calls forth so much sympa-
thy and sentiment on the part OF the world
at large and evokes so much opposition
among those who are directly interested.
Now, what is home rule? Why, it is what
every state and territory OF the United
States enjoys. and it is what Ireland does
not enjoy. Mr.. Blaine described the pres
ent legislative helplessness OF Ireland, not
able to do the slightest thing without the
sanction ofparliament, and created amuse-
ment by picturing similar state OF affairs
in this country. suppose if the question
were left to the United States to de-
eide we should say, adopt the led
eral system, have your legislature
land, your legislature for Wales, your
legislature for Scotland and your imperial
parliament for the British empire. Let
questions that effect the whole empire OF
Great Britain be settled by an imperial
parliament do not forget, however, that
it would.be political empryicism.. to attempt
by any prescription to give the exact meas
ure that should settle this long dispute be-
tween Great Britain and Ireland. l am ad-
monished by what have noticed in the
British parliament in discussions concern
ing America not to be too forward in the
knowledge OF details or in prescribed exact
measures, because | suppose they would re-
tort that we know quite as little about
their precise troubles as they know about
ours Therefore l do not stand here sim
ply to say that Mr.. Gladstone's is
PERFECT MEASURE;
but / say that am in favor of any bill
that shall take the first step toward right
ing the wrong and of handing over the gov
ernment to Ireland. The speaker cited
amusing illustrations OF the ignorance OF
English people concerning affairs in the
United States. Lord Salisbury gives the
to be governed by the British, they should
leave. But the Irish have been in Ireland
quite rs long as Lord Salisbury's have
been in England, and very likely for ought
know, his ancestors were Danish pirates
or peasants in Norm andy, who came over
William the Conqueror, centuries after the
Irish were known in Ireland. Therefore
we need not be surprised wo who remem-
ber Salisbury's course in the civil war,
therefore we have to say that Lord Sails.
bury may be called impudent. We would
him insolent. We would not trans
gress truth if we called him brutal. We
knew him in this country. He WAS the
bitterest foe that the government OF the
United States had in the British parlia-
ment during the civil war. He has trans
ferred all the hatred which hissed forth in
the parliament Of Great Britain during our
struggles. Another objection comes. 1t
comes from the Presby terians OF Ulster,
appealing to the Presbyterians of the
United States against granting this bill. I
was educated under Presbyterian infu-
ences, and I have connection with that
church by kindred blood and affinity that
begins with my life, and shall not cease
until my life is ended, and l would be
ashamed OF the Presbyterian church Of
America il it responded to an appeal OF
that kind, which asks that five millio ms of
Irish people shall be kept from free
government because OF the remote danger,
as they fancy that Dublin parliament
would interfere with their liberties
as Presby terians. l know that the Catho-
lies OF Ireland and the Presby terians OF Ire
land can live and do just as the Catholics
of the United States and the Presbyterians
OF the United States live. Mr.. Blaine dis
cussed Mr.. Gladstone's Irish land bill and
quoted statistics to show that some por-
tions of Ireland were marvelously fertile
and productive; yet people there are starv-
ing. He believed the deliverance OF the
Irish people was near athand. Mr.. Blaine
urged that the Irish question be kept out
OF our own political struggles; land mark, "
said he, 'any man il at enmity with their
cause who seeks to use it for partisan ad-
yancement."
Resolutions were adopted expressing
sympathy with Mr.. Gladstone, and cable.
grams expressing cordial support OF the
home rule bill were sent to Mr.. Parnell and
Mr.. Gladstone.