The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-04-21
IRISH HOME RULE
A Memorable Day in the British
House of Commons.
Mr.. Gladstone's Plan for a Parlia-
ment at Dublin.

Premier Gladstone's introduction of his
bill for home rule in Ireland, brought before
the house of commons on the Sth, was the
occasion Of one of the most memorable
scenes ever witnessed in the British parlia-
ment A cable dispatch describes the scene
as follows:
No matter how full description you get,
it will he impossible to realize the nature of
the scenes in and about the house OF COM
mons on this most memorable day. Pre-
cedents were all tossed to the winds before
the day was fairly begun When the first
Orange member, Major E. J. Saunderson, Of
Armagh, arrived at o'clock and asked o
policeman if the door was open yet, he found
O hundred men had already had breakfast in
the house. The Irish mustered their full
number, save Captain O'Shea. They grabbed
the tory seats, so that the latter had to crowd
into tho galleries and stand up, and, being
scattered, lost all sense of the cohesion which
O compact body of men feel.
The scramble for seats was terrific among
the outsiders Ladies began to come at 10
o'clock, and at noon one could see duchesses
sitting Oh the stairs eating penny buns while
waiting for the doors to open. Later on a
the commons lobby, when the
peers gathered at the door of their gal
lery, waiting for it to open. and were
ordered about by lackeys like common
mortals. The Irish and the radicals
dsvS sh sgses WIEN he from Door 90ssFx
opened the peers made a grand rush
like q crowd in the gallery of theatre,
even the dignifed Lord Spencer jumping
over the seats like a hoodlum to gain the
front row. The Prince of Wales, PrinceVic-
tor, and Prince Christian sat over the clock
watching the proceedings glumly. Members,
strangers, peers, and diplomateS were all
packed in like sardines.
The reception of Mr.. Gladstone outside Of
impressive. Dense crowds stood for hours
in a pouring rain waiting for him to come.
It has been many years since the queen
herself has heard such cheers as thun-
dered all the way from Downing
street to the parliament house. AS he rode
beside his wife, bareheaded, bowling his
thanks from an open carriage, and holding
an umbrella, the crowd became so enthusias-
tic that it forced its way past the police and
filed the palace yard after him, cheering
fervently.
His speech-probably the best Of his life,
as it certainly was the most momentous-
began huskily. Soon his voice cleared, and
at the end it was as resonant as an organ pipe.
When he entered the house all the liberals
but six or seven rose to their feet, as did the
Irish, who shouted vehement welcome. The
speech throughout was punctuated with ap.
plause and there was no sign of dissent.
Mr.. Gladstone said that the time had arrived
when honor and duty required parliament to
establish harmony between Great Britain
and Ireland on footing of free institutions
in which the English, Scotch and Irish should
have like interests. (Chears)
He briefly reviewed the cOercive and re-
pressive legislation of the rast, and deprecat-
ed further resort to such measures. Further
coercion, to be successful, required an auto
cracy in the government survey of public
transactions lCheers from the Parnellites1
The law in England, he said, was felt to be
English law: in Scotland it was felt to be
Scotch; but it was not felt to be Irish in Ire
land, and the Irish must be enabled to have
confidence in the law of their land.
The problem for parliament, he said, was
to reconcile imperial unity with diversity Of
legislatures. He believed the government
had found the solution Of this problem by
creating q parliament in Dublin for the
business of legislation and administration
on purely Irish affairs. The political
equality Of the three countries must be rec
ognized. and therefore there must be an equi-
table distribution of the imperial funds.
Safeguards for the protection OF the Protest
ant minority in Ireland must be established
The main features of Mr. Gladstone's bill
are as follows:
It establishes parliament at Dublin, with
q maximum duration of session OF five years
The parliament is to consist OF two cham
bers-one having 103,and the other 2O6 men,
Eers.
Parliament to have no power to establish
any religion as State Church, but will have
power to deal with laws affecting trade, nav
igation, coinage. etc.
All proceeds of customs and excise duties
to be held to meet Irish obligations.
The viceroyalty to remain, but to be made
a nom political office.
At the conclusion of Mr. Gladstones speech
Mr.. Trevelyan, who recently resigned the
position of secretary for Ireland, arose and
explained the reason of his resignation, say
that although liberal he could not con-
sent to Mr.. Gladstone's plan for home
rule in Ireland He was followed by Mr..
Parnell, who said that while reserving
his full expression Of opinion until he had
seen Mr.. Gladstone's bill, he congratulated
the house on the fact that there was still liv-
ing IN English statesman who could devote
his attention t, this important matter, and
begged to thank Mr.. Gladstone for
what would not only prove Denen-
cial measure from the Irish point
Of view, but which he (Parnell believed
would be found to be of equal benefit to Eng
land The bill, nevertheless, contained blots
which thu Irish repre- ;entatives would 10
their best to remove.
On motion of Mr.. Chamberlain the debate
was adjourned, Sir VIM. Harcourt pre-
viously stating that Mr.. Gladstone would
move the next day to give the debate pre-
:edence over other matters.
T. P. OConnor, NJ. P, prominent fol-
ower of Parnell, says in a cable dispatch
that at meeting of the nationalist members,
Mr. Parnell presided and the Gladstone meas
IRE was discussed. Mr.. Parnell accepted
the principles of the bill on behalf of the
nationalist party, giving his warm support to
Mr.. Gladstone'S scheme as whole,
but pointing out details which in his opinion
were open to strong objection, which at the
proper time he should consider it his duty to
urge. In conclusion Mr.. O'Connor says:
"Comparing notes, it may be fairly said that
the majority Of the house is convinced now
that home rule is inevitable, and cannot be
delayed"