Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-06-18
0LADsTONE's SCHEME FAILS
His Irish Home Rule Bill Defeated by Thirty
Majority.

The Right Hon. George l. Goschen open
ed the debate. His principal fear seemed
to be that if the bill passed great strug-
gle would be inaugurated by the Catholic
clergy of Ireland for the control of educa-
tion of that country.
Parnell followed, and in few
well chosen words condemned
the inHammatory speeches of such men as
Lord Randolph Churchill and Cham.
berain. The result of such speeches was
damaging to the cause of Ireland. OF the
bill itself Parnell said
We know that the legislation which the
premier wishes to constitute is subordi-
nate parliament, and not like Grattan's,
which was co-equal We should prefer the
restitution of the Grattan parliament.
There are practical advantages, however,
in the proposition before us, but a parlia-
ment like Grattan's would be much more
likely To bring about "a final settlement of
the question.
We understand perfectly well that the
imperial parliament has ultimate SUI
premacy and ultimate sovereignty.
quite agree with Gladstone and think it
one OF the most valuable parts OF the bill.
i quite agree with that which Gladstone
offers namely, the responsibility Of main
tanning order in Ireland 10y an Irish par
lament, "a correct provision which no
state could exist without
As far as the Irish people can accept this
bill they would do so as finality. There
was no danger of the Catholics in Ulster
using their power against the protestants.
UNCONVENTIONAL education would unques-
tionably Ice resumed in Ireland. BY con
shutting legislature for the north of
Ireland the protestant majority
would be abandoned to their
fate under "a Dublin parliament.
Not even protestant ulster would he
protected. "The best system of government
for the country | believe to be one which
requires the government to be the result of
all forces of the country As Ireland
never INJURED Chamberlain he could not
see why he threw his sword in the balance
against them This is the first cup of cold
water ever offered Ireland since the recall
of Lord Witzwilliam.
Parnell then arraigned the government
for coercion practiced in Ireland the past
live years in gagging the press, suspend
ing the habeas corpus, suppressing the
newspapers, and manufacturing new
crimes Such things would be done again.
In closing Parnell said
Il say there is no half way house between
granting legislative autonomy TO Ireland
and observation-disclosures and observance
TO that country. But | refuse to believe
those evils will come. | am convinced
there is sufficient number Of members
who VIII disregard the appeal which has
been made To their passions, and that when
the numbers Of the division have been
told tonight it will be known that this
parliament III the nineteenth century has
been wise, brave and generous
enough TO agree to give peace
and happiness to suffering Ireland"
Sir Michael Hicks Beach thought the bill
was IA failure because it did not represent
the views of the liberal party 1t was the
production of one mana man who was
the highest in this kingdom, but still prac
tically alone, the remainder of the liberal
leaders intending TO vote against the bill.
Whatever might be the result of the divis-
ion, II was certain the ma jority of the
representatives of Great Gritain would
oppose the bill. The house had no right
to modify the union without the previous
consent of the people of Great Britain,
who had not yet been consulted.
Mr.. Gladstone followed. On arising he
was loudly cheered. He expressed his
pleasure at having listened to the master
~ exposition of te member from Cork.
The right honorable gentleman says that,
excepting one point, the customs and ex-
else duties, no change was made i'll the
bill after il was first submitted TO the
cabinet. He has no means of knowing
that if il were true, and it happens to be
entirely untrue. This is matter of great
Importance, though it is one that
has never been seen by Mr. Chamber
lain. Mr.. Chamberlain took
exception 10 certain provisions of the bill
without being acquainted with the whole
case. person who has promised that a
bill shall be reconstructed il bound to re-
construct it; and is that true! A person
who has not promised Is free to recon
struct il without promising. Sir Michael
talks about dissolution, and i am glad to
find that upon that point he and | are
more nearly associated than on almost any
other point Of this controversy. / take it
TO be absolutely beyond dispute upon
broad high parliamentary grounds that
that which is to be voted upon tonight is
the principle of the bill as distinct from
the particulars of the bill. What may be
the principle of the bill grant that / have
no authority to determine. but it Is our
duty 10 give our own construction Of the
principle of the bill. | apprehend it to be
beyond all question that the members vot-
ing for the principle ofthe bill are entirely
and absolutely free; and that if they
think there is any set of provisions 10y
means of which n better and fuller effect
may Toe given TO the principles of the bill,
they are at liberty to display all the de.
tails. That does not admit of
doubt Well, the government
have taken certain engagements. They
have taken an engagement to taxation,
for the Intervention of the Irish members
to the terms. of which need not now refer
They have also broken an engagement. on
the claim of Ireland TO continued concern
through her members in the treatment of
imperial subjects generally, and that has
entailed positive pledge to reconstruct,
III we 90 not entirely remove, the twenty
fourth clause and adopt other consequent
tial amendments connected with ii For
the attainment of its end we are perfectly
free TO deal with them, but it would he the
meanest, basest act on the part of the
government to pretend that they have a
plan of reconstruction ready beforehand,
cut and dried in their minds at time
when, from the very nature of the cause,
il must be obvious that it is perfectly
clear there can be no such thing. Cheers.
Sir, so much then for the system and free
dom OF the members opposed TO the bill.
Now, sir, | want to say one word on the
subject of Irish loyalists. Has Mr.. John
son inquired what was the state of loyalty
in Ireland at the close of the eighteenth
centuryl AS regards Roman Catholics.
they had hardly been born into political
life. In his time Dean Swift. spoke of their
incapacity for politics, and it would be
absurd to speak Of them then as being
either loyal or dsloyal.
IL do not consider that this is loosely
compacted empire; but l admit that II
means can be devised for establishing q
more active connection with our distant
possessions, that is an object we'll worthy
Of every noble, enlightened man. But
what wish to observe as far az this bill is
concerned, is that this bill, whatever its
rights or wrongs in other respects, is I'M
questionably a step and an important
step. In the direction Of federation. Con