The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-06-11
Blaine ON ireland.

Tho home rule meeting in the city hall,
Portland, Mo-, recently attracted an inn
mensc 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. ! apprcci
ate the request for an explanation OF IL
question that calls forth 40 mnch symp;-
thy and sentiment on the part of the world
Mt large and evOkes SO much opposition
among those who are directly Interested.
Now, what is home rule? Why, it is what
every state aud territory OF the Unitod
States enjoys and it is what Ireland does
not enjoy. Mr.. Blaine described the pros
ent legislative helplessncss OF Ireland, not
able to do the slightest thing without the
sanction ofparliament, and created amuse
ment by picturing q similar state OF affairs
wcro left to the United States to de-
eide we should say, adopt the fed
oral system. have your legislature
for Ireland, your legislature Tor Eng
land, your legislature for Wales, your
legislature for Scotland and your imperial
parliament for the British empire. Let
questions that effect tho whole empire OF
Grent Britain bo settled by am imperial
parliament. do not forget however, That
It would.bo political empryicism..to attempt
by any prescription to give the cxnct meas
ure that should settle this long dispute be-
tween Great Britain and Ireland. AM ad.
monished by what have noticed in the
British parliament in discussions concern
Ing America. not to be too forward in tho
knowledge OF details or in prescribed cxact
measures, because suppose they would re-
tort that we know quite as little about
their precise troubles az they know about
ours. Therefore | do not stand here SIM
ply to say that Mr.. Glatlstone's il
A PERFECT MEASURE;
but say that nm in favor of any bill
that shall take the first step townrd right
Ing the wrong and Of handing over the gov
ernlncnt to Ireland. The speaker cited
amusing Illustrations of the ignorance oi
English people concerning affairs in tho
United States. Lord Salisbury gives +l,e
remedy. lie says if the Irish do not wish
to be governed by the British, they should
leave. But the Irish have been in Ireland
quite as long as Lord Salisbury's have
been in England, and very likely for ought
or peasants in Normandy, who came over
William the Conq'leror, centuries after the
Irish were known in Ireland. Therefore
wo nccl not he surprised. VIC who remem.
bcr Salisbury's course in the civil war,
therefore We have to say that Lord Sails
bury may be called imputlent. We would
not transsress courtesy il we called
him insolent. We would not trans
gress truth il we called him brutal. We
knew him in this country. lie was the
bittcrcst foe that the government of the
United States had in the British parlia-
ment during the civil war. lie has trans
ierred :tll the hatred which Missed forth in
the parliament Of Great Britain during our
struggles. Another objection comes. 1t
comes from the Prcsby terinns OF Ulster,
appealing to the Iresbytcrians OF the
United States against granting this bill. |
was educated under Presbyterian intIu.
enccs, and 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 I would be
ashamed Of the Presbyterian church of
America il it responded to an appeal OF
that kind, which asks that five millio ns oi
Irish people shall be kept from free
government because OF the remote danger,
would interfere with their liberties
rs Presby terians. know that the Catho-
lies Of Ireland and the Presbyterians OF Ire
land can live and do just as the Catholics
OF tho United States and the Presbytcrians
Of the United States live, Mr.. Blaine dis.
cussed Mr.. Gladstones 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 delivernncc OF the
Irish people was near athand. Mr.. Blaine
urged that the Irish question bo kept out
OF our ownpolitical struggles; land mark"
said lie, amy man Is ut enmity with their
cause who seeks to use it for partisan nd
vanccment."
Resolutions were adopted expressing
sympathy with Mr.. Gladstone, and cable.
home rule bill were sent to Mr.. Parnell and
Mr.. Gladstone