San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-10
THURSDAY, JUNE 10. 1886.
NOT A GOVERNMENT VICTORY

NOT A GOVERNMENT VICTORY.
By what process Of reasoning is the
defeat Of the Irish nome rule measure
turned by the evening papers, victory
for the government? The English prime
minister represents the government,
and the measures he introduces are gov
ernment measures. Ii was the govern
ment that was defeated and rot the OPP
position to the government. Had the
government not been defeated what
cause for the government TO appeal to
the country? The election which will
follow the defeat Of Mr.. GladstOne's
home rule measure is simply an appeal
on the part of the government from the
vote in the house of commons to the
vote of the people at the polls. If the
vote of the commons is sustained by the
people then the defeat of the govern
ment is sustained, and new ministry,
representing new policy for the gov
eminent, is formed. The glory of
Gladstone's administration Is this-he
has made Irish home rule q government
measure; he has committed the crown
to the policy Of restoring the Irish par
Lament; he has made the Queen of Great
Britain and Ireland and the Empress of
all the India's the foster mother Of
liberal policy for Ireland; he has
pledged the throne OF British Empire
to correct the abuses formerly
perpetrated by the ministers of that
throne; he has successfully challenged
royalty to sanction such measures of
substantial justice to Ireland as broad,
liberal and enlightened craftsmanship
demands, and royalty in the person of
the queen has accepted the challenge
and given consent that her minister in
trOduce the needed measures Of reform.
1t is this act more than any other that
marks the greatness OF England's great
master mind; that confers dignity upon
his character and makes him In the very
highest sense the minister Of the crown.
In persuading his august sovereign and
mistress to undertake this work for the
emancipation OF Ireland and the correc-
tion Of the internal abuses Of the empire,
he has done more to glorify the English
nation and bulwsrk the throne than any
foreign war policy could possibly have
accomplished no matter how brilliantly
successful. Should the government be
af
unfavsrable to Glsdst0ne's measures be
returned, the old man eloquent will be
forced into opposition and a ministry
will be called into power representing
the ideas expressed at the polls. What
ever the result, Irish home rule has come
fairly before the English parliament for
demonstration. The wrongs oil that
much oppressed people, the dwell
lers in the Emerald Isle, have
had n respectful hearing in the high
places Of English government, and
have haG for their exponent the head Of
the government itself, by consent of his
august mistress, the queen. There is
little danger that the question OF Irish
reform, thus officially presented and
forcibly argued, will be allowed TO die
out OF the body Of parliamentary csnsid-
GRAFTON. 1t has come before the wisdom
OF the United Kingdom by the supreme
sanction Of the queen and her minister:
1t has been defended by that minister
with an ability that challenges the adj
miration Of his enemies, and has made
hiB the Idol Of the hosts Of the worlds
freemen; II has gathered to its support
the ablest men of the three kingdoms,
including many Of the hereditary nobil.
ity themselves; 1t has called around the
grand old man, who has led the attack
against the encroschments of royal pre-
rogative, In the name Of royalty herself,
a regiment OF the staunchest supporters
that Ireland ever sent across the chan
mel to do battle for an idea, and uphold
the cause Of Celtic liberty. The grand
truth in all this, the progressive fact, the
sublime verify is, that this measure for
Irish homo rule is government meas
ure, measure of the English crown,
and this fact alone is pledge Of its final
success In some form acceptable
to the nations sense OF justice.