Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-04-15
THE MAN OF THE HOUR.

| waiting for the premier to make his ap-
pearance on his departure for the house
! Of commons.
THE MAN OF THE HOUR.
Mr.. Gladstone finished reading his
papers and telegraphic and mail GORE
spondence at an early hour. He spent
the remainder of the morning and part OF
the afternoon in contemplation. He re-
fused to permit himself to be disturbed
by calls from any of the large number Of
persons who attempted to see him.
Soon after O'Clock all the thorough
fares about st. Stephens were so crowded
with people that attempts to carry on
traffic in the neighborhood had to sus-
pend. Mounted police were placed on
duty patroling because it. was impos-
sible for officers afoot to get about.
In the house of commons, the mem.
bers now began to divide themselves into
parties with view to their probable sup
port of or opposition to the coming
speeches. They also indulged in con-
siderable bantering of one another.
Mr.. Peter Rylands, Liberal member
| for Burnley, who had failed to secure q
seat on the floor but had one in one of
the galleries, attempted to make speech
from his lofty position. He was greeted
with yolley of yells which rendered his
voice inaudible and compelled him to re-
linquish his purpose of giving the house
some information.
1t was ascertaiued that no less than 450
| of the $40 members had entered and Sc
cured their seats by chatting" or per-
sonal occupation, before IL O'Clock. The
wives, daughters and female relations and
friends of the members thronged the
waiting rooms all the morning, provided
with buns, cakes, baskets and novels on
which to subsist and pass the time during
which the men were unentertaining.
Soon after O'Clock the Parnellite men,
bers began to take possession of their
seats. They arranged themselves in SER
ried ranks on the opposition benches in
front of the place where Mr.. Gladstone
was. to speak. Mr.. Thomas Power O'Con-
nor, Nationalist member for the Scotland
division of Liverpool, explained the haste
exhibited by his party to secure seats by
saying that the Tories had organized q
plot to take possession of sents in such a
way as to make it impossible for the Par
nellites to sit together, in order to rob
Mr.. Gladstone of the chorus of cheers
which the full.throated Irish members
would be sure to give him if they were in
body and the orator were to their liking.
Mr.. O'Connor said that when his col
leagues discovered this conspiracy they
at once took steps to circumVent it by
reaching the scene in time to get the
choice places. Mr.. 0'Connor said he was
satisfied with the result and added that
the Irish chorus would be, not only full
throated, but unanimous,
The Right Hon. Arthur Wellesley Peel,
the speaker of the house, took the chair
promptly at O'Clock. The chamber at
the time was packed to the very extreme
limit of its capacity, and every doorway
showed Railways crammed with people, all
craning to see and to hear. The weather
at that time suddenly changed. The
clouds lowered and thunder was heard.
Nevertheless the mass of people outside
increased and became dense. Catholic
priests were conspicuously numerous in
the crowd and no less than 35 branches of
the London organization of the Irish
National League were represented by
full deputations, whose identity was
easily established, even at dis.
tance, by their green regalias. Poll
tical clubs beyond numbering, were
also present to take part in the popular
demonstration. AT o'clock deputations
from 80 Liberal clubs were alone counted
in the the throng. Before going to the
house of commons, Mr.. Gladstone took n
drive through st. James Park, going
away from the crowd by the west end Of
Downing street. He desired to be a little
while in the fresh air before going to
parliament. He returned to his residence
and in few moments emerged on his
way to the house of commons. The
police had opened a way for him to Parlia.
ment street and down that across Bridge
street to the house. They had to work
hard to make this passageway,
and harder yet to keep it open. Mr..
Gladstone went in an open carriage and
his appearance was greeted with deafen-
ing cheers. The enthusiasm of the people
oil the way from the door of his house to
the commons entrance was spontaneous
and thrilling. 1t vented itself at the
beginning of the journey in roar of
applause hearty and great enough to
make most statesmen dizzy, and when
the whole immense multitude caught the
signal, one tremendous, long g-sustained
cheer was sent up, the like of which was
never before heard in London, and which
was plainly audible in the house. The
cheering continued until long after Mr..
Gladstone had entered the parliament
buildings.
Within the buildings the prime minis
ter's reception, though less demonstra.
tive, was equally enthusiastic with that he
had just had without. He was apparently
in the best of spirits and bowed right and
left to his acquaintances as he passed
them.
Ae4on A. ,,,,,nI ao-....I.l.a. l..s1:..u.
The opening of parliament were over, It
was voted to postpone the reading and
answering of all questions on the notice
paper. Hardly had this been done when,
| at 4.30 p. m. Mr.. Gladstone entered the
house. His entrance was followed by
loud and prolonged cheers, which were
| continued for several minutes. Among
the Liberals and Parnellites the widest
enthusiasm prevailed, and it is safe to
say that no such scene was ever seen be-
| fore in the house of commons. As soon
| as the cheering had ceased Mr.. Gladstone
rose and moved for permission to intro
duce bill to amend previous legislation,
and to make provision for the future
government of Ireland. On making this
motion Mr.. Gladstone said:
| MIR. aLADsToNE's SPEECH.
| could wish that IL had been possible to
expound to the house the whole policy and
Intentions of the government with reference
| to Ireland. Although the questions of reform
In the tenure of land and Irish government
are so closely and inseparably connected, it
| is yet impossible to undertake tho task of
calculating both questions together. do
not know of any previous task laid upon
me involving SO diversified an exposition.
In contemplating the magnitude of this
task 1 am filled with painful distrust, but
that mistrust is absorbed in feeling OF the
responsibility that will be upon me IL l
should fail to bring home to the public
mind the magnitude and the various aspects
Of the question.
We should no longer fence or skirmish
with this question. loud cheers We
should come to close quarters with 1t.
[Cheers.l Wo should get at the root OF 1t.
We should take measures not merely
intended for the wants of to-day or to-
morrow, but should look into the distant
future. We have arrived at stage in our
political transactions with Ireland when
the two roads part one from the other, not
soon, probably, to meet again.
The time is come when 1t Is Incumbent,
as the duty and honor of parliament, to
come to some decisive resolution on this
matter. Our intention is, therefore, TO pro.
pose to the commons that which. II happily
accepted, will, we think, liberate parlia-
ment from the restraints under which o
late years 1t has Intellectually struggled tt
perform the business OF the country, and
: will restore British legisationto its natural
ancient and unimpeded course, and
, above all establish harmonious relations
between Great Britain and ireland [Hear
haarJ an N f0ntfnoy nf thoaa fraa afituftOn,