Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-14
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
CONTINUATION OF THE DEBATE ON
THE IRISH BILL.
Speech Of Sir william Vernon Harcoarfs
Chancellor Of the Exehequer.
Scoring the Opposition.
lBy Arglo-American cabl. to the Dispatch.


Vernon Harcourt, Chancellor Of the
Exchequer, tonight resumed the de-
bate On the Irish bill in the House OF
Commons. He began his speech BY
Iemarking that those who condemned
the Governments Irish measure failed
to state an acceptable alternative
scheme. Nobody accepted Trsvelyan's
plan, and Chamberlain's project was in
turn Iepudiated by Lord Harrington
and Trevelyan. Chamberlain had pro-
pounded a scheme of great Importance,
but that scheme had never been sub
mitted 10 the Government. He Cham
berlsin) had recommended federation.
What were to be those separate bodies
in Great Britain and Ireland which
were TO the subject matter Of the fed
Grafton recommended? Mr. Chamber
lain bad plan to stay evictions by
act of Parliament. Who was agreed
to that policy? Had be got the adhe-
sion of Lord harrington! Had he got
the adhesion Of Goscheh, or the adhe-
sion Of the right honorable gentleman
and noble lord opposite? If be had
not, the speaker would like to know
how it was a practicable policy? LORD
harrington had said he did not
admit the impossibility Of govern
ing Ireland by a mingled system Of
remedial and repressive legislation. 1t
was 10 the administration OF Lord Spencer
that he thought the Government of Ire
land ought to be restored. 1t had been
stated by Lord Harrington that what
ever the fate Of the measure was the
mere introduction Of it by responsible
Government would do much that could
never be recalled. That was perfectly
true, but it was equally true Of the
events Of June last. The consequences
Of those events could never be recalled.
Those events entirely changed the whole
aspect Of the Irish question. The course
then taken made home-rule inevitable.
[Cries of" Oh!"" Oh" and laughter
lie did not want to speak in spirit
Of party recrimination, but that act OF
the late Government was . condemna-
ton Of the policy Of Earl Spencer. 1t
made the return TO the system Of gov
eminent administered by Earl Spencer
impracticable.
Lord Spencer was Of that opinion.
Irish cheer The speaker tainted the
opponents Of this measure with having
no basis for an agreement on an Irish
policy. Did Mr.. Goschen, be asked,
approve ChamberlAin's plan for Gen.
Il al council at Dublin or suspension
of eyictions Had the Conservative
leaders any policy except the condem-
nation Of Gladstone's scheme?
Lord Randolph Churchill Yes, they
are against repeal in any shape or form.
Cheers
The speaker retorted that "that
might mean as much as Lord Beacons-
fields denunciation Of the Is franchise
at the very moment when be designed
to carry through the Observation-Disclosures
measure" lLaughter.l Continuing,
| Sir William said the fact was that there
was no alternative to the plan Of the
Government except the seyerest CO.
ercion. That would require strong
| Governmental Government deter
mined, persistent, in harmony with it.
self, supported by an overwhelming ma
| iority in Parliament and IN the country.
Such q Government hal been dreamed
of as resulting from the truce OF party
spirit and the end Of party warfare but
it was not by the breaking up Of par
ties that a strong Government could be
formed. Referring to the secession Of
aristccrats " from the Ministry, he
said be was not sorry for them, only
that it would be bad for the aristocracy.
If the aristocrats in England ranged
themselves with the party in the
ascendancy in Ireland, then the Demo
crazy Of England would side with thu
Irish Liberals and Parnellites. Cheers,
mingled with Kisses and cries Of
Shame -
Did they think it possible to make a
policy Of coercion like Cromwel's out
Of the broken fragments of shattered
party: The policy Of coercion was
ike strong drink-more taken more
was wanted. He would not deny
that such a policy might be popular.
1t excited the pride and passions Of
people. but they become sick of it at
last. [Cheers.l
So also coercion, if again tried. must
60 to the length Of the suspension of
every elementary right Of Irishmen,
and the result would make the Radical
party sick Of it. Ministerial cheers. !
| They would again find that coercion
would fail, and they would be forced
back on home-rule, not as an act Of
concession, but as an act Of capitula-
| ton.
Reference" continued the speaker,
has been made to the Irish in Ame-
rica. This House cannot for q mo-
ment be influenced by the action OF
castardly assassins like Ford and
others. But the Irish nation in Ame-
rica is as numerous as the Irish are at
home. All possess the same instinct
and the same sympathies. They have
not been parties to the action OF the
assassins. Hear hear
These actions Of the assassins receive
universal condemnation from the people
Of the United States. Irish and Libe-
raj cheers But if you reject this bill
90 you believe, are you sure, there will
not be sympathy with those assassins
and their schemes: lCries Of Oh Oh
IL believe there will be universal con-
demnation and disapprobatiOn from
right-thiDking People-irish and Anne
rican-of such treatment Of the Irish
people" Irish cheers.l
Mr.. Goschen on rising was greeted
with loud cheers. He referred TO Har-
cout's speech as melancholy reyela-
ton of the impotence Of Parliament to
deal with most important crisis.
Sir William Harcourt, he said, was
not the first Minister who suggested
certain calamities ensuing on the re-
lection OF the bill. Parliament was
icing almost terrorized to pass the
bill. They were told that there
Was no mower or shirt or con-