San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-05-28
FRIDAY, MAY %, 1886.
THE LIBERAL CONFERENCE.

Gladstone has again put his enemies
and the enemies of Irish autonomy upon
the offensive by declaring a modification
OF his Irish home rule bill, which he
will present at the autumn session of
parliament; bill to be submitted to a Sc
lect committee for revision during the
recess. This will be the course taken
should the bill pass the second reading,
as now seems quite probable. The con-
ference held yesterday was very har-
mOniOus. About two hundred and
fifty members of parliament were pres
ent. Mr.. Gladstone's speech was Wig
orous and spirited. He called for free
expression of opinion by the liberal
members, assuring them that he had no
desire to restrict comment, but wished
the fullest freedom Of expressed opinion
to prevail His uncOvering of the policy
proposed by Lord Salisbury was mas
terly, plainly showing that his Oppo-
nents Ofthe tory wing had no idea ofgov-
eminent in Ireland, save by coercion.
One by one the subterfuges and evasions
and substitutes proposed were taken up
and the wiser course, rs outlined by the
home rule bill, was clearly shown in con-
trast.
In speaking to the objection that the
bill, if it became law, would greatly i'm
pair imperial authority, Mr.. Gladstone
specially called attention to the OmnipO-
tent character of the imperial parlia-
ment, and the imp disability of divesting
itself of the power which it held for the
nation. The place proposed to be given
Irish members in the imperial parlia-
ment was alluded to, and the large tlex-
Utility Of idea and procedure manifested
his plans for such representation have
not been matured. This matter he WAS
evidently disposed to defer until the
autumn meeting, expressing himself as
willing to leave these changes TO the
wisdom of the commons when the
amended bill should be presented The
notifications necessary TO meet this
change in the original intent of Mr..
GladstOne's home rule measure will ne
cessitate complete revision of the bill.
The concessions made in this speech
have taken the opposition entirely by
surprise, and have already secured for the
second reading the warm support Of the
Welsh members who had been counted
on the other side. Mr.. Gladstone does
not seem in any hurry to have his meas
ures rushed through, and in this he is
eminently wise. The remedy proposed
he is certain, in a general way, will
insure the pacification Of Ireland, and
unite the peoples of the three nations in
a closer union than ever. The intims-
ton that the matter could be submitted
next fall, and If deemed advisable, after
due elaboration, recommit 1t for further
amendment, and defer final action until
the session of 1887, If necessary, was
most favorably received. Lord Hart
ingtOn was warmly commended by Mr..
Gladstone for his manliness and his in
tsgrity, but Joe Chamberlsin's name
was not even mentioned. This meeting
of the liberal members has done more to
unite the followers Of Mr.. Gladstone
and give assurance Of the ultimate sue
cess of home rule measures in Ireland
than was deemed possible before the
conference was held.
The great latitude allowed by Mr..
Gladstone in the future modification OF
his measures, and the uRfixedness OF the
specific terms Of the bill, all Of which are
left for future decisions and changes,
have made 1t impossible for the recall
oitrant liberals to formulate any oppo-
sition to the second reading. By this ac-
tion the premier has drawn the lines
sharp and clear between those who
would govern Ireland by the old system
of repression and force, and those who,
moved by a sense ofjustice, would re-
store to her. her ancient rights and give
her all the liberty consistent with i'm
perisl unity.
The Express gave speaking likeness
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