Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-10

Mr.. GIadstone's Home Rule scheme
Whatever may be the result OF MI. OIsa-
stones effort for the pacidcation oil Ire
land, il VIII not be denied that be pleads
the cause be advocates with unQuestion-
Ell sincerity and sqlendid ability. II his
home rule measure is adopted, and it ac-
/ composites what be hopes 1t will, be Will
have the satisfaction OF having crowned
his public career with his greatest work,
Tit fails history will point to him az nav
ing bad tae bOlduess TO attempt what no
other English statesman OF his time dared
to propose.
Although the main feature Of the bill
has been discussed for a good while the
English people do not appear to be ready
for il. The prospect that it will pass is
rot promising, though it is impossible TO
say, with any degree OF certainty, what
changes will take place in public sent-
ment as the discussion Of it proceeds.
That there IS a feeling in the minds Of
the English people-only halt acknowl-
edged it NAV be-that ireland has been
unjustly dealt with, and that unless Sue
is accorded the treatment which she has
a right TO ask, England will eventually be
the sufferer will hardly be denied.
Dir. Gladstone voiced this feeling when
he said ''that the best and surest fOunda-
ton we can find to build on is the fOunda-
tion afforded by the affections. and con-
victions, and will Of man, and that it is
thus by the decree OF the Almighty that
far more than by any other metncd we
may be enabled to secure at once social
happiness, power, and permanence of en-
pire." lie sees farther into the future
than any other English statesman, and
aside from his desire to do what he be-
lieves to be right be doubtless believes
that the affections of satisfied people
promises greater permanence to the en-
pire than force.
The thing, doubtlesss, that the English
people fear most in connection
with home rule is that Ireland Will
be content with nothing less
than separation, and that each concession
will be made the basis Of a demand for
another. II they could be convinced that
Ireland would be content to remain part
of the empire after having been granted
oil lidI HuC - INV OA1l IL 10 hpb Ahi
probable that the home rule bill would
stand a very good chance of passing.
There is no way, however, of determining
what Ireland's course will be if once she
is given the opportunity to direct her own
affairs.
Ofcourse Mr.. Gladstone does not think
Of urging his home rule bill independ ent
of proposition to buy out the landlords
10 Ireland. He would be unwilling, and
the English people would never consent,
to leave the landlords to be dealt with by
an Irish Parliament. The men who will
control the Parliament, in the event it is
established, look upon the landlords as
land thieves, and, doubtless, they would
treat them as such. England's faith is
pledged to protect the landlords, and no
home rule measure is likely to be
passed that is not accompanied by
land purchase measure. Land
purchase means an immense additional
load of debt-a load so great as to make
the English people hesitate to assume it,;
and It must not be forgotten that il the
load is assumed it will be with the under
standing that the Irish tenant farmers
may refuse TO continue to pay their rents.
The whole question of home rule is so
full of difficulties that it is not to be Won
dered at that in offering his home rule
bill, and his reasons for it, Mr.. Gladstone
was listened to in silence by all the MEM
bers of the House except the Parnellites
and few extreme Radicals. The mo-
mentous character of the issue presented
WAS enongh to make them silent.