San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-25
Uneasy LIES 1HE HEAD.

Ii gives prominence to the idea that the
Irish representatives be prosecuted for
treason on their return home, and In
cludes in the reasonable catalogue all
British subjects who took part in the
proceedings of that meeting. The
Thunderer would, no doubt, like very
well to have a general inquisitlOn made
into all acts that in any way aid or abet
home rule, but in the attempt to consti-
tute such acts reasonable, he would
have to begin very near the throne room
and invade the sanctities Of the royal
household. England is on the verge of
republicanism, in fact If not in name.
The opening wedge of representative
government is being driven farther and
farther into the solid body Of that ma
tion's monarchism, and the spectacle is
not comforting to the high prerogative
notions Of the Times. The revolution
that has been quietly effected in Eng
land, this decade is 30 radical. and at the
same time so quietly contaminated that
Its far-reachiDg consequences are by no
means fully discerned as yet. Whether
historically, that is literally, true or not,
the version that is given of the queens
ground of controversy with Gladstone is
at least representatively true. The re-
port is that Gladstone in 1868, when
prime minister, visited the queen for the
purpose of securing her signature to
the bill for the disestablishment OF the
Irish church. Her royal majesty serious
ly objected to signing and lengthy dis
oussiOn of the situation ensued In the
midst of which the premier somewhat
excited who far forgot himself as to ex-
claim, "but Madame, you must sign!
you must sign" His royal mistress
could not brook such language, and ris-
ing in anger demanded, "Do you know
who am Sir? am the Queen OF Great
Britain and Ireland and represent Its
royal power" to which Gladstone re-
torted, "And | Madame represent the
people," The time has come when the
representative of the people, even in
Great Britain and Ireland is more potent
than the crown and that people have
spoken 80 loudly in approval OF local
home government that there is no mis-
taking their voice. No wonder that
there is little ripple of excitement over
the water on account of the Chicago
proceedings. The tone Of the Finnerty
wing of that convention was decidedly
hostile to Great Britain and might well
subject the speaker to charges of treason
had he been British subject. The re-
dOubtable and beligerent congressman
does not enjoy that distinction, how
ever, and as an American citizen will
have little concern for the thunderbolt
OF the Times. The speeches of Davitt |
and his British compeers were, however, |
in marked contrast to Finnerty's bois- |
ferrous utterances, and left 10 fears in |
the mind Of any Of any treason
able construction being put upon them
unless indeed, the very con-
vention was adjudged reasonable
meeting and all who took part in it par
ticeps criminis. The real offence OF |
the convention, however, was in pledg- |
ing aid to home rule. 1t is well known
that the Times has about as much love |
for prospective home rule In Ireland as
the devil has for holy water. The Tory |
brains that run that powerful opinion |
persuader know full well that home |
rule in Ireland is but the prelude to
home rule in Scotland and Wales, and |
colonial congress that will leave the
London parliament but a mere figure
head in the internal direction of British
affairs. The lion, however, is Gagged.
There is little now that mortal can do
to slay the tide setting SO strong in the
direction Of home government by local
parliaments in all parts Of the British |
empire home and colonial; and with
these fully established there must come.
a representation Of these local parlia-
ments in the Imperial parliament that
will lessen the authority and power of
the crown and make the resolution COM |
plete which began in the agitation for |
extended suffrage and grew to include
local self-government for any section of
Britains wide domain.