The Portland daily press., 1886-06-08
THE HOME RULE BILL DEFEATED.

Last night the English House of Commons
decided that the home rule bill should not be
read second time. By a majority of thirty
it put aside the scheme which Mr.. Gladstone
brought forward few weeks ago as the best
plan which his experienced craftsmanship
could devise for the permanent settlement of
the Irish question. From the beginning of
the contest Mr.. Gladstone position has been
remarkable. By personal influence he has
endeayored to lead great and inharmonious
party to side with him on question of the
greatest magnitude; but question to which
the English people had previously given but
little thought For home rule for Ireland, al
though agitated by Parnell and in the press
to some extent before the last general cleo
tions, had never been and was not then
thought to be an issue of sufficient moment
to call for decision from the electors them
selves. The danger of the church was the
great cry of the last election; few if any
voices were raised in behalf Of the unity of
the empire. So when Mr. Gladstone brought
forward his home rule measure, he present
ed it to House of Commons, most of whom
could not know the exact sentiments of their
constituents. The sentiment of the House
was therefore uncertain. There were two
elements, however, as to which there was no
doubt. The Tories, or Conservatives, were
against home rule; the Nationalists, or Par
nelPs party, were for it. The other element,
the great Liberal party, led by Gladstone
and marshalled by Chamberlain and Lord
Harrington, was of uncertain sentiment be-
cause composed of differing factions.
I, Oh r
ton and many other moderate Liberals of
aristocratic prejudices are against home rule !;
stranger still that Chamberlain and many
radical Liberals are also against it. Strang-
er allies than voted together last night in the
House of Commons could scarcely be imag
ined. On the one side were the Irish and
the Gladstone Liberals, the bulk of the par
ty's rank and file; on the other side were the
Tories, autocrats by nature and supporters
of privilege and royalty, and last the radical
Liberals, who would do away with throne
and nobility, who are even charged with the
heresies of socialism. These strange con-
federates composed the nondescript mob that
overthrew Mr.. Gladstone in last nights di-
vision.
There are two courses now to be pursued.
Mr. Gladstone may dissolve Parliament and
order a new election. The issue in that
election would be the home rule bill, and the
new parliament would be competent to rem
der a final decision. Or he may resign and
allow his opponents to form a ministry. But
a ministry supported by such diverse ele-
ments would be short-lived and vacillating,
and totally unable to deal with a question so
momentops as the government of Ireland. 1t
would be merely temporary expedient, to
be followed by the inevitable general cleo
ton. So whatever course Mr.. Gladstone
may pursue, a general election must take
place before the question can be finally set
tied. The decision of that election will put
the Irish question beyond the intrigues of
politicians, and base it on the declared wish
of the people of the empire.