The Irish standard., 1886-07-17
TIIEI IIRIsH sT4EDARD, URDAY, JUI.77I7, 1886

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sufficient support TO form an outrantd1-
out Conservative Government. The
Home Rule struggle Of to-day presents 9
striking similarity to the question Of
Catholic Emancipation in the early part
of this century. In 1927, Canning,
whom we will compare to Gladstone,
proposed to emanclpate Catholics. Eng
land was even more intolerant in those
days than she is now, and she hurled
Canning from power and seated the
Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert
Peel on the ministerial benches. Both
of these gentlemen were avowed oppon-
ents Of Catholic Emancipation, but in
1929 an unwilling king was forced to
sign the Act of Emancipation by Min
lister who had pledged himself to oppose
it. Is it not possible, yea probable,
that in this particular instance the old
saying, "History repeats itself,'' will
be confirmed. Lord Salisbury will
scarcely have q majority large enough
to inspire him with any great degree Of
hope for the future. If his government
will persist in coercion it cannot pos
sibly survive any length Of time. Nearly
one-half Of the House, az we have before
remarked, will no doubt be composed'of
members who have individually and COL
lectively pledged themselves to support
some measure for the better government
of Ireland. How, we ask, can Salisbury
hope to carry on a government under
these circumstances !? The dissidents,
while they do not approve of the meas
ure introduced in the last Parliament by
Mr.. Gladstone, have almost az many
schemes as there are men. But no mat
ter who takes hold OF the reins of gov
ernment these same dissidents will be
under the most solemn obligation to
support Home Rule policy for Ireland
Presuming that Salisbury does not OBJ
tain clear majority possibly the pres
ent British Premier may not feel
constrained to resign and allow the To-
ries to take possession Of the govern
,nent at Westminster. In this event we
can see no reason why he could not in
troduce measure which the dissidents,
including Chamberlain, would be COM
PEELED to support, although it would be
hard to realize policy to which the
great English-speaking Judas Iscariot
and his friends would not, in their dog
in-the-manger humor, object. Again, it
is just possible chat the Home Rule
measure may find parallel in the
Franchise Bill. On this issue it will be
remembered some few years ago Disraeli
defeated MIR. Gladstone, and when he
obtained power he showed how con-
scientious lie was in his opposition to il
by introducing and passing more lib
eral bill than The one his opponent pro-
posed, and although it is not likely that
Salisbury will steal the rudder and sails
belonging to Mr.. Gladstone's ship, still
it is amongst the possibilities of the f11-
ture, although the consistency and con-
scientiousness which Mr. Gladstone has
displayed throughout the present crisis
lead us to the conclusion that should at
fairs take that turn he would support it.
1t scarcely came within the bounds of
reason to feel assured that SO great
measure would be carried at once. Mr..
Gladstone did not believe it himself, and
perhaps the only ones who did were the
more enthusiastic well-wishers of Ire
land but every one will admit that it's
progress has been something marvellous.
IT is the greatest political question now
before the world, aud it will remain the
all-absorbing topic until it she'll be set
tied in manner agreeable with justice
and satisfactory to the people OF Ireland.
It is not difficult to realize at this stage
in the game the profound truth em-
bodied in the Prime Minister'S solemn
warning to his opponents: f'The ebbing
tide is with you-the flowing tide is with
us. We can watch and wait, for Truth
is mighty and it will prevail. y 4;