Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-27
GLADSTONE ON HOME RULE.
Els Remarkable Appeal for Ireland
in the contemporary Review"

in the contemporary Review"
London Special to the n. Y. World. Feb 25.
BY the courtesy OF the editor OF the Confen-
pordry RecteU have been permitted TO look over
the corrected proofs OF Mr.. William Z. Gladstones
article on "Irelands Demand for Home Rule, "
which will appear next week in the March num-
Der OF that review. 1t is a singularly able paper
and Will be read with interest both here and in
America At the outset Mr.. Gladstone reiterates
the principle which he has maintained ever since
the question OF Irish autonomy was opened two
years ago, namely, that the adjustment OF this
great question can only be effected by the CO.
operation OF the two historic parties OF British
politics, TO whom 1t offers a common ground for
action.
at is a measure" he says, switch Acknowledges
calls for It's application. 1t is measure which
restores ncient and preScrptive rights long en-
1oyed In lrinc1ple and In 1888 most solemnly and
not less lanfmously acknowledged by Great Brit
ain descend to a much lower order OF ideas
when add II is a measure which, whatever par
ticular form It may take, must certainly diminish
ment which, whe, her by its nature democratic or
not-and on this point there may be serious doubts
discontented and estranged, and on that account
Inclined 10 promote political and administrative
Gladstone goes on to point out some OF the I'M
paralleed lnfeicities in connection with Englands
present relations with Ireland, asserting that Ire
land Is governed in civil matters worse than Eng
land or scotland and at about twice the annual
cost per head In civil charges and army charges
taken together It costs 81 shillings per head an
nually 10 keep the IriShman In chronic state
or discomfort, while for little more than Ii Shil-
lings tue Englishman is better provided and gen.
orally cOntented.
Regarding the contributions to home rule from
America Mr.. Gladstone says: 1.-THE vast tribute
Whien for so many years was paid by America to
the landlords or Ireland did not shock the most
sensitive. Yet the sums, comparatively trfling,
which America has contributed more recently to-
ward enabling the Impoverished tenantry to sus-
m N far ,arfrlQ "a
subject OF indignant denunclation. But America
seems TO be OF The opinion that in the matter OF this
for vexing her with cause OF internal trouble.
Whether this be so or not, there be little doubt
that she suffers in erinterna politics from the
settled state Of the Irish question. 1t is obviously
to her interest that the various races and nationa-
ties represented by the crowds OF emigrants to
her STORES should as rapidly as possible melt down
case OF the Irish portion, the lines OF cleavage are
numerous between them and the general coInmu-
~ maj rcS SsI ,; mn
are generally Celtic Roman Catholic and
poor. But all these distinctions would
be gradually softened away and blurred II 1t were
not that one master sentiment holding the entii e
Irish element together. maintl 1nS and is main
tanned by these secondary divisions 1t is not too
much TO say that The lrsh-AmericanS are subject
10 action OF many Influences, dlSpOSing them even
10 embroil the United states with England, and II
happily 1t should be found that these influences
now govern the minds OF no more than a handful,
surely the reason will be that America observes
the confessed and amazing accession OF power
which within two years the cause OF Irish autonO-
my has received throughout the United Kingdom,
and halls the reasonable prospect which this ac-
ceSsi0h opens TO them OF an early and enectual
settlement"
Mr.Gladstone then climbs on to the wall by which
the unioniSts have hedged themselves of from the
home-rule party, and calmly surveys the battle
ground from their own standpoint. A legislative
SlaineSe union with Ireland, he points ouJ would
not constitute strength. Rule by mixed force of
police and military which cannot be diminished
Till the present political controversy Is settled be-
gets only kind OF secondary security and conf
dence MIR. Gladstone asks: "WOuld the heart OF
Ireland beat in unison with our heart? Would she
and defeats? Taxes must in such an event be
largely and severely laid upon the three countries
and upon all classes OF their Inhabitants. Would
those taxes be cheerfuly paid in Ireland II the
military demands thickened? and especially IL mil
iJary reverseS came upon could we fall back upon
our Irish garrison or thirty or forty thousand men,
all told as reserve force to retLfOrce wasted
ranks for the purposes OF the war? VIGOROUSLY,
the case is far otherwise, and the high likelihood,
or bolster up that confidence which we have
chosen TO build on sand in preference to rock, we
must add to the demands from other quarters an
Increase or demand Tor Ireland, so that she would
be not only as she now ia drain upon our
strength, but a drain Increasing within our own
borders in proportion to the growth OF need or
calamity beyond them."
Several pages are devoted to Lord Salisbury s
chief arguments against home rule for Ireland Mr..
history, shows that examples OF other powerful
nations studied in an historic spirit are fruitful In
struct1ye and highly encouraging TO a policy of
local autonomy Tor Ireland.