The sun., 1889-11-19
Mr.. Gladstone Replies to American
Critics.

1t Is an interesting letter which Mr.. GLAD
STONE has sent to the editor Of the Morning
Mail O newspaper published In Lowell,
Mass. He had, 1t seems, been charged with
adopting the Home Rule programme not in
pursuance oR his personal convictions, but
for the purpose Of benefiting the Liberal
party. He has long ceased to notice this ac-
cusation when emanating from an English
source. but finding it repeated in America
he has deemed 1t worth while to repel 1t.
Mr.. GLADsToNE's answer takes the form
Of three counter assertions. two OF which
rest on indlsputable facts, while the third Is
based on a forecast. the correctness Of
which will scarcely be questioned. "On
the dissolution of 1885," he says, II used
every effort, public and private, to induce
the Tories to take UP Home Rule, and prom
ised them my support. Only on their re-
fIleal did 1t become the cause of the Liber-
Als." We are next reminded that II have
always discouraged the promotion Of party
ties with the Nationallsts. In order that they
might be free to accept Home Rule. when
ever they get It," Then it Is shown that
Home Rule will practically take away from
the Liberals large number Of votes now usu-
ally given them in ordinary British politics."
No one who recollects the speeches and In
ctdents Of 1885 will deny the accuracy of the
first statement Before tho overthrow OF
his Ministry In the spring OF that year Mr..
GLADSTONE said repeatedly that he could
not seriously consider the demand for re-
vtval OF the Dublin Parliament. so long as 1t
was pressed by only minority of the Irish
members. At that time, 1t will be remem-
bored, Mr.. PARNELL had only from thirty to
forty followers out OF 103 representatives Of
Ireland. The care taken by the Liberal
Prime Minister to qualify his words Implied
Enthusiastically that he would consider it a
duty to reverse his position, should the wish
for Home Rule prove to be shared by q large
majority OF the Irish people. This would be
not inconsistency but fidelity to the funda-
mental principle that the claims OF Irish
men, or OF any other large fraction OF the
Queens subjects, ought to be satisfied, so
far as they could be without detriment to
tho safety and cohesion of the United
Kingdom.
When. accordingly, at the general election
OF November-Decem 1885. the Parnelltes
carried IS out of the 103 seats allotted to Ire
land. Mr.. GLADSTONE recognized that 1t had
become the paramount function OF British
statesman To grapple with the Home Rule
problem. Lord SALISBURY still held the post
OF Premier, which he had gained in the
spring by the aid OF the Parneilite members OF
Parliament, and the Conservatives had prof
tied in the elections just concluded by the
full strength of the Irish vote in England.
Far from wishing to supplant Lord SAILS
BURY In the good graces OF the Irish Nation
Rlists Mr.. GLADSTONE felt and said that in
view OF the recent alliance between the Con-
servatiyes and Parnellites the Tory Premier
was the proper man to frame bill for the
local self-government OF Ireland He pub
ucly declared his own willingness. as lead
er OF the Opposition, to support such a
measure. But, as We know. SALISBURY de-
clined to accept this overture, broke with the
Parnellites, and, sooner than yield to Ire
lands demands for legislative independence,
submitted to the loss Of office.
Since the Tories returned to power upon
the assembling OF the present Parliament in
the autumn of 1886. Mr. GLADSTONE has re-
peatodly urg Nd the Parnellites to encourage
any inclination on the part Of the SAILS