Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-30
REPLY TO PARNELL.
Mr.. GLADSTONE DENIES THE STATE
MENTS OF THE IRISH LEADER.
He Holds that the National Party OF Ire
land Should BE Independent OF the
Liberal Party.
rBy Anslo-Am.rican cable to the pispssct

fBy Anglo-American cable 70 the Dispatch
LONDON, November 29.-Mr. Glad
stone has issued . reply to Parnelfs
manifesto, in which he denies in toto
the statements made by the Irish leader
in regard to the retention Of the Irish
members in the Imperial Parliament,
the settlement Of the land or agrarian
difficulty in Ireland, the control OF the
Irish constabulary, and the appointment
Of a judiciary in Ireland. Gladstone
says he will not apply q single epithet to
Parnell, not being his Judge. He be-
lieves, however, that he showed by his
course in the matter Of the special COM
mission appointed to investigate the
charges made against Parnell growing
out OF the Pigott letters that he had no
indisposition to do Parnel justice.
THE ALLEGED PROPOSAL.
Gladstone then comes forth with q re-
cital Of the proposal alleged by Parnen
in his manifesto to have been made TO
him during his visit to Gladstone at Ha-
warden last November in regard to the
intended proposals with regard to homo
rule in event Of the Liberal party win
ming at the next general election. Glad
stone declared that no single suggestion
was offered by him to Parnell, either as
formal or as q final one. The converse
ton then held was statement perfectly
free and without preiudices OF point
on which Gladstone or such OF his col
leagues as he could consult were IN.
clined to believe the home-rule plan OF
1886 could be improved, and concerning
which he was DESTROYS to know whether
any serious objection had risen IN the
mind Of Parnell.
nc OBJECTION RAISED.
To none Of these suggestions did Par
nell raise serious objection. Gladstone
denied that he made the statements
which ParnelIs memory ascribes to him,
or anything substantially resembling
them either as to the retention of the
Irish members in the Imperial Parlia-
ment, or as to the settlement of the land
question or the agrarian difficulties,
or the control of the constabu-
larry, or the appointment OF q judi
ciary. The conversation between them
was strictly confidential. To publish even
q true account is to break the seal OF
confidence, which alone renders politi-
cal cooperation possible. Every sug-
gestion made TO Parnell was from a
written memoranda, to which Gladstone
can refer. Neither Parnell nor himself
was bound by conversation TO absolute
acceptance of the proposals canvassed.
HIS VIEWS NOT ALTERED.
During the year that had since elapsed
he had never received from Parnell any
intimation OF the alteration OF his views
regarding any Of them.
In conclusion Mr.. Gladstone says that
he has always held, both in public and
in private, that the National party OF
Ireland ought to remain entirely indie
pendent Of the Liberal party of Great
Britain. Il is their duty and his duty,
conformably with the spirit of Grattan
and OConnell, to study all the adjust
ments in the great matter OF homo rule
which may tend to draw to their side
moderate and temperate men, but for
him to propose any measure, except
such as Ireland could approve on the
lines already laid down, would be fatuity
as regards himself and treachery to the
Irish nation, in which, even by the side
of Parnell, he can claim to take interest