The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-12-12
FEW VERY WINDY SPEECHES,
Lord Salisbury and Joseph Chamberlain
Deliver Long Addresses at
Birmingham.
TORIES PASS RESOLUTIONS,

They Platter Themselves Very Much Upon
the Improved ~ Condition
Of Ireland.
The Tory caucus at birmingham has
been most humorous piece Of theatri-
cal humbug. There was no genuine
ring about the performance from first
to last. The discussion in regard to
the Irish local self government bill,
which the government is pledged to in
troduce, was a beautifully gotten up
performance. The delegates clamored
that the English demands were most
pressing; that the position OF the agrl-
cultural ]aborer required redress, and
| other English grievances called for ad-
justment; therefore ireland should wait.
The Tories have no seats to lose in Ire
land. They have plenty to lose In Eng.
land.
The same tactics were perused with
the resolution which embodied the pro-
tectionist idea, Although Salisbury
had spoken strongly for free trade the
previous night, the protection resolution
was carried. Then Salisbury, speaking
again. limited that the injustice Of new
tariff regulations. which told sc hardly
upon British commercial interests and
upon the working classes, might, from
the very weight Of outside pressure,
drive the government to take some
steps. 1t was an effort to catch the
votes of those manufacturers and work
people who ara hurt by the Mckinley
tariff, and who are sore enough to catch
at anything which promises redress.
The most interesting event at the
Tory gathering, however, was the ap-
pearance of Lord Salisbury and Joseph
Chamberlain Oil the same platform.
Chamberlain was apparently carried
away by his surroundings, and Threw
over his old friends completely. The
gulf has widened and deepened. he
said. CHOW I neither look for nor de-
sire reunion Thereupon there was
great cheering and waving of handker-
chiefs.
Then Chamberlain let himself loose,
referring to the grand old man as a yelled
prophet, and speaking of the policy OF
his former colleagues as vile cOnspi-
racy with all the zeal Of renegade; but
to those who in the old days admired
Chamberla!n's sterling qualities before
his lust for a peerage was known 1t was
saddening spectacle. There was 6
note of pathos in bis intimation that
the Conservatives and dissentients had
together suffered reverses which carried
the suggestion that he felt the reverses
were not all over. Mr. Chamberlain's
speech, contrasted with what he said at
a meeting in Wiltshire, in October, 1885,
is very curious reading, He then said;
II think have answered Lord Sails
bury's challenge. He talks forsooth of
dishonest tactics, and he compels me- to
say that never in the history OF his
country was there more fragrant in
stance Of political immortality than this
shameless conversion of the great bulk
of the Tory party, accomplished in a
few years in order to purchase few
months OF place without power and Of
Office without honor"
On the following day Lord Salisbury
at Brighton replied in these pleasant
terms:
81 will divide MIR. Chamberlain's
charges into two heads. The first head
comprises those that are not true. The
second head, those that are founded on
the monstrous assumption that it is our
duty to break the promises Of our pre-
decessors as soon as we get into Office"
The discomfort among the Tories over
Lord SalisburY's speech becomes more
and more manifest, as the press of the
country have time to give expression to
their views. and to reflect the opinion
of the masses Of the Conservative party.
The Pail Mall Gazette, in an article
headed "a Tory Mutiny," compliments
the Tory caucus held at Birmingham,
and says it compares favorably with the
Liberal conference recently held at
Newcastle. The Gazette says that a
more uncompromising rebuff has sell
dom been administered to the leaders
of q. party by their followers than was
administered to the ministers by the
conference yesterday, in refusing to in
dorse Sir Albert Rollitt's resolution,
which bad been determined for them
beforehand, relative to local govern.
ment for Ireland and for the promotion
Of technical education in that part Of
the United Kingdom.
The Gazette also says that Sir Albert
Rollitt's appeal, that the cabinet was
| Unionist and that the government was
pledged to the Irish local government,
fell upon deaf ears.