New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-11
THE HOME RULE DITISION.

The division in the House OF Commons to-
night will undoubtedly restore Mr.. Gladstone
to power. If there has been any chance OF pre-
venting the overthrow of the Salisbury Coy
ernmcnt it was dispelled when the Old Para-
mentart Hand took the floor and displayed con-
summatc art as political tactlcian In VAN
| had the net been spread TO entangle ana en-
| mesh him. His speech was marvel OF po-
tica doxtcrity, drawing in every IRISH vote
by its conciliatory declarations respecting liomc
Rule. coercion and amnesty, yet committing
the coming Government to hardly anything eX-
cent the introduction Of the previous measure
with notifications relating TO tho retention of
Irish representatives at Westminster. His ap-
neal to English reverence for precedent was a
sword with double edge. lie condemned the
Government for violating political usage IN re-
manning in office and confronting Parliament
wien it had been defeated in the general cleo
tons. As for the coming Government, he con-
tended that it would be time to criticisc its
policy and to exact pledges from 1t when 1t
was something moro than a nebulous ny
potho,is" What was required was simply the
normal operation of the British constitutional
system. The Judgment OF the nation was with
nority, must submit and 90 out. Tho majority
OF the House were prepared TO sivc effect to
the verdict Of the country. In fact, thcy could
not do otherwise.
This luminous presentation of 4 very plain
political situation WAS followed by conicmp'u-
GUS reference TO the Unonst argument that
tho majority against the Governments was not
British but Irish. Mr.. Gladstone took the
broad ground that tho majority was no moro
Irish than it was Scotch or Welsh, and that
nobody had tho right Ia discriminate against
the island for the purpose OF myadating the
decision of the Commons On the country. As
IL was customary 10 consider the wishes OF tho
Scatch representatives in dealing with Scotch
questions so onght an Irish majority q have
determining weight in settling the Home Rule
question Mr.. GladStoncs Logic here was very
keen. so long a. ireland remains i'll the Union
it is entitled to equality of rights. \ coalition
between Liberals and Nationalist organized
for tho purpose of securing the passage OF a
Home Rule bill is precisely as effective and as
logical as the combination Of Liberal-I nonists
and Tories formed in the last Parliament for
the sake Of obsructing the Irish cause The
fact that tho Irish hold the balance Of power
ought not to interfere with the normal action
Of constitutional law under established usage
While Mr.. Gladstone did not make direct
reply TO Mr. Rcdmond's speech, he succeeded
in conciliating the Parncllitc minority faction
so that the Irish members will vote tonight
in body against the Government At the
same time he consolcd the Radical members by
promising to take up the Newcastle programme
after the rejection Of Home Rule by the House
of Lords. Altogether the Liberal leader, by
his political fDcsse and extraordinary dcx-
tcrity, pleased all factions in opposition. II
was remarkable display OF intellectual yigor
and refinement of tactics. Ii has sufiiced 10
produce majority which will overturn tho
exiting Government without delay. Whether
that majority will remain sufficiently stable
and homogeneous 10 secure the triumph OF
Home Rule is another matter. But while Mr.
Gladstone lives the play of his keen faculties
of dlscernment and OF measuring political
forces will continue. II any living statesman
can bring about Home Rule under the most
unfavorable conditions il is this great English
man, who, in the refinement Of his mental
processes and subtlctcs Of argument, is almost
an Italian.