New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-20
MR.. E4LFOUE'S SPEECH

The reception Of the Irish Local Government
bill by the Opposition in the House Il Commons
would have Disconnected a less phicgmatlc lcadef
than Mr. Balfour. He is 4 statesman OF the
Harrington type, cool and impernirbable under
attack and not easily drawn. The Opposition
benches were crowded with parisans who were
prcparod to condemn his proposals without refer
ence to their scope and nature, and TO challenge
the Government to drop its diSGuiScs ana shamS
and appeal to the country. The speech was re-
ceiyed with jeels, uprOar and vehement deluhcla-
ton. Mr.. Bafour continued to explain his meas
ure with in1exiblc courage, without beng IN
Hucnccd by the resentment which he was eA-
citing. Before he finished his speech his m
difference to criticism and partisan hostility had
decpencd into cynical Indifference 1t was a
characteristic exhibition of the English habit OF
dealing with Irish questions in the English way
without attempting to reconcile the prejudlces
of an alien race.
The ordinary method of advocating reform
measure is to enlarge upon the merits OF the
scheme and to forecast the advantages to he
derived from it, Mr. Balfour in extending local
government privileges to Ireland Is concerned
with the evil rather than the good which may
be DONE He cannot conceal his apprehension
lest the county councils 10 be created will use
their power To Cypress mlnoriteS ana 10 pro
mote official corruption His attitude toward Ire
land is one Of suspicion and distruSt lie Is n9t
willing to arm an Irish county with the unre-
stricted rights which are now exercised by an
English county lie is convinced that any prly-
ileges Of Home Rule which may be conferred
will be abused by designing and corrupt poll
ticians. and hence IS constrained to surround the
measure with qualifications and safeguards for
the removal of oppressive and venal councillors
Upon the petition of twenty taxpayers charges
against a councillor are to be tried before Judge
Of sizes, and if he be convicted his successor
will be appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant. Many
other precautions are TO be taken to prcyent ex-
tnvagance On the part OF the councils and POI
litica domination Of minorites.
When Mr.. Morley condemned Mr.. Balfours
measure as framed in q spirit Of absolute distruSt
OF Ireland, he offered entirely valid cri Icisn
The author Of tho bill had admitted without
reserve that an Irish constituency was not 70
be trusted to tho same extent AZ an English con-
stinlency. and that what would be 4 safe meas
ure for ono country would DC open to grave
abuse in the other Mr.. Balfour had practically
said in 20 many words: 1.-THE Irish are not TO
be trusted, and the only prudent method Of legls-
lating for them Is that Of assuming that they
will take advantage of any powers conferred
upon them and Of providing means OF turning
the rascals out Of office" Reform legislation
when introduced In this spirit is not calculated
TO disarm prejudice. The Irish and Liberal lead
ers united in dcnomdng the speech as essen
tally an insult to the island 1t was not prob
ably meant to be insulting. 1t was simply a
new application Of the time-worn English prac-
tice of dealing with the Irish people as an alien
race who arc not to be trusted with tho response
bities Of self government