Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-16
BALFOUR'S APPEAL.
Scum ding the Keynote of the
Tory Campaign.
VIGOROUS ATTACK ON GLADSTONE.

DIN was broppeu-Neliet works the
Panacea for the Ills of Ireland-A
Whack at the Liberal Foreign Policy.
LONDON, June 15.-The annual dinner
of the National Union of Conservative as
sociations was held last evening Excep-
tlonal interest was attached to
the occasion because Balfour was
the guest of the evening and the
general expectation was that he
would sound the keynote of the cleo
ton campaign, which will begin in two
! weeks. Five hundred covers were laid
and every place was filed. The gallery
was crowded with so spectators repre-
senting all shades of political opinion, al
though the Conservatives predominated.
Among those near the head of the princi-
pal table were the Irish chancellor, Stuart
Wortley, Niscount Emlyn and conspicu-
GUS Conservatives from both houses. The
health of Balfour was proposed by Stuart
Wortley
Comparison of the Two Parties
The first lord of the treasury in reply
spoke as follows: As critical period in
the consideration of the Irish question had
been reached, it would be interesting TO
pause and compare the attitudes of the
two great parties. The Gladstonians were
applying for situations, but they showed
the people no testimonials as to character
They were backward about citing their
performances of 1880 and 1855, and did not
like to dwell upon the strange alliance
which had governed their policy for the
last six Years and had brought down the
Liberals to a degradation which they had
never endured before. They had not re-
ferred to the fact that their past muddle
of affairs had allowed the advocacy of
crime so as TO carry out a certain policy
GIads tones Promises Insincere.
Home rule was the first item of Mr.
Gladstone's programme, yet the members
of the party stood ready To bury the whole
question, while the leaders would willing
ly shunt it. To the London county coun-
Gil the leaders said: Give us home rule
and we will give You something to make
You popular In the matter of promises
the Gladstonian leaders knew no sincerity.
Concerning the policy which would sep
arate Ireland from England the recent ut
terances of Gladstone We're excellent illus
trations of his method of procedure. The
suggestion as to the reform of corpora
tions was true in the abstract. but no per-
Conservatives the Pioneers"
Balfour said he rejoiced that the present
government was pledged TO deal with the
labor they employed upon equitable prin-
ciples. He protested against the narrow
view which would make London take
vestry of public affairs The conserva-
tives had been pioneers in every branch of
social reform. The quantity and quality
of statutes passed by conservative govern
ments in this branch of legislation far ey-
eeeded the efforts of their opponents,
Whilst Gladstone had spent session after
session in barren craftsmanship the gov
eminent had been scoring largely and had
, benefited the working classes
Ireland and "Oue Man. One Vote"
As regards Ireland. Balfour said. the
government had far exceeded all hopes.
/ The local government bill had been sup
ported in principle but it was well under
stood that there was no chance of passing
1t, except after a pTotracted struggle.
/ The bill to be abandoned account of this
opposition. Relief work would do more
/ to ameliorate the condition of ireland
than would twenty statutes There were
arguments in favor of zone man, one
VOTE but Ireland would suffer in conse-
quence of it. Landlords and tenants in
some districts of England were nearly
rulueu. out the labOrerS had not suffered,
and this was saying much for the existing
land system.
What Will the Country Do?
OF course in a few days the country
would give decision on all these cues
tions. Would the people accept party pre-
pared to wreck the interests ofthe empire in
foreign affairs or party prepared to rec
ognize the empires mighty interests in Af-
RIGA and elsewherei There was no doubt
that, if the country understood the issues
they would give the unionists for an in
definite future the confidence bestowed in
the past, The majority of his hearers
were about to go to their constituencies,
Balfour said, and if they used their ener-
gies without stint to make clear the issues,
victory would be assured to the Unions