The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-27
Tho New Homo Rule Bill.

The new scheme for the self-government
OF Ireland Is. 1t seems. already framed and
has been examined by certain members Of
the McCarthyite party. as well as by Mr..
GLADsToNE's principal English supporters.
In several features Of capital Importance
the revised plan differs from the project re-
pudiated in Parliament and by the people
OF Great Britain six years ago.
The rumor turns out to have been IN
founded that Ireland. once endowed with
Legislature Of her own. would be denied
representation in the imperial Parliament.
There was a provision to that purpose in
the bill OF 1886. but 1t figures no longer in
Mr.. GLADsToNE's programme. On the con-
trary. Ireland is to keep the 1903 seats in the
British House Of Commons which she now
holds. until tho whole electoral system Of
the United Kingdom has been reconstructed
on the lone man. one vote" principle. when
all inequalities in the size OF constituencies
and consequently in the weight attached
to single votes will also be removed. The
reasons for and against tho retention Of
Irish mombers at st. Stephens have been
repeatedly reviewed. and we need only re-
call at this time the difficulty Of defining the
W
prevented from voting on questions e1clu-
sively connected with the local affairs of
England. Wales. or Scotland.
Tho threat Of the Orangemen to organize
resistance to laws made at Dublin is eff
fectually parted by clause OF the new
bill. The sole pretext for tho threat was
that the Irish Parliament. being dominated
by Catholics. would legislate against the
interests OF Professionals. But Mr.. GLAD
STONE now proposes to restrict the powers
OF the Dublin legislature even more mar
rowly in respect OF religious matters than
lie wished to do in 1886. Tho legislature Is
to be expressly prohibited from interfering
with the endowment OF religion. and from
Imposing disabilities or comforting priv
ilcges on account OF religious belief
Safeguards satisfactory to Professionals are
also provided with regard to denominations
al education. In view OF such guarantees
embedded in the organic law. nothing could
DO moro ridiculous than the Ulster talk
about abandoning Professionals to persecu-
ton at the hands OF q Catholic majority
While religious liberty Is thus to be secured
as firmly asit Is in the Constitution Of the
United States. adequate measures will be
taken to enforce tho lawmaking authority
OF tho Dublin legislature. For that purpose
the clause of the old bill relating to the con-
stabulary has been modified. and not only
the Irish police. but tho military forces of
the United Kingdom stationed In Ireland,
will DO Mt the disposal OF the Irish executive
to maintain the law.
Another noteworthy feature Of tho lew
bill is the arrangement made for settling
the disputes that may arise as to juris-
diction between the Irish Legislature and
the imperial Government. The knot, it
seems. when one occurs. Is to BIO united with
judicial deliberation. not cut by the sum-
mary exercise OF a revived vcto power. The
tribunal organized for dealing with conflicts
OF authority was undoubtedly suggested
by the United States Supreme Court.
though. under the circumstances the pat-
tern could not be exactly followed. The
old bill. rejected In 1886, provided, it may be
remembered. that the Judicial Committee
OF the Privy Council should decide consti-
tutional questions relating to the powers of
the Irish legislature. To this pro-
vision Mr.. PARNKLL assented with the
utmost reluctance. on the ground that in
the judicial Committee Of the Privy Council
the Irish people were unrepresented. Mr..
GLADSTONE now proposes to meet this
reasonable objection by the appointment OF
a fixed number OF Irish Judges to sit with
the Judicial Committee whom Irish ques-
lions are discussed. appreciate the value
OF this innovation one must bear In mind
that, after the Irish Government has been