The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-04
Will Irish Nationalist Enter the Glad
stone Ministry?

| 1t is said that Mr. GLADSTONE means to
offer to Mr.. SEXTON the post OF Irish Secre-
tary. and to Mr.. ARTHUR OCONSoR that OF
Civil Lord of the Admiralty. Will the offers
| be accepted? All Irishmen know how Mr..
| PARSELL would have answered the ques-
| ton. for there is no doubt that, had. he
wished. he might have taken Office under
Mr.. GLADSTONE in 1856. and probably
under Lord SALISBURY in the spring OF 1885,
since it was due to his assistance that the
Tories rcgained power ut that time.
Mr.. PARNELL repeatedly declared his con-
viction that no Irish Nationalist ought to
accept office at the hands OF any English
Prime Minister until. at all events. the
struggle for home rule had been crowned
with success. Tho acceptance OF Office
would. he said. not only trammel the par
ticular recipients by substituting duties to
their colleagues for duties to their country.
but in the eyes OF the Irish people trans
form tho whole Irish Parliamentary party
into mere auxiliary or appendage OF Brit
ish political organization. Under such cir
cumstances it would be difficult for Nation
alist leaders to keep single eye to the inter-
ests OF Ireland. and. even IL they could. their
constituents would not believe in their sin
gleness OF purpose. The record Of political
movements in Ireland during the last hun
drcd years has been. unhappily. too often
blackencd by the proof that patriotism has
been made n mask for furthering the most
| selfish and dishonorable designs. So COM
mon and SO unbushing had come to be tho
| sales OF political support for place and
| profit. that up to the advent OF Mr.. PAR
NELL few even OF those who elected them
to the House OF Commons believed in
the honesty Of Irish politicians. Things
had reached such pass that most OF tho
honest men who earnestly desired tho
amcloratlon OF ireland belonged to tho
| physical force party. and looked asiance
on the professional patriots who boosted Of
their ability to beard the Saxon ut St.
Stephens. Tho boarding Of the Saxon
usually resulted in the bestowal OF an Irish
Judgeship or a colonial Govcrnorship on
tho Hibcrnian DEMosTHENEs. after which
| silence rclgned for n season and the rack
renting Of Ireland went on.
| The Irish people became very weary OF
the game played by their ostcnsble repre-
sentatives at Westminster. and II thew
ultimately rallied with revived energy to
Mr.. PARSELL. 1t was because they nut
faith in his assurance that he would main
tain strictly neutral and independents
attitude. committing himself to tho per-
manent support Of neither of the English
political parties until the wrong inflicted
upon Ireland by tho Act OF Union had been
| redresscd. IL, after tho fundamental
demand OF Irishmen had been granted.
and Dublin Parliament had been
created for tho management of Irish ai-
fairs. the Irish representatives retained
| at Westminster chose to cooperate with
| Liberals or Tories. and to accept Office un-
der British Government. that would be,
he said. q matter for them to settle with
their constituents. In his own opinion It
would always be expedient for Ireland's
representatives at Westminster to main
tain an independent position. For thus
they could best watch over the charter Of
their country's liberties and preserve 1t
from encroachment under the guise Of
| emendation.
1t is to DO feared that il tho Nationalist
leaders begin by accepting Office IN Mr..
GLApsToSE's Government they will cast a
cloud OF suspicion on the purport and the
value OF the coming home rule bill. IL that
measure there will have to be concessions
| on both sides II 1t Is to command support
from all the elements of the heterogeneous
majority. and to render palatable to their
countrymen those which they will be called
upon to make. the Irish Nationalists will
need all their reputation for disinterested-
/ ness and answering loyalty TO their native