The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-28
The Reported Outline of the Home
Rule 1911.

The Reported Outline of h Home
Rule 1911.
The London Chronicle has published what
it describes as the main features Of the new
home rule project. said to have been de-
viscd by Mr.. GLADSTONE after consultation
with the Nationalist leaders. Some of these
features arc probable enough. but others
are SO incredible that we should not deem
them worthy OF notice but for the fact that
the Chronicle has for some time been an or
gan Of the Giadstonian party. aud has
shown itself unusually well informed.
There Is no reason why the assertion that
the present land legislation shall be undis-
turbcd for five years should not be accept
ed as well founded. The Chronicle, OF course.
has reference to tho land courts established
for tho purpose OF regulating rents by tho
GLADSTONE Land act OF 1881. and to the
several acts providing for the advance of
money to tenants DESTROYS OF becoming the
owners OF their holdings. There would
still remain. however. q question OF much
Importance to Irishmen. whether. namely,
the administrative machinery employed In
the execution OF the Land Purchase acts is
to remain in the hands OF officials desig-
mated by the imperial authorities at West
minister. or to be transferred to appointeos
OF the proposed Irish Government. So far,
indeed. as the Judges of the lane courts arc
concerned. they would fall under the second
provision reported by the Chronicle. that the
Irish iustlciary and police are to be under the
control OF the Dublin Parliament. This Is
obviously a concession OF The utmost mo-
ment to Ireland. for OF what avail would be
the laws made in u Dublin Parliament, II
the Judges who are to expound, and the
cOnstabulury who are to enforce them.
should derive their appointment from q
foreign source? The third alleged feature
OF the bill. that the remnant OF tho Irish
Church fund-the fund accruing from the
d~isendowmcnt OF tho Anglican Church In
I~rcland-shall be at the disposal OF the Irish
legislature. will, OF course. excite indignant
remonstrancc from the Nonconformists Of
Ulster. as well as from members Of tho An
glican communion all over the kingdom.
But II Irish Nationalist are qualified to
make laws for a whole country. binding on
Protcstants and Catholics alike. they can
scarcely be proclaimed incompetent to dis
charge a function so relatively trivial as the
management of 4 church fund.
The Chronicles statement that tho Eng
liah Acknowledgement OF the bill OF 1886 Is
to be dispensed with. must manifestly be
accepted. II there Is warrant for Its further
assertion that there is to be only one GUS
toms department for the United Kingdom,
and that tho Irish Parliament shall not
havc power to levy separate duties. Here,
OF course. ID II marked distinction between
the Constitution proposed for Ireland and
that of tho Dominion Of Canada. The au-
thors of tho distinction will no doubt seek
to justify it on the ground that Ireland,
being represented at Westminster, has a
voice in determining tho duties to be levied
throughout the United Kingdom, whereas
Canada. having no voice In tho imperial
assembly. annot permit 1t to decide what
duties shall be imposed in Canadian ports.
As regards the restriction OF the power to
levy duties to the general Government. the
position of Ireland under the new Homo
Rule bill is evidently to be assimilated to
that OF n State in the Ameri can Union.
or the two remaining features Of the out
line published by the Chronicle. ono is GER
tain to excite the most violent opposition
on the part OF Irish Natlonalists. and the
other is essentially incredible. We are told
that acts OF the Irish Parliament will be
subject to a veto on tho part OF the Crown;
tho veto power to be exercised or the ad-
vice Of the Ministry representing the House
OF Commons at Westminster. For their
own sakes EngliEhmcn ought to reject this
proposition. The veto power which the
Crown once possessed. not having been ex-
ercised since the reign of ANNE. is now re-
garded as extinct. but II revived for the
purpose OF application to Ireland it would
be almost certain. sooner or later. to be APP
piled to acts of the Parliament at West
minister. But how. 1t may be asked, could
such II thing occur. seeing that her Maj
esty's Prime Minister represents n ma
jority Of the House OF Commons. and would
not therefore recommend the Veto
ing OF n bill which embodied the will
of that majority The thing might happen
in this way. Sir ROBERT PEEL was beaten
on an Irish question and resigned. before
the bill repeating in a large degree the Corn
laws. which he lul carried throurh the