The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-31
Irish Nationalist and British Liberals.

ocrious ucpthS OF space.
Irish Nationalist and British Liberals.
The betrayal OF an inclination on the part
OF some OF Mr.. GLADsToNE's lieutenants to
postpone tho introduction Of a home
rule bill until measures have been taken to
win over British workingmen. has hsd
brncing and unifying effect on tho Irish
Nationalist party. McCarthyites and Par
nellites can now DO relied upon to work to-
gctlier. and to persist In Mr.. PAnNBLbs
attitude % watchful and suspicious In
dependence. In Mr.. GLADsToNBs In
tcntions they put faith. but the
avowals OF his colleagues havo con-
v!nccd them that Mr.. PARSELh was right
when he said that self-ntcrcst alone would
lead either Of the English parties to satisfy
tho claims Of ireland. For that reason he
declared that neither party should be suf-
fered to obtain ut the ballot box working
majority over oil opponents. It was in pur-
suanco OF this policy that at the general
election OF 1885 he advised all the Irish
voters OF Great Britain to vote for, Tory
candidates. but for which advice Mr.. GLAD
STONE might not have needed the aid Of
the Nationalist In order to control tho
House Of Commons during the early part
OF 1886.
lrishmcn now see that. unless they act
with extreme caution and foresight. they
may commit the error which MIR. PAnNELL
was 80 anxious to avoid. They may make
the British Liberals 30 strong as to render
the assistance of the Nationalist contingent
superiluous Such blunder in tactics
would be. it is maintained. involved in u.s.
sentng to the programme favored by Sir
WILLIAM HARCoURr. as well us by several
conspicuous spokcsmen Of the English Rad
icals. Sir WILLIAM does not object to the
pressing Of n homo rule bill through the
House OF Commons: Of course he cannot
object to what Mr.. GLADSTONE is resolved
upon. What he wishes Is that tho new Lib
eral Government should not resign imme-
diately on the rejection of its Irish project
by the House OF Lords. but should wait until
1t has sent up bills framed to crafty. the Pro-
gressives in the metropolitan district, the
operatives and miners in the north OF Eng
land, and the agricultural lnborers in the
counties. No one can review the details OF
the recent contest without percelving that
II bills Of this kind should be carried through
the lower House OF Parliament, the Liberals
would be likely to obtain 50 large q major
ity as would make them completely indlffer-
ent to the wishes and opinions OF the Irish
Nationalists. II at such juncture Mr..
GLADSTONE were by any cause removed
from public life. the chance Of obtaining
concessions satisfactory to Ireland would
be well-nigh extinguished.
What. then. Is the policy which the in
stinct OF self-preservation commends to
McCarthyites and Parnellites alike? 1t Is
to strengthen Mr.. GLADSTONE in his pro-
claimed determination that the first meas
ure to be carried through the new House OF
Commons shall be a bill comforting upon
Ireland the power Of managing her own
affairs. The leader Of the Liberals has
repeatedly declared that Ireland blocked
the way Of legislation for England. Wales.
and Scotland. and 1t is. therefore. the
primary duty OF his party to remove the
obstacle. Nor will that duty have been
fulfilled. unless the rejection Of O homo
rule scheme by the House Of Lords Is forth
with followed by second appeal to the
electors. The British constituencies must
be made to feel that Ireland Is In very truth
stumbling block. but no such conviction
will be embedded In the public mind II
the Liberals. by deferrin9 an appeal
to the country until they have passed
measures intended to please British work
ingmen. shall themselves acknowledge that
the next contest Is to turn upon other u.s.
sues. There Is only one measure In addi-
tlon to home rule bill which the Irish
Nationalist can safely aid In passing. and
that is one for the payment Of members Of
the House OF Commons. including. perhaps.
an arrangement for transferring the
statutory costs Of Parliamentary elections
from tho candidates to the community.
There nre no members of the House of
Commons that are In more urgent need Of
salaries than are the Natlonalists. More
than third OF the McCarthyites are entire
ly destitute Of the means OF self.support,
and without outside assistance would find
it impossible to discharge their Parlia-
mentary duties. The passage Of this meas
ure would hasten rather than retard the
triumph Of the Nationalist cause.
1t Is not tho fault OF Irish patriots that
they cannot trust British Liberals, con-
sdered as body. Events have taught
them that eternal vigilance Is the price of
Irish liberty II there has been any differ
Shto 80 Wv oAc"ehAShI VI Alcluuu ny WMKb
and Tories during tho last hundred years,
1t certainly Is not In favor OF the Wings.
Not to Wings are lrishmen indebted for tho
Home Rule bill OF 1886. On the contrary. 1t
was the representatives Of the old Wing
connection that deserted Mr.. GLADSTONE at
that crisis. But little moro reliance could
DO placed on tho sympathy of English Radl-
calls from the moment that they ceased to
be controlled by a community Of interests.
These are facts. and. II they are lost sight
OF. Ireland may even now. when her hopes
seem certain OF fulHlment. see tho cup OF
frultion dashed from her lips.
Rocked In tho Cradle OF tho Decp.
BafOre deDartin1 onoo ,,oro o.. s..,-