Evening journal., 1892-05-25
GLADSTONE AT HIS BEST
The Grand Old Man Fiercely
Scores Salisbury.
IAN NoITEMEET TO CIVIL WAR

The Great Liberal Leader Thus Describes
the English Frcmier's Recent Ulster |
Speech and Makes Vigorous Attack |
on the Irish Local Government Bin.
LoNpoS. May a5.-Alr. Gladstone was re- /
ceived with hearty cheers when he arose in !
the house of commons to speak on the Irish
local government bin. He said that the bin
stamped Ireland and Irishmen with the
most ignominious inequality as compared
With Great Britain. The bin falsihed even
the miserable contracted relic Of solemn
pledges whereby the present majority ia
parliament obtained the peoples commits
sion in 1856. DO was a bin the promoters
OF which found it expedient TO press upon
the acceptance of the people Of Ireland by
meuacing them with the horrors Of civil
war if they should dare to refuse the meas
ure thus forced upon them.
An Incitemcnt to Civil War.
"What p exclaimed Mr.. Gladstone. "was
Lord salisburys speech at the Covent Gar
den but an Indictment to civil wari In the
whole domain of political literature it would
be impossible to find an utterance display
ing more reckless contempt for the dictates
Of wisdom, prudence and sagacity. The
government has apparently ransacled the
past for all the most odious legislative pre-
cedenfs and combined them an IN one
measure, which it has presented TO the peo-
pie of ireland as a general fulfllmont of the
promises which the government has made
No self respecting man could serve on the
Irish county councils In view of the mon-
strous restrictions on his liberty OF action.
To sum up, the bin was branded In every
clause with the stamp Of inequality Every
evil precedent in the past has been utilized
by the trainers of the measures ia order TO
find provisions had enough to suit their
purpose Everything good in previous legis-
lation has been left out
Refuse of Political Legislation.
Tho bin. Mr.. Gladstone added. embodied
the refuse of political legislation IL was a
measure no self respecting nation could ac-
cept Mr.. Gladstone then proceeded 70 an
raign various Conservative and Liberal
Onionist statesmen. He pointed ont that
the bin was not even the minimum Of the
promises with which the Tory leaders had
kept their government in existence for the
last six years. These promises had gone
FAR beyond promises Of mere local institu-
tions. Lord Harrington and Joseph Cham
berlain he said had pledged themselves TO
everything short of an independent parlia-
ment Mr.. Goschen and Lord Randolph
Churchill had promised local government
concurrent and equal with local government
ia Great Britain The people Of Ireland
however, were fighting for something more
than local government
Lord Salisbury Assaiied.
Then returning TO his attack upon Lord
Salisbury and his Ulster speech Mr. Glad
stone said:
1T IS imperative that the country should
know what defense it is proposed to offer of
the use Of such language by such an exalted
person This language was distinct oncour-
agement to q few misguided men, capable
in their fanaticism and folly Of embodyinc
in deeds the prime minister's wordsr
From this attack on Lord Salisbury he
passed again 20 scathing denunciation OF
the measure
Every defect Of local government in
Great Britain he said. "has been embodied
in this bill. magnided and exaggerated. ana
stripped of every safeguard that might cur.
tan its mischief Thus is the bin offered 20
our sister country as the final boon of a
generous government. 30 signify their ade.
quate sense of Irish wants and their disposi.
tlon TO outbid the nationalists' home rule by
Offering Ireland something more beneficial
Equality Of laws was the sole essence OF
the speeches by Pitt 10 was the one ado
quate compensation rendered 20 Ireland fol
her sacrifice. Where is that equality today
How Is 10 represented in the bin before MS
Are we 20 say that Ireland IS wrong In ne
1ecting this billl The stamp of uneuunlit,
is the brand OF degradation. II Irelan,
were capable of accepting as a redemption
of the pledges so frequently made her
measure bearing that stamp, she would b
unworthy Of the high hopes and aspiration
which She has so long cherished. unworth,
Of the great men who led her In times q
ndversity, unworthy of that happier. bette
destinywhich, as we trust and believe am
30 far as the future is open are convince
and know, she is about 20 accomplish
Mr.. Gladstone spoke with his pristin
vigor. His voice was sonorous and his igur
was erect.
Balfour Strikes Back.
Mr. halfom was heartily received by th
Conservatives and Liberal Unionists. Ii
snid that the right honorable gentleman ha
dealt most IN terms of general abuse. bt
carefully avoided indicating any specific
evil or injustice in the bin Mr.. Balfol
went over the points Of the bin. arguir
that it was an eminently wise and prop
measure and that the indefinite abu
which it had received at the hands Of Il
leader Of the opposition was the best el
dence that no sound argument could be pi
eented against any Of its clauses.
The bin passed TO a second reading by
vote Of $50 70 2i7.
Granite Strikers Winning.