St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-02
HELPED BY CLOSURE.
Gladstone's Action Has Prevented
Catastrophe to the Home
Rule Bill.
Near Prospect of Split on the
Financial Clauses a Serious
Matter.

LONDON, July 1.-The desperate con-
dftiOn in which the government has
been placed by Uniontst obstruction
and Chairman Mellor's incapacity, has
been bettered noticeaDly by Mr.. Glad
stones announcement that summary ac-
ton could no longer be deferred. The
resolution intended to hasten the prog
ress of the home rule bill has come too
late to satisfy the GladstonIans, but not
too. late 10 prevent the catastrophe
which threatened the bill last week.
Liberals and Radicals have regained
their courage, and the Irish members,
although still troubling the govern
ment with their domestic chickering's,
have suppressed temporarily their mu-
tinous protests.
The Tories are writhing under Mr..
Gladstone's closure resolution. Many
of them demanded at first that the
Unionist leaders withdraw from further
debate on the bill in committee and
| leave the government free hand to do
| as it might please. The expediency of
this course of action was discussed
earnestly in Conservative circles last
evening. AS dramatic and sensational
form of protest, it found not few sup
porterS among the ultra Conservative
by Joseph Chamberlain, whose judg-
ment is accepted as virtually beyond
appeal. Mr.. Chamberlain advised
that no change of tactics be made by
the Unionists. Should he act, he said,
in utter disregard of Mr.. Glad stones
proposals? They should proceed in the
case of each section of the bill as if no
vote had been taken. and should allow
! the government to closure every stage
OF the debate, whether the clause i'll
question had been discussed or not.
Mr.. Chamberlain'S plan has been APP
proved by the other Unionist leaders.
| Their object obviously is to proclaim to
the country that number of clauses
have been forced through without de-
bate, and TO exploit this So-called "Glad-
stonian styranny" as an irritant among
the British voters.
The decrease of the government ma
jority to twenty-siX or twenty-eight IN
recent divisions of the house has pro-
voked Tory comments to the effect that
the government is nearing its end. The
|; mlnlsterlallstS, however. are not appre-
hensiVe. The decrease has been due
merely to passing events which have
necessitated the absence of a dozen or
more Gladstonians from the house. The
near prospect of a split in the Irish
party on the financial clauses is much
more serious matter. From this source
will come the most considerable obsta-
Gle that has yet been laid in Gladstone's
path. John Clancy. Parnellite, will
offer an amendment that Ireland's con
tribution to the imperial excheqAer shall
be one-fourth of her general revenue
instead of one-third, as proposed by Mr..
Gladstone. Timothy Harrington, Par
nelite, will propose that all Anglo-Irish
commission be appointed to determine
the size of lreland's just contribution.
There seems to be little doubt that the
ParrnelliteS will accomplish their pur-
pose. If the concessions demanded by
them be not granted, they will be ready
to bolt to the UnioniSts. They would
! carry over nine votes, and thus make a
difference of eighteen in divisions. Such
| loss the government could not stand.
| Mr. Gladstone must save himself by
! yielding again. The moment seems to
| be near when John Redmond, with his
nine votes, will be master of the parlia-
mentary situation. His dictation will
! hardly be accepted with pleasure by
! the Liberals or Radicals, and may be
| the cause of difficulties more embarrasS-
| ing than any before experienced.