The herald., 1893-08-31
|RELAND'S HOUR OF DEL|vERANCE.
The Home Rule Bill in the
Last Stage.
Gladstone Moves Third Reading of
the Measure.
The Grand Old Man Made an Eloquent
Appeal for Its Passage = John
Redmond Defines HIS
Attitude.

| BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, Aug. 30.-The house of COM
mons met at noon today to consider the
home rule biiliin the last stage. There
was an exceptionally large attendance.
Gladstone was enthusiastically cheered
as he entered. After number OF
amendments were disposed OF without
debate, Gladstone arose amid q storm OF
cheers and moved third reading. He
began his speech with references to
the criticisms, made by the Unionist
leaders on the historical precedents he
cited on former occasions for home rule
in Ireland. The opposition he said con-
tended that in no other countries could
apologies be found for changing the
union between Great Britain and Ire
land. Their contention could not be
supported by historical facts. In Austro-
Hungary, in Norway and Sweden, in
the United States and the British col
onies were to be found abundant proofs
that ii was altogether desirable to sep
arste local from imperial afftirs.
Through European and American liter
ature it was not possible to find writer
entitled to consideration who approved
of the conduct of England towards Ire
land, or attempted to apologize for the
grieyious, shameful history which, since
the union, they had felt compelled to
deplore.
Gladstone, continuing, said he had
REGARDED the closure as an evil that
ought to be tolerated only for the avoid
anCe of a much greater evil. Those op-
posed to the bill adopted course never
before adopted-partly to attempt to de-
lberately destroy, the measure by mass
of amendments, partly to try to take
hack in morsels the boon confronted in
the principle. 1t was not the complex
ity of the bill but the complexity of the
amendments which consumed time. 1t
was contended that the bill would sepa-
rate the islands, destroy the constitu-
ton, break up the empire and make
Irishmen supreme in British affairs.
.sSuppose these falsehoods true, have
thew not then terrible hold upon our
selves? Muet we not admit that with
our 700 years of political connection with
Ireland, the result of our treatment ie
that we have brought her to such state
that she cannot, without danger of ruin,
undertake the responsibilities which in
every other country are found to be in
the capacity of the people and fraught
with the richest benefits. prolonged
Nationalist cheers.l We deny that the
brand of incapacity has been laid by the
Almighty upon any particular branch Of
our race"
Gladstone closed his address as fol-
lows: "We have faith in national lib
erty; faith in its efficacy as an instru-
msnt of national education. We believe
experience, widespread over the whole
vaet field, encourages us to our work at
everv point. Finally we feel that the
passing of this great measure after more
than so daya' debate, does, will and
must constitute the greatest among all
steps hitherto provided towards the at
tainment of q certain and easy tri-
umph."
Prolonged cheers followed from the
Irish and ministerial benches.
Leonard Courtney, Unionist. then
moved the rejection of the bill. he
spoke briefly.
John Redmond, leader of the Parnell-
ties, who followed Courtney, defined his
attitude towards the bill. The bill was
detective in some respects, said he, and
disappointing in others. Nobody in his
senses would regard the bill aa final
and satisfactory settlement of the great
question at issue.