New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-22
HOME RULE NEARS THE GOAL
THE BILL PASSED TO SECOND READING BY
347 TO 304

Mr. GLADSTONE AND Mr.. BALFoUR CLOSE THE
DEBATE WITH ELOQUENT srEECHEs-THE
AANoyNcEMES OF THE VOTE GREETED
WITH TUMULTUoUs ENTHUSIASM
London, April 2i.-The Irish Home Rule bill
has passed the second reading in the House OF
Commons by a vote Of 3l7 TO 30i.
Tho members iocked to the House early to-day
70 secure seats for the final encounter over the
second reading of the bill.
Dr. c. X. Tanner, Nationalist member for
Middle Cork, was the first to arrive being pres
ont as early as O'Clock in the morning Several
other Natonalists and several representatives. OF
the Ulster Unionists followed DR.. Tanner closely,
and many other members were in their seats
much more promptly than usual DIR. Tanner
had q special reason for being early besides his
interest in the Home Rule bill, for he had the
pleasing duty of presenting to Mr.. Gladstone, ms
soon as he should arrive, a beautiful bouquet
OF flowers sent from Ireland and accompanied by
the inscription "All blessings and power to the
friend of poor and distressed Ireland. May God
prosper you."
Upon the opening Of business William O'Brcn
(Nationalistl, member for Cork City, asked if
Mr. Gladstone had received a resolution adopted
and signed by the Mayor and Aldermen Of Cork
approving the establishment of an Irish Parlia-
ment in Dublin.
Mr.. Gladstone replied: "Yes, I had much pleas
ure in receiving the resolution: all the more as |
am informed that it expresses the uniform views
of all the corporate bodies in Ireland"
T. w. Russell. the Liberal member who opposes
Home Rule for Ireland. and who represents the
South Division of Tyrone asked if Mr.. Gladstone
knew that half the members of the Municipal
Council of Cork were absent when the resolution
was adopted.
Mr. OBrien sprang to his feet and with con-
siderable vclcmence said: That is not fact
Mr. Gladstone calmly replied to Mr.. Russell's
question. saying: The resolution at least ex-
presses the feeling of great majority of the Irish
Municipal Councils" Mr.. Gladstone added that
the Home Rule bill was certain TO pass its second
reading tonight. and that it would go to the Com
mittee on May T.
This statement was received with cheers by the
supporters of the measure
Sir Henry James, LberaLU Unonist member for
Bury addressed the House in opposition to tie
Home Rule bill. He said that the Premier had
spoken of the wrongs of Ireland What wrongs
could not he remedied by the legislation OF
democratic Parliament? Surely the Imperial Par
lament formed a democracy best able to settle
Irish grievances. Apart from the control of the
Imperial Parliament. to whom would the Govern
ment of Ireland go? 1t would be in the hands OF
those now forming majority of the Irish repre-
sentatives men drawn from the Land League and
proved to be conspirators against law. These men
would take place and power with the detcrmina-
ton TO sweep out of Ireland the landlords. whom
they regarded as an English garrison.
Talk of the bill as final settlement ex-
claimed Sir Henry. at is simply measure 70
enable section Of Irish agitators to deal as they
NAV choose with the country. 1t is practically
. repeal Of the union, and an epitaph on the sl-
,remacy of the Imperial Parliament clear.
Hear.) Instead of being message Of peace be-
Meen the two countries, it is message OF war
There might for some time be armed peace but II
Z should reonre the interference of the military
in order TO enforce ii, where could real peace be
The bill surpasses the ingenuity of man IN de-
yising PROF osals to bring the law into contempt
There is not man in Ireland who could not set
its provisions at defiance. Neither could the
judges enforce 1t. rHear!J Had the bill been ex-
planned to English constituencies, the present
Government could rever have obtained even
limited English minority in support Of it, nor
would the Prime Minister, who is trying to pass
the measure solely through Irish votes ever again
have sat on Government bench"
SIR HENRY JAMES IN OPPOSITION.
Sir Henry James was heartily applauded at the
Cnonist members.
CHEERS FOR THE TWO LEADERS.
Fairly in the evening the debate was monopo-
lised by minor members. Their speeches were
featureless. and by o'clock the benches were
more than half empty. At 10 O'Clock Mr. Glad
stone entered hurricdly and amid cheers took his
seat on the Treasury bench. Members began to
return RAPIDLY. At 1890 o'clock Mr.. Bafour
was received with cheers All the members had
in the mean time taken their places, ana 'hc
House waited cApectantly for the heavy guns oil
tie final debate on the secoud reading
MR.. BALFoURs SPEECH.
Mr.. Balfour rose shortly before II o'clock
longer period Lad never been occupied with the
second reading Of bill, he said, than had pcen
allowed for the present debate The subject
Was O: such transcendent importance, however,
that nobody could say that the discussion hai
been too much prolonged The Liberals hhlgho
fa:ter themselves that they were only laNin@ 'he
FIRST stepping-stone 10 system OF ieuei"'io''
Some seemed even 10 court such an lmpu'auo''
No man, however, had the audacity to come
forward in the House with tho details OF such
q plan. No man dared contend that within the
narrow limits Of the two islands 1our asSe"-
blies with four executives could be operative
In harmony with Imperial Iarnaheh,.
He himself could not believe that TINS chiidisi
imitation of the United States Constitution would
ever commend itself to the judgment OF the BRUSH
people. lCheers) lie therefore would put the
federation idea aside not Immediate 10 the
discussion. The Home Rule bill had been brougho
forward TO meet the Liberal party's necessities,
which were connected with Irish agitation ana
Irish crime. {" Hear lIear.'j Never had sucn
an important constitutional change been proposed
with such fimsy reasons. Substantial arguments
for the necessity Of the measure could DE
enumerated on the fingers of one hand. Two OF
these arguments that the Union had failed
and that coercion had failed
THE BENEFITS or COERCION.
Mr. Balfour then argued at some length to prove
that coercion in Ireland had been productive OF
bencfccnt results and that under the last Sails
L. I-..ics L.n.I,air.1 ILL