The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-30
THE HOME RULE BILL-MR. GLAD
STONES SPEECH.

STONES SPEECH.
We take from last Sundays special
cable to the New York sun the following
highly interesting paragraph. The ac-
count Of Mr.. Gladstone's final speech Is
a bit of graphic writing that is not ex-
celled every day:
London is torn to-day by conflicting
political emotions. Last nights great
Home Rule triumph in the House has
inspirited the Liberals wonderfully The
Tories are rejoicing with equal vim over
the demonstration by the visiting irish
Unionsts. Friends and foes alike are
marvellng over the magnificent speech
with which Mr.. Gladstone brought the
debate on the second reading Of the Home
Rule bill to a close, and over the match
less eoquence of it's delivery. 1t was a
far finer effort than the speech with
which he introduced the bill a few weeks
ago. 1t is. indeed, pronounced by compe-
tent opinion to be the greatest utterance
Of Mr. Gladstone's life, both in matter
and in manner. The moment he took the
floor, the great and Grand Old Man SEEM
ed TO feel that the climax OF his life had
come His years dropped from him like
a cloak. His voice was like deep-toned
bell clear and clarion. Not for a moment
did It fail him during the hour that he
held the House under the absolute spell
Of his eloquence. Not n single oratorical
arrow was absent from his CULVER. and
he used them ALL Wit satire, invective.
logic. pleading. scOrn and denunciation fol-
lowed each other IN overwhelming success
sion. Mr.. Gladstone IN oratorical passion
is magnificent and terrible Last night he
was vengeance incarnate. Words that
were blows fell upon his enemies with
fury that made the great gladiator seem
something more than human antagonist
Al the same time II was a scene and
p speech which made II more evident
than any previous event In his career
that Mr.. Gladstone at the present moment
embodles greater power in personal lead
ershp than any man Of his time.
The final passage Of the Home Rule bill
by the Commons now seems 10 be in
sight The committee stage may be vexa
tious and slow. but the bill will go
through within a reasonable time and he
sent to It's death In the House Of Lords.
That the dead bill will In the end prove
a weapOn with which the House CT Peers
itself will be struck down is confidently
predicted by the Liberal leaders. Before
that day comes. however, Britain must
pass through the Interest political strue-
gle 81 her modern history and a struggle
which win involve issues far greater than
those Of the present measure.
II may be, as this writer thinks, that
the passage Of the Home Rule bill is
now IN sight. We cannot say that II is.
AS we understand the rules NJ proc edure
in the British House OF Commons. the
bill must now lie over, for It's final pas
sage. until December. In the meantime
the searching light Of public discussion
will he turned upon II in fullest glare
II there are weak points in it's armor
those weak points will he pointed out 10
every voter I'm the United Kingdom. and
their feebleness displayed with all the
powers Of fixed and memorable logic.
The bill has now its most trying ordeal
10 pass through.
Nor are we prepared to agree with this
writer that when the House OF Lords
throws the bill out they will create
weapon with which they themselves will
he struck down. We may laugh at the
House Of Lords as much as we please,
but it represents that sturdy and conser-
yative element of English character which
has made her people the greatest people
that ever inhabited this globe. They are
not Of kind TO surrender easily, and
there is that In the mind Of every Eng
lishman which will back them stubbornly
when they are fighting for their rights.
The day that witnesses the disappearance
of the House Of Lords will probably be
the day when "the Blake or the vessel
that represents England, is no longer the
crack ship Of an international naval dis
play.