The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-02
me Commons Pass the Home Rule Bill.


After spending eightytwo days In the
discussion OF the Home Rule BILL and listen
ing to some 1900 speeches, most Of which
were made by opponents of it. the House Of
Commons yesterday passed the measure
by o majority OF thirty-four. The bill now
goes to the Lords. and they are certain to re-
5ect 1t. but the great fact remains that the
/ elected representatives OF the United King
dom have solemnly declared that the Act OF
Union is unjust to Ireland. and that the in
Justice ought to be repaired by the creation
Of an Irish legislature.
This is one Of the most memorable events
In English history. and 1t reflects the high
est honor upon the Prime Minister whose
name will be forever linked with it. upon
the Irish Nationalist who have unwaver-
ongiy pleaded for restoration Of their
= Country's rights. and upon the body Of Lib
erals who have hearkened to their plea.
It has taken upward Of half century to
convince the British conscience that q great
wrong was committed In extinguishing the
Dublin Parliament. and that nothing but a
recovery Of the powers OF self-rule once
possessed would satisfy the Irish people.
The agitation for the repeal OF the Act
Of Union, which was begun under DANIEL
O'CoNNELL. has never been abandoned.
although 1t has gone through many phases
and suffered sharply marked vicissitudes.
There was an interval when the stolid re-
oistance OF Englishmen and the apparent
Smpossibility OF securing cooperation among
1rishmen seemed to render hopeless the adj
herence to constitutional methods. and led
the most vehement opponents OF the union
with Great Britain to favor the physical
force party, whose resort to violence.
although abortiye. may have caused states
men to view with more indulgence the
alternative Of peaceful demonstrations
ct the ballot box. On the collapse
Of the Fenian movement, the advo-
Gates Of repeal intrusted the leadership
OF new constitutional party to Mr..
ISAAC BUTT, who carried with him to the
House OF Commons corps OF Home Rulers.
numerically strong. but including many
landowners. whose interests proved ire
ooneilable with those OF the Irish people as
2 whole. The stirring speeches which Mr..
Butt delivered were OF only academic inter-
esp for they madono converts among Eng
Neh politicians. and We're OF no practical
advantage to the home rule cause.
tsTle reliance OF lrishmen upon constitu-
tonal weapons had again become seriously
shaken when. among Mr.. BUTTS followers,
there arose young man. CHARLES STEW
Art PARSELL. who presently proved HIM
self the most expert OF parliamentary tao
ticlans. and whose conception of leadership
was not to make speeches. but to win bat
tiss. 1t was. however. only a remnant of
those who had professed to follow Mr.. BUTT
that chung to the new and indomitable
chief. who substituted fighting for stage
business. and by the Irresistible engine OF
obstruction forced both OF the great British
parties to listen to Ireland's demands. 1t
was at the head Of but some thirty men,
bSrs that Mr.. PARSELL carried on the
struggle for homo rule In the GLAD
STONE Parliament OF 18So-s5 but 1t
was q struggle whose result was vio-
tory. The first omen OF eventual suo-
oess was the declaration obtained from
Mr.. GLADSTONE that he did not repudiate
homo rule In principle. but could not be ex-
pected to consider 1t until Its advocates
ehould put forward a definite plan. SEQ
end step was gained when Mr.. GLADSTONE.
replying TO Mr.. PARNEnL's assertion that 1t
was for her Majesty's Ministers. and not
Tor the Opposition. to formulate bill in
volving o profound constitutional change.
said that the Government could fairly be-
called upon to take that course when the
demand was uttered by an overwhelming
majority OF Irsland's representatives In
Parliament.
The condition thus indicated was fulfilled
In the general election of December. 1885.
when the Nationalist party returned no
tower than IS out Of the 1O8 Irish members.
Hoo many weeks elapsed after this decisive
proof that Ireland stood behind Mr. PAR
M1Ln when rumors became current that
MI. GLADSTONE. again Prime Minister. had
made up his mind that the time had come to
recognize the wish Of the Irish people for
salf-government. The report was verified
by the production Of the Homo Rule bill OF
1854. which. for the moment. threatened to
shattsE ths liberal party. which deprived