The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-14


end Of the present week.
| -----------
What Irish-Amerlcan VIII stab Glad
stone in the Back2
We cannot believe that there are many
honest friends OF Ireland in this country
who could read without pain and indigna-
ton the manifesto put forth by three
persons protesting to represent the Irish
National League Of America, one OF whom.
however. has since disnvowed his signature.
The authors Of this manifesto seized the
moment when the Lords had treated the
Home Rule bill with unexampled oontumely.
| to denounce not them, but Mr.. GLADSTONE;
| to deride his unnlnching efforts to secure
for Ireland the largest measure OF self
government obtainable from the present
House Of Commons; and to tax with dis
loyalty the Irish Nationalist members Of
Parliament for accepting Mr.. G1ADsToNE's
project as precious installment of their
country's dues. That Is to say. they virtu-
ally accuse OF treachery to the cause OF
Ireland not only the McCarthyites. but also
the nine Parnellite members, every ono Of
whom voted for the Home Rule bill. And
yet. what ia left OF the Irish National
League of America has always hitherto ex-
pressed ardent sympathy with Mr.. JOHN L.
REDMOND and hls colleagues.
1t Is evident that the authors Of this man.
ifesto have not read the speech made by
Mr.. REDMOND at the Paruellite Congress
held In Dublin just before the third reading
OF the bill. In that speech Mr.. REDMOND
pointed out that the question for Irlshmen
Of common sense and genuine patriotism
to answer was. not whether Mr.. GLAD
STONES scheme is perfect measure. but
whether it is not incomparably better than
nothing. Should Irish Nationalists reject
the scheme. and thereby help to leave Ire
land at the mercy OF Tory Government.
they would do it. he said. with their eyes
open. for Lord SALISBURY made no secret
Of his specific for Irish troubles. namely.
twenty years Of inflexible coercion. How
Is 1t possible that. with such programme
defantly proclaimed by the leader Of the
House of Lords. any Irish-Americans can
bring themselves to play the Tory game by
attempting to excite ingratitude and hos
tility to Mr.. GLADSTONE on this side Of tho
Atlantic? We are willing to take for
granted that the authors Of the manifesto
to which We have referred are honest
though misguided men: but IL they had
been bought with Tory brides. they could
not have devised course more hurtful to
the Irish cause. or one more certain to be
rebuked by the National League Of Ireland.
which, in its Congress at Dublin. received
the views Of Mr.. REDMOND with enthusiasts
tic, almost unanimous, approval.
Tho violent and venomous attacks OF the
speakers representing an enormous ma
jority Of the House Of Lords. not only upon
the Home Rule bill. but upon its author. the
Prime Minister. should convince every
1rish-American OF common sense that the
measure involves immense concessions to
his country. II principle and in detail. and
that It's Trainer. Mr.. GLADSTONE. Ia a real
friend Of Ireland. The Tory lords described
the bill as horror" and an "atroclty,"
for tho reason that 1t practically split in
twain the united kingdom. inasmuch as the
large amount Of independence which 1t con-
coded to Ireland would inevitably be in
creased with every year, until it eliminated
In absolute separation. Well. are these
grounds on which Irish-Americans would
condemn the measured On what plea,
then. would they condemn IT. Is it because
the bill has been accepted. as we have said,
by every representative Of Irish national
the McCarthyites. who. In some quarters,
are unreasonably termed West Brtishers.
but by every Parnellite as well? In whose
interest are they acting. and what do they
aim to plish-these men who are try
ing in the United States to stir up opposi-
ton to a bill which has been sanctioned by
Irish patriots. and which Is assailed with
fury by the Tory enemies Of Ireland?
There Is no reason to doubt that Irish
mon throughout the world will recognize
their duty at this juncture. II any OF them
had at any time misgivings about the
Home Rule bill. these must have been en-
tirely dispelled by the spectacle presented
In the House Of Lords. 1t must be good
bill for the Irish tenant which could array
against 1t the unprecedented number OF 4l9
representatives Of the landowning inter-
est. And whatever improvements the bill
may neod to make 1t perfect measure 1t is
even now incidentally preferable to the al
ternative OF twenty years coercion. which
.s offered by Lord SALISBURY.