Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-16

LoNDoy, Feb. 13-The House OF Com
mons was crowded to the doors to-day, the
occasion being the presentation of the home
rule bill Icy Gladstone. Thore was a dis
orderly rush for seats by the members at
the opening OF the doors at noon; they
shouted and struggled like mob of ex-
cursonists, several being thrown upon the
floor in the crush and tramped upon. As
Gladstone entered the House at $3.50 every
liberal and Irish nationalist stood up
and greeted him with prolonged cheers.
When he rose, some minutes later, to intro
duce the home rule bill, there was another
demonstration, SO enthusiastic aud ire
pressablc that it was several minutes before
he could begin. Gladstone spoke in II clear,
strong resonant voice. He reviewed. at
length the circumstances under which the
act OF union was passed, and the promises
of equality in the land and Of commercial
equality, under which the union was effect
ed; he spoke OF the many breaches OF these
promises, which were unhappiiy in indei-
ibls
Characters in tho History of Ireland.
Coming to 1882, when the resurrection OF
tho people began and thence down to 1880,
Ireland could present in Parliament only
small minority in favor OF restoring to her
something in the nature OF constitutional
rights and practical self government. He
declared TINT the coercion act of 1856 was
a distinct aud vio.ent breach of the promise
on the faith Of which union was obtained
Abiding to the English attitude towards
Irish home rule, Mr. Gladstone said he
would refrain from urging that England
would find herself exhausted and her work
made impracticabe by resistance to Irish
demands. He could well conceive England
maintaining, II SO minded, resistance to
Irish demands, but Englend's conversion to
home rule had been rapid. In 1886 Eng
lands ma jority adverse to home rule was
gil. 1t had now declined to II. In the
face of such facts who would guarantee the
rermanence OF the opposition of the remain
der? [Cheers. He would now ask patient
indulgence of the House whilst giving an
account Of the bill. [Cheersl.
The object of the bill remained as in 1886,
to establish legislative body In Dublin for
the conduct of both legislation and admin
istration in Irish, as distinct from imperial,
tifairs. (Cheers.)
We have done nothing
inconsi,tenI with imperial Unity
We do not mean to impair it. We wish to
strengthen it. (Cheers.) We wish to give
it greater intensity than 1t had ever yet
possessed. First, then, imperial unity is
observed and the equality of all is observed;
secondly, the equality of all tho kingdoms
would be borne in mind; and thirdly, there
would be equitable repartiton of imperial
charges; fourthly, any and every practical
BILE provision for the protection of minori
ties would be included. The plan proposed
ought TO be such as to present the necessary
char ecteristics OF real and continued set
tement.
As to the legislative council, he did not
think they would have been warranted with
in y hlishinp
the system of single chamber; but in Ire
land be added far from finding any such
necessity, We look to tue legislative council
as enabling us to meet the expectation that
shall give to the minority some means
Of freer a, fuller consideration OF its views
The next thing is, shall tke legislative coun-
Gil be nominated or elected We came to
the conclusion that nominated council
would be weak council. ministerial
cheers
IL it should be made weak the council
would probably enjoy a very short term Of
existence. We therefore propose an cleo
tive council, believing 1t to be the only form
wherein we can give any great force to the
vitality OF the institution. We propose to
fix the number at As with an eight years
term of Office the term OF the popular as
sembly beng lesser. We even constitute a
constituency. The conncil constitu-
enoy must, in the first place, be associated
with ratable value of ~ pounds whereby
to secura constituency approaching 40, -
GOO persons, including owners we'll oc-
cupyers but subject to provision that no
owner or occupyer has vote in more than
one constituency.
Then there is no provision in the bill max
lag the legislative council slterable by Iris h
acts
Regarding the Legislative Assembly,
these l03 members must be elected for Irish
legislative business by constituencies in Ire
land. We mako these provisions in regard
to the assembly allowable in respect to
electors and constituencies after six yenrs,
but in altering constituencies the power OF
tho assembly will lie limited by the declera
tory act TO the effect that due regard must
be had to the distribution of population.
The bill mutt include provision fol
meeting what is called dead lock. In {
case where bill has been adopted by the
assembly mora than once, and where there
is an interval OF two yeare between tho two
edoptions, or a dissolution of parliament,
then upon its second adoption the two as
sembiies may be required to meet and til,
fate of the bill is to be decided in joint as
sembly. [Cheers
Next oil appeals shall lie to the PRIV
council alone, not TO tbs council aud lords
The privy councils may try the question o
the invaldity of any Irish act-that is, try
it julicially and with reasonable jud ,ment,
under the initiative OF the viceroy secre-
tary of state. This judicial committee i
now recognized by as the only approach
we can make to the Supreme Court OF the
United States. In composing this iudicin
committee due regard must be had to thu
different elements of nationality. [Cheers.
a clause provides the assembly shall NEE
on the first Tuesday in September. pro
longed Irish cheersI We propose gradua
reduction and the ultimate Disappearance o
the constabulary. 1t ia contemplated thn
they will be replaced by force owing eX
istence to the
Irish Authorities In Local Aroas.
Strong arguments may be alleged in defenc
of the reten ton Of Irish members in Parlia
Inent know no argument of an abstract
theoretical or constitutional characte