The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-02-15
MIR. Gladstone's Speech.

MIR. GladstOne's Speech.
The text OF tho Home Rule bill has not
yet been submitted to Parliament. and per-
haps will not be before the end Of the week
Nor did Mr.. GLADSTONE in the great speech
which he delivered on Monday touch on all
the important features OF the measure. but
confined himself to a few salient points.
Final judgment must. therefore. be re-
served until tho whole project is made
known to us: but we can see already that
the scheme is materially different from the
alleged draft OF it which was cabled to US a
week or two ago.
Tho composition OF the Irish legislature.
for instance. is quite distinct from that pro-
posed in 1886. Or from anything predicted
by those protesting to be coGnizant OF Mr..
GLADsToNE's intentions. Thu Dublin Par
lament. like the Swiss Federal Parliament.
is to consist Of n Legislative ouDcil and a
legislative assembly. AS there is nothing
in Ireland. however. corresponding to the
Swiss cantons or the States Of our Union.
the iorty-eight members Of the legislative
council are to DO chosen by about 17O, 900
electors. each Of whom shall own or
occupy real estate OF the ratable value
OF at least 800 n veal Such q higher
property qualification for the electors
Of the upper House existed. as we
formerly pointed out. In New York for
some forty years after the adoption Of
our State Constitution. 1t Is intended to be
q safeguard for the minority: but a precau-
ton against a deadlock Is borrowed from
the French process OF constitutional re-
vision. That is to say. when a measure has
been twice adopted by the popular branch
OF the Irish legislature. and either an in
terval Of two years or n dissolution OF Par
lament has taken place between the two
adoptions. the legislative assembly and the
Legislative council are to meet in joint
session. and the passage or rejection Of the
bill Is to be decided by a majority Of
their joint votes. We should add that
members OF the legislative council
are elected for eight years. and we
infer. although Mr.. GLADSTONE does
not expressly say 80 In the cabled alb
stract Of his speech. that they do not lose
their seats on a dissolution OF the Parlia-
ment. Without some such guarantee of
the rights OF minorities as is afforded by
this legislative council. 1t Is not probable
that Mr.. GLADSTONE could carry any Home
Rule bill through the present House Of
Commons. Those who object to a property
qualification Of any kind as the basis OF
the upper House OF the Irish legislature.
will observe that the guarantee is only tenn
porary, and that the will OF the popular
majority can in no case be withstood longer
than two years.
The Irish legislative assembly Is to con.
sist OF l03 members. chosen by the present
constituencies. The members will hold their
seats for five years.. unless the Parliament
Is in the meantime dissolved owing to n
disagreement between the legislative as
sembly and the Irish executive. Tie method
OF electing members OF this assembly, how
ever. and their term OF service can be altered
hereafter by the Irish Parliament. Money
bills must originate in the popular branch
OF the legislature; INT to this body the Vice
roy's Cabinet. or Executive Committee OF
the Irish Privy Council. Is evidently to be re-
sponsible. The Viceroy. 1t should be noted.
is to be appointed for a fixed term Of six
years; not changeable. In other words. with
every change Of Government at West
minister. "
AS regards the jurisdiction OF the Irish
Parliament. this covers all Irish affairs
and interests. except some which are
temporarily excluded. What are imperial
as distinguished from Irish affairs is de-
fined In the bill. The preamble asserts
the supremacy Of the imperial Parliament,
and the bill goes on. like that of 1886. to
deny to the Irish legislature any power OF
regulating the succession to the Crown. or
the conditions OF a regency or OF the vice.
royalty. Excluded also from its cogni-
zancc. as from that Of our State Legisla-
lures. are the subjects OF war aud peace. OF
public defence. OF treaties and foreign rela-
tons. OF trade with foreign nations. and
the coinage.
There are also constitutional ~restric-
lions intended to secure religious free
dom. to safeguard public education. and
to assur personal liberty. With reference
To the judiciary, we note that from tho out
set the Dublin legislature is t. fix the
pay OF Judges, though these for the period
OF six years are to be appointed by the
imperial Government. After the cxpira-
ton of that term all the members OF the
Irish bench. with the exception OF TWO
Exchequer Judges. will be appointed by the
Irish executive responsible to the legisla-
tive assembly. The c~onstabularN also.
during u transition period arc to continue
under the direct control OF the Viceroy. but
ultimately they are to be replaced by
bodies of men owing existence to local Irish
authorities. We should add that during
the transition period a large part Of the
cost OF tho constabulary Is TO be borne by
the imperial exchequer.
As regards the distribution of fiscal re-