Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-14
HOPE FOR HOME RULE.
Encouraging Address by the Ma
tlonal Liberal Federation.


The Members of the House OF Lords
Scored for Their Recent Action = A
Confident Prediction That the Cause of
Home Rule Will soon Prevail.
United Press DlIoar'n nv @nsr. WiroS
LONDON, Sept 13,-The circular issued
yesterday by the National Liberal Fed
Grafton, is virtually an important minis
terial manifesto. The federation has
sent to every federated association in
the United Kingdom copy OF the
manifesto, the substance Of which is
here given.
The rejection Of the Home Rule bill
by the House of Lords not only marks
another stage in the history of the Irish
question, but has bearings SO important
to our system of parliamentary govern
ment as to call for very careful con-
sideration. For seven years the Irish
Home Rule question has been subject to
discussion in the constituencies more
full, thorough and sustained than has
ever before been given to any political
proposal.
IN July, 1892, Mr.. Gladstone came
into power with clear mandate to deal
with the subject"
The circular here briefly summarizes
the course Of the bill in the House of
Commons and the House of Lords, and
then continues:
"The seven years discussion by the
country, the 80 days consideration by
the House of Commons, and the def
nitely ascertained wishes of over 2,000,-
900 of electors are all to count as nothing
when opposed to the view OF some 400
Conservative peers, representing them
| selves alone and for tine most part as
sembled merely by virtue of being the
sons of their fathers.
"a little more than year ago a
coercion ministry appealed to the
country and was decisively elected
from office; yet Lord Salisbury and his
colleagues to-day override the verdict
pronounced at the polls and arrogate
to themselves paramount authority in
the state. The play of various portions
of our constitution which Lord Sails
bury has set III motion and the perma-
nent Tory majority in the House Of
Lords is now pitted against the
popularly.elected majority in the House
of Commons.
| addressing the members of the Ma
tional Liberal Federation at the great
New Castle meeting held two years ago,
Mr.. Gladstone said: If Lord Saiisburys
threats are carried out the House of
Lords will raise up a question which
will take precedence of every other
question, because on that question alone
will depend whether the country is OF
not self-goyerning; or whether, on the
contrary, there is power not upon OF
behind the throne, but between the
throne and the people, that will stop
altogether the action of the constitu.
tional machine.
THAT issue is now raised, and the
questian of mending or ending the
House Of Lords, which held a subor.
dinate place in the New Castle pro.
gramme, may before long, as Mr.. Glad.
stone iorecasted, displace for a while
all other subjects of reform and cry
aloud for vigorous and unflinchine
treatment. II the House of Lords is
faithful to its traditions and practices, il
will capitulate; if it is not, we of the
Liberals will enter on fight, the result
of which we shall not be afraid Of. Fol
the present we entirely reject the
peers pretension to the right TO force
the dissolution of Parliament, and looh
with confidence to the government to e
| lOl Mdsu Will bilOso IeIOfilio lpE WHICH
the country waits. The ingrained dis
like of the upper house to all progression
had been exhibited this year before the
rejection of the Home Rule bill. How
far its members will venture further Il
fout the popular will remains to b,
seen,
ITO all true Liberals the politica
situation is full of encouragement. Tn,
Home Rule bill has passed the House O.
Commons and has been rejected by thu
House of Lords. The bill is doublJ
certain to become law. The ministry
is strong, its supporters loyal and oul
programme is sound. Our opponent
have played their last stake. If we pro
coed with courage and determination
not only will the Irish question b,
settled, but real era of reform will b,
entered upon"