The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-05-20
articles-the test of any nations pros

| is soon answered. The expression
| "Castle government" is moro or less
familiar to American ears in connection
with the Irish question. Dublin castle
was not affected by the parliamentary
changes of 1882. The Viceroy of Ireland
continued to hold his court there as the
representative of the English Crown.
The Pitt administration was dominant in
England during the last decade Of the
last century and it's constant aim was the
absorption Of the Irish parliament into
an Imperial Union. The Irish House of
Commons had membership OF 300, of
whom only one third were honestly
elected by the people, the remainder be-
ing either nominees for seats entirely
controlled by great landowners, or place
men of the English ministry, whose cleo
ton was secured by money. The Viceroy
being the creature of the administration
Of London, distributed this money and
managed to maintain "Castle party in
the Irish Commons"
After the year 1893, the Indifference of
parliament to the welware Of the country
became 80 scandalous that cry for re-
form arose. One bill for the partial re-
moval of disabilities from the Catholics
was passed, but when Grattan introduced
another for full Catholic emancipation,
it was killed. Henry Fl cd was eloquent
in his advocacy of reform Of the fran
chise, but could do nothing with the
House. The volunteers wanted to make
a great demonstration under arms, but
their leader, the Earl Charlemont, weak
ened at the last moment The country
at once lost confidence in the volunteers
and before long they were disbanded.
Meanwhile the Irish parliament was
tottering to it's fall. Ireland was unfor-
tunate enough during this period to have
as successive viceroys two truculent
scoundrels-Lord ,Cornwallis and the
Earl of Carhampton (Cornwallis was he
of our revolutionary war)-and their bale
full influence was honeycombing the
House of Commons. ss< s<3:sstase'' <3::sgtaase bills were
railroaded through and coercion acts and
all sorts of measures instigated by the
Viceroy took precedence of nest legis-
lation until at last Grattan, Flood, Cur
ran, and others of the patriot band of ~
walked out of the historic commons
chamber in body, never to return.
They foresaw the end and the hopeless
ness of their fight against corruption.
Disputes between the English and Irish
parliaments upon two questions OF the
regency during the illness OF George III.
and the navigation laws convinced Pitt
that he could gain his purpose-the union
by foul means if not by fair. A million
and half of pounds ster]ing-nearly
,000,000-was spent by Pitts admins
tration in bribing parliament to vote it's
own destruction. Even this immense
corruption fund, expended among class
of representatives, a majority OF whom
owed their seats to corrupt PRACTICES
secured the vote for the union from the
Irish parliament only by the barest ma
jority.
How does the Grand Old Mans Home
Rule compare with it's predecessor-the
Home Rule of 1882 to 1870? There is
little resemblance between them. Under
the Gladstone law Ireland will have re-
etricted legislative assembly controlling
her domestic affairs, but without any of
the prestige Grattan's parliament en-
joyed. The new parliament will have no
con troll of any external matters, all rela-
tions with foreign countries, customs,
excise, navigation, quarantine, military,
and naval matters, the defense OF the
country, and everything relating to the
making of war or peace being reserved to
the English parliament. If it ever be-
comes necessary to appoint regency
the very question which, as [ have told,
caused deadly breach between Dublin
and London before and hastened the act
of union, the Irish parliament will have
no voice in the matter, for 'sthe status or
dignity of the crown, the succession to
the crown or regency Mr.. Gladstone's
bill expressly reserves to England.
The Viceroy will continue to hold Office,
| and with the advice Of the Irish privy
council will have power to say whether
any act of the Irish parliament is or is
not constitutional. The powers of the
Queen, who under the Home Rule bill has
an absolute veto over all Irish acts of par
lament, will be exercised by the Viceroy.
On the other hand, the Irish Legislature,
within five years, is to obtain control of
the police by establishing local forces in
counties and cities under local authority;
and when that is done the Dublin metro
politan police and the constabulary will
pass out of existence. The Irish iudici-
ary will also after five years be under the
Dublin parliament, go that to general
powers Of domestic legislation the Home
Rule bill adds the control of the judicial
ibenoh and the police. Mr.. Gladstone,
therefore, iss conceding ireland about
everything country need desire for local
fself- government So much for Glad
stopian Home Rule. 1t is not so fatter-
ing to Irish national pride as Grattan's
Home Rule, but it means much toEIre-
land. 1T is the elimination Of sixty years
Of agitation, commenced in 1894, by that
-. D.,1 ror, ~,Sl