The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-03
THE TRIUMPH of HOME RULE.

THE TRIUMPH OF HOME RULE.
The great historical event of the past
week is the passage of the Irish home rule
bill by the British house of commons.
The success of Gladstone has brought Joy
toevery sound American who, believing in
the principle of home rule as exhibited in
the domestic government of our states,
believes in its benehcent practical applica-
ton to the people of Ireland. We believe
that If Austria has successfully solved her
imperial discords by granting home rule
to Hungary and Bohemia, why may not
bosom by treating the Irish people as gen.
erously as she did Canada. when in 1s4o-43.
on the heels of the rebellion of 1887, she
granted Canada home rule.
England has granted home rule to Aus
tralia; TO all her important colonies.
There is no sound reason for believing
that the principle of home rule will hurt
the solidarity of the British empire. 1t is
true that home rule for Ireland will be
fairly pleaded as q reason for granting
home rule for Scotland aud Wales and
England when they wish it. There is no
just reason for thinking that home rule
would not be an advantage to all these
provinces OF Great Britain. Some of the
ablest men in Scotland expect home rule
for Scotland, not because Scotland has
suffered any misgovernment of the char
acter of that inflicted upon Ireland, but
because the simplest practical measure of
domestic legislation concerning Scotland
has to go to the British parliament for au-
thorization.
How impatient would we become in
Washington or Oregon or California if all
our purely domestic legislation had to
wait the pleasure of the American con-
gress. On principle, therefore, every intel
lgent American is in full sympathy with
the cause of home rule for Ireland, and
furthermore, as matter of sentiment we
are glad that Gladstone has beaten the
English Tories, who are today and always
have been the malignant enemies of
America
We are not accusing England or the
English people of being the enemies of
America or American institutions, but the
English Tory party, that Is, the party
that stands for the privileged ruling
classes. has always been the enemy of
America, To illustrate We need not 20
back any farther than the conduct of
Great Britain in the matter of the Confed-
crate cruisers during our great civil war.
At the outset OF the war the powers of Eu-
rope declared that both belligerents should
remain but twenty-four hours in their
ports. receive none but necessary supplies
to reach their own coasts, and for three
months after should receive no sup
plies in any ports OF their govern
ments. This PROCLAMATION was re peatedly
violated by Great Britain. In the case of
the Sumter. Semmes' first vessel. she was
permitted TO remain blockaded at Gi.
hraliar for twelve months instead of
twen,y-four hours under the protection Of
British guns. Semmes finally transferred
his vessel TO an English subject who took
her TO another British port. where she was
RENTED. loaded with eontraband OF war and
ran the blockade with military supplies
for the Confederscy. The Alabama. the
Georgia and Florida were fitted ont in
England and supplied with English arma-
ment: their crews were chiefly English
and they sailed sometimes under the Brit.
ish and sometimes under the Confederate
flag On tho other hand, the English au-
thorities were bitterly hostile 10 the
United States, and held them strictly to
the letter of the proclamation of beIliger-
ent rights. and when the Merrimac, in
March. lSSs. captured three mereh ant YES
sels In Hampton Roads . British vessel Of
war gave the Confederate ironclad three
cheers. The proclamation was further
violated in the case Of the Sumter in al
lowing her TO purchase coal. all the coal
she chose. instead Of simply coal enough
70 carry her 20 the Confederate coasts.
II Ireland. instead of moving within
constitutional lines TO secure home rule,
should rebel and We should permit her
rrivaseeTs - rei,t and repair 1t their leis-
ure in New YORK. we shoala do wha, Eng
Land dsi at Gibraltar In lSsS2
President Washington refused to let the
prlvateeEs Of France re6t in PhuadelphiA
20 destroy British commerce. England
proclaimed neutrality and then svaaed ii
30 furnish as4 and ecmfor, 60 our enemy.
TIE AlAbans Vas built in England
and equipped in manifest violation of
the foreign enlistment act Cemp,esa
Tsoef Of her character vas furnished the
British government by the American
minister togr DAYS before she sailed. az
coarse. England was fairly boaad 10 have
directed ;As Alabama 10 DO tsksn IN