The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-15
A WAR INDEMNITY.
Mr.. Balfour Replies to
Gladstone.
STUMBLING ON THE TRUTH.
Why a Large Pecuniary Compensa-
tion Is Due From England to
the Irish.
STUMBLING ON THE TRUTH
special to THE MORNING CALL

LONDON, Feb. a. In the Commons to-
day Lord George Hamilton asked Glad
stone when he proposed to introduce the
bill dealing with the Irish land tenure.
Gladstone declined to commit the Govern
ment to any pledge to introduce land bill.
and Balf0ur then, amid loud Unonist
cheers. began his reply to Gadstone's
speech of last evening. He said: THE
House, first Of all. has a right to inquire
into why any bill. good or bad, is required.
The Prime Minister must see that a bill Of
this magnitude is hardly justified by any
condition of affairs like that from which the
necessity for the crimes act arose. 1t is
criminal to attempt to set up in Ireland a
legislature practically independent Of the
Imperial Parliament, and Ulster, at least.
deserves exceptional treatment. for which
no provision appeared in the bill"
Bafour contended that the plan outlined
for dealing with the constabulary and with
the civil servants of the Government would
certainly lead to the infiction of great hard
ships.
Balfour then proceeded to criticize the plan
creating three constitutions of different
forms in Ireland. The adoption Of such a
scheme would. he declared. plunge affairs
into condition of hopeless enlargement
Hear! Hear! AS to the exercise Of power
by tile Imperial Government over the local
Parliament, Balfour held that such a pro-
vision would lead to a legislative deadlock
in either tne English or the Irish Parlia-
ment. 1t had been said that there would
be imperial supremacy on the understand
ing that an honorable bargain would be en-
tered into between the Imperial Govern
ment and the Irish Parliament. Speaking
for those honorable members who agreed
with him in political matters, Mr.. BalfOur
declared that no such bargain was possible
or would be made. [Cheers.] II the su-
premacy Of the British Parliament was to
be preserved. it must be by a form Of SUI
premaey which would be operative
''As to the financial proposals." he asked.
"why ought this country give Ireland 917.-
100000? The only reason which | can con-
ceive is the confession that we have been
beaten and must pay that amount as a sort
Of war indemnity. [Laughterl The fed
eral Government Of the colonial possessions
may be good, the British constitution as it
stands may be good, but this bastard COM
bination of three is iudicrous and impossi-
Bile. The Prime Minister asks us to retrace
our steps and TO make progress toward dis
integratiOn. Do not let US, within the
United Kingdom itself, endeavor to bring
about state of things which we see will be
so productive of national weakness. Ire
land is now in process of being united to
Great Britain more closely in the bonds of
common national affection than ever be-
fore" [Repeated Unionist cheers.l
Brice, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lam
vi fO raA thotf ha
Governments justification for bringing the
bill forward was the failure Of coercion.
Iu regard to Ulster, the House ought not to
judge the situation by the blnster of certain
members.
John Redmond Parnellite) said tha,
while he was in sympathy with the broad
principles of the bill, he found in it grave
bIots, and felt it imperative TO press for the
amendment OF many of its provisions.
Irishmen had always disputed the validity
of the act of union, and if they accepted the
bill, and with it the supremacy of the In
perial Parliament based upon the act OF
union, they must have some guarantee that
the British Parliament would not exercise
It's right to legislate over the heads OF the
Irish Parliament In local matters
T. w. Russell (Unionis0 said that Ulster
would oppose the bill to the last
On motion of Lord Randolph Churchill,
the debate was then adjourned.
Morley stated tonight, in reply to ques-
ton by John Redmond, that the Irish con-
stabulary would remain under imperial
control for six years. according to the bill,
and Redmond hnted that had this been
known before the chasm in the Irish party
might have been closed. This utterance is
regarded as the prelude OF the reunion oi
the factions.