New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-21
(By CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE

SIONE NJ HE lMPEflAb
INSTITUTE
(By CABLE TRIBryg.l
Copyriqlt: ls9s: Bg The Tribune Association.
London, May 2o-Mr. Gladstone is now in a
position TO measure, if he WILL rather more
accurately than he has vet done, the strength of
the forces arrayed against him and his policy.
The Home Rule bill has been fortnight in Com
mittee and two clauses ont of forty have been
passed by IA use of the closure which nobody
defends except from a party point of view the
other by concession a vital point which
Mr.. Gladstone had distinctly refused to make
the week before. BY these two forms of tactics
one violation of the unwritten law of the lIonse
of Commons the other, Il surrender-he has car
ried through Committee twenty lines out of four
hundred exclusive of the schedules. His rciec-
tons that fortnight's work not. perhaps
of an eXhilarating kind. The rate of progress
was described last week by Mr.. John Morley
rhetoricaly, but with approach to ac-
curacy, when he said that, at this pace, it
would take twclvemonth to see the bill
through Committee.
1t has to be observed further, that such prog
ress as has been made has been due largely to a
conspiracy of silence among the Gladstonians.
and especially among the Irish. They have. IN
deed, spoken on side issues, and on personal mat
their opponents speaking. Interruptions
have been systematic and Systematically Offensive
But silence was kept at first on the most serious
and weighty issues.
Last week saw Mr.. Gladstone at his worst
when he would neither explain. nor allow any
colleague or ally to explain, what was really
meant by Imperial supremacy, or in what sense
or TO what degree in what circumstances the
supremacy of the Imperial Parliament over the
Legislature at Dublin was TO be operative ana
efficient. The foundations of the Empire and
the principles which are inwoven with the un-
written Constitution of the Empir" were' u MI
Gladstone had his way, TO be unsettled. Inc
limits of the authority of both Crown ana rar-
lament We're to be underlined.
II was ovious that the Unionists wouin no'
leave the matter there. The country, tho"s"
moves slowly, began to move Inc shil'ihe7e VI
Mr. Gladstones policy was too open not W 'o
alarm Gladstonian members began 10 near HUM
their constituents who wanted 10 hho"
ub.tber after all. HOME Rule really meant sep
aration. and whether the Parliament al Duoiii
was TO be for all, or for many, practical puipo~'
Of coordinate and co-cqual jurisdiction WIN 'iie
Parliament at Westminster.
The Unionsts whose conduct oil this coh'
has not always been either consistent or shrc"u'
raised the question again this week. lhcS Ane"
there was anxiety if not dissension among 'ie
Gladstonians. They knew the country was sur
,sue They perceived that it was possible 10
eompel the Ministry sooner or later 10 say yes
o- No IN the question at issue Sir Henry James
moved an amendment to clause second. decIai-
inc that the supreme power and authority oil tnc
parliament of the United Kingdom should remain
unaffected and undiminished over all persons
matters and things, within the queens Dohi"-
ions Now those are enactng woros' WIN
force and significance and authority very oii'ci
ont f.,m the nebulous declaration of the pre-
,mble which was almost hypothetical In 1orn'
and certainly perfdious in Intention
MIR. Gladstone admitted the force OF 'ir
Henry's arguments. as well he might Inc a.
Attorney-G General handled the question as lu'iS'
and a constitutional lawyer 1he frihe N"aIS
,er's own opinions and sympathies were pro"""i,
with his former colleague and present opponent.
q, ;s rever 10 be forgotten that there Is q Droai
basis of real conservatism to MIR. Glads'ohes
mind He was aware, too, Of the agitation among
his ovn followers and among his supporters out
.;do ,h. IIouse Moved by these two impulses,
be offered to introduce q clause, the iramins oi
(which was TO rest with himself. after clause
,brtv.two. lie hoped thus to quiet the Just ap-
rrebensions of the English and TO persuade ,''e
Irish that Imperial supremacy might still oe 'he
r.gue unreal, imperative sham they mean II 10
no They were startled Some OF ms own coz
,eaoues were startled--the same men VINO Ia"
declared in effect. though not in words. that su-
cremacy al Westminster could only pe toei"oie
at Dublin on condition that IT was never OF sell
dom. enforced. ~ .,.
ror saveral minutes Mr. Gladstone was sur
.aoa br an eager and gesticulating group
c. 1U;u;on Uarcourt Mr. Bryce, Mr. Asquith and
..,ous r.ro evidently annoyed at their leadef
80 Cir Henry hesitated. Mr.. Ceilings warned
h,r, that the spider was only asking the hy 10
Ill, ;r+, his norIor Mr.. Chamberlain, who' uur-
;,r tb;s session has led his own party oil I''p'ri,
I-rionists and. TO some extent, his allies WIN
extraordinary ability and briliancy, lnsS.f" u,'
,bore should be no delay. lie quoted Mr' !"
mond and Others and OF such ''S'i'n'n'
M lack. to show that the doctrlne OF "''
.rnror,,cv was the means with which they 'h'''''
to socure substantial Independence. ihe wv,
mont stood pledged to a real supremacy ,|' '"., ~
make il real The speech stirred 'he ho""
both sides What was remarkaor wa Wv w,
s.., ,nnroval Of many Gladstonian Radicals. MI
Gladstone saw that the moment han co"c
bo had 70 choose between English support an" w.
-, .rrrovaI and he reluctantly accep'eu '''
,Iorrv James's amendment: protesting, ho"c'e'
49,. rotbi,g further should be cXtorteh iIo'"
t,r, 7, was the first signal success the Chion'''
ana ,le Union have won since the Dill "e"' .
Committee and il may have farfcac"i,'- ''o;
ouences. They have at last embedded the p.ra'.
nle Of Imperial supremacy in the bin itsci .n.s
,,.,,, now attempt to apply it. and. by amendmen's
90 successive clauses, to make sure that IN prac
=. well as in principle the Imperial Parliament
slall still be Imperial.
Other basincss makes little progress. NO con-, ON
- hill has vet beer passed. and nail 'he
session % is gone The chief consolation to soou s"'u
c,ads,onians amid these counter currents mas oet'h
.,s stcadiness of their majorities in committee
IT, hsva exceeded their normal ma1ority ID mos'
,,,,;.,"n. the average being nearer hfty ,ian
sorty The Unionlsts complain Of tnelr wnps nas
and their constituents complain ,ha' % r"e'. as