The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-26
NEARING THE END.

Mr.. Gladstone has now got the Irish
h0me-rule bill not precisely in fair
haven. but we'll past the shoals and rocks
of the preliminary stages. and the end
may be discerned. The clauses which
arouse most antagonism are now through
committee. and a few days must finish
the work. This could not have been done
without vigorous application of the clos
ure, for the Tories and Liberal Unionlsts
had deliberately wasted time on the
first clauses with the avowed object OF
embarrassing the Government and of rem
dering the measure useless or obnoxious.
The minority insisted upon debating to
the majority. Under the privilege Of rules,
which members are understood not TO
abuse. they organized themselves into
gang OF wreckers. This went OF for
months. and then the Government carried
resolution suppressing debate and re-
curing the clauses to be put in sections,
and discarding the amendments relative
to them of which notice had been given.
This high-handed proceeding is justified
by the course of events. There already
has been the widest discussion of the
whole scope of the bill and on the princi-
pal clauses. The bill comes up again for
discussion on portions closured when she
stage of report is reached. and also geDer-
ally on third reading. Then it is we'll
understood and has, indeed. been an
nounced by Lord Salisbury that the bill
will be rejected by the House of Lords.
This is quite legitimate, but it deprives
the Tories of any foundation for charge
of carrying the bill by force. If measure
is doomed what is the use of pretending
to discuss it? When rejected by the Lords
there will be no appeal to the electors
Immediately. Next session Mr.. Gladstone
will again pass the bill through the Com
mons. and the Lords may have changed
their mind and amend it. or they may again
throw it out. In the latter event the cleo
tors must decide the issue. 1t is CON-
paratively slow process. but constitutional.
and the bill is certain in some shape to be
ultimately carried.
The Liberal Unonists have had their
flank turned very adroitlY by an exposure
showing shameful regeneration on the
Irish question by Mr.. Chamberlain. In
1884, while he was member of Mr..
Gladstone's Cabinet. he secretly carried on
negotiations with the ParneIlites, and in a
letter produced by MIR. Harrington. secre
tary of the land league. he proposed to set
up an Irish board. which should have the
exclusive treatment of the education and
land question and the right to impose
taxes, and was to be Independent Of the
English Parliament. In fact, the powers
ne proposed are wider than In Mr.. Glad
stones measure. 1t was home-rule Par
lament to all intents and purposes. and
had Chamberlain been trusted by the
Irish at that time he would have
gone much further. But they dis
trusted him, and he has never for
given them. He plotted against his COL
league, Mr.. Forster. and overthrow him, !
and he has plotted against Mr. Gladstone
with personal malignity utterly despic-
bic. Explanations on his present course
are in vain. 1t is simply the attitude OF
baked politician utterly INSCRIPTIONS and
without shred of con sistency
or manliness. The exposure has caused |
great sensation.