The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-14

o'clock tnl5 IHoTHlHbI uS9ASESN w -"
secretaries, From early morning the
scene in the palace yard, Westminster,
was Of tho most animated description,
groups Of people assembling to watch
the arrival OF members. When the
doors opened there was a rush for the
seats. The veteran Caleb Wright, Lib
eral, NJ. P. for Southwest Lancashire,
who is SO years OF age, was unable to
hold his own in the crush, and fell down
and was trampled upon. The melee
settled down at last and all got In their
seats and waited for the feast OF Glad
stonian eloquence. Every seat in the
house. except the government bench,
was occupied when Mr.. Gladstone Gu
tered the house at $3.50 o'clock. Every
Liberal and Irish Nationalist in the
house stood up and greeted him with
prolonged and enthusiastic cheers.
When Mr.. Gladstone arose at 43 min
utes past 3 to introduce the home rule
hill, there was another demonstration,
40 earnest, so enthusiastic and irrepres-
HibIe, that it was several minutes be-
fore he could be heard,
GLADsroNE's SPEECH.
Mr.. Gladstone spoke as follows in a
clear, strong and resonant voice: 81
may without impropriety remind the
house that the voices which usually
pleaded the cause OF Irish self.goyern-
ment in Irish affairs have within these
walls during the last seven years been
almost entirely mute. | return, there
fore, to the period OF 1886, when pro-
position OF this kind was submitted on
the part oil the government OF the day,
and beg to remind the house OF the
position then taken by all the pro-
moters OF these measures. We said
that wo had arrived at q point in our
transactions with Ireland where the
two roads parted: You were to choose
one or the other. One ia the
way OF Irish autonomy according
to the conceptions | have just
referred to-; the other is the
way OF coercion. That is our contention,
1t will be the recollection OF the house
how that contention was most stoutly
and largely denied. 1t was said over
and over again by many members, we
arc not coercionists; we do not adopt
that alternative, and neither can we
adopt it, Ministerial cheers, That
assertion Of theirs was undoubtedly
sustained by the proposals, especially
from tho dissentient Liberals, OF various
plans dealing with Irish affairs. Those
plans, though they fell entirely short
in principle and in scope OF Irish self
government, were OF OF no trivial or
mean Importance. They were far be-
yond what had been before proposed in
local self.government in Ireland.
THE ROADS REMAIN
"Well, what has been the result OF
the dilemma as it was then put for
ward on their side OF the house and re-
PEELED by the other? Has our Conten-
tion that the choice lay between auton-
omy and coercion been justified or not
Liberal cheers. What has been one
OF each and all OF these important
schemes for giving Ireland self govern.
ment in provinces and giving her even
central establishment in Dublin with
limited powers? All vanished into
thin air, but the reality remains. The
roads were still there-autonomy or
coercion. The choice lay between them,
and the choice mado was to repel
autonomy and embrace coercion. You
cannot follow coercion in an absolute
uniform method. In 1886, for the first
time, coercion was imposed upon Ire
land in tho shape OF a permanent law
added to the statute books. This state
OF things constituted an otlense against
the harmony and traditions OF self gov
ornment. It was distinct and violent
breach OF the promise on tho faith OF
which union was obtained. That per-
manent system OF repression inflicted
upon the country n state oil things
which could not continue to exist. 1t
was impossible TO bring the people OF
the country under coercion into SYM
pathy with the coercivo power"
Mr.. Gladstone proceeded to dilRte at
length upon the circumstances uuder
which the act OF the union was passed.,
and the promise OF equality in the laws
and OF commercial equality under which
the union was effected.
1T is TO me astonishing that 80 little
weight Is attached by many to tho fact
that before lSSB-bciote 1885, indeed
Irish wishes Of self government woro
represented only By u small minority.
Since 1885 when tho wide extension Of
the franchise was protected by the
secret ballot, lroland's situation has
been improved.in parliament In 1885
there wero SO nationalist, or more than
tour.tiiths nationAlists. They have
beon reduced TO 80 undcr circumstances
somewhat peculiar, Hear hoarl, and
must frankly own to myself for rca-
sons totally and absolutely nnlniclligi.
bic, Wer6 Ireland united all oprosl.
tion would vanish Os Il shadow. Hear,
heNrl ireland is not united In this
sonBci In ono portion OF tho coun.
ify, not a mere majority oil
tho higher classes, but consid.
otablO popular feeling, ls opposed to
the present national government II
WIZ not Nttompt TO measure this numor-
ieal strength OF tho minority It is said
oY the party opposite that tho minority
In the north OF Ireland is nrrayod III
n1n9lterablo opposition 10 homo rule,
unhappily, al the successful instigation
at those whose plot IL was TO divide tho
people OF Ireland when they were united
~ we cloao Of tho century through the
mcdlUm mainly OF orange lodges aud
through religious anlmosity, there wnB
an alteration Of feeling; but tho Protcs.
iah1s Of Ireland, during the period Of
lhe independent Irish parliament, woro
thcm'elyel not only willing but jealous
Hunpotlcrs Of Irish nationality lnas.
mugh as their political lito was 1T that
poFlod more highly developed they led