The herald., 1893-02-15
Gladstone Not Fatigued By
His LabOrS.
Balfour's Reply to the Grand
Old Mans Speech.
He Ridicules the Proposed Plan Of
Local lf-G0vernment.
The Majority OF the irish Members
Endorse the Measure-Pros-
pective Reunion OF the
Irish Party,
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, Feb. 14.-In the house OF
commons today Lord George Hamilton
asked Gladstone when he proposed to
introduce bill dealing with the Irish
land tenure. Gladstone declined to
commit the government to any pledge
to introduce land bill. Balfour then,
amid loud Unionist cheers. began re-
ply to Gladstone's speech of last even-
ing. He said:
"The house first of all has right
to inquire into why any bill, good Oh
bad, is required. The prime minister
must see that bill of this magnitude ID
hardly justified by any condition Of
affairs like that from which the neces-
sity of the crimes act arose. 1t was .
criminal attempt to set up in Ireland
Legislature practically independent Of
the imperial parliament. Ulster at
least deserved exceptional treatment,
for which no provision appeared in the
BILL"
Balfour contended that the plan out
lined for dealing with the constabulary,
with the civil servants of the govern
ment, would certainly lead to the inf1ic-
ton of great hardships.
Balfour then proceeded to criticiHe the
plan OF treating three constitutions OF
different forms in Ireland. The adoption
of euch a scheme would, he declared,
plunge affairs into a condition of help
less ENHANCEMENT. Hear Hearl1 As
to the exercise of power by the imperial
government through parliament. Bal
four held such provision would lead to
Legislative deadlock in either the
EngliRh or Irish parliament. It
had been said there would be inn
perial supremacy on the understanding
that an honorable bargain was entered
into between the imperial government
and bf1e Irish parliament. Speaking for
those honorable members who agreed
with him in political matters, Balfour
declared no such bargain was possible or
would be given. [Cheers.] If the
supremacy of the British parliament
was to be preserved, it must be by g
form OF supremacy which would be
operative.
"As to the financial proposals, why
ought this country give Ireland Ell ,000,-
600? The only reason which 1 can con-
ceive ie the confession that we are
beaten and must pay the amount as a
sort of war indemnity. Laughter
Federal government or colonial govern
ment'may be good; the British consti-
tuition ss It stands may be good but
this bastard combination of the three is
ludicrous and impossible.
1.-THE prime minister. asks us to re.
trace our steps and make progress to-
wards disintegration. Do not let us
within the United Kingdom itself en-
deavor to bring about state of things
which we see will be go severely pro-
ductive of national weakness. Ireland
is now in process of being united to
Great Britain more closely in the bond
OF common national affection than ever
before" Repeated Unionist cheers.l
Brice, chancellor of the Duchy of Lam
caster, replying to Balfour, declared that
the governments justification for bring
ing the bill forward was the failure Of
coercion. In regard to Ulster, the houss
ought not to judge the situation by the
bluster OF certain members.
John Redmond (Parnellite), while in
sympathy with the broad principles
of the bill, found in it grave
blots, and felt it imperative to press
for amendment many of its provisions.
Irishmen always disputed the validity
VI tue hcb VI unioH, auo II tHey accepted
the bill, and with it the supremacy of
the imperial parliament, based upon the
act of union, they must have some
guarantee that the British parliament
would not exercise its right TO legislate
over the heads of the Irish parliament
in local matters.
7. W. Russell (Unionist) said Ulster
would oppose the bill to the last.
On motion of Lord Randolph Church-
i'll the debate then adjourned.