New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-23
Mr.. GLdDSTONE'S UICTORY.

The passage OF the Home Rule bill 10 second
reading j. a decisive triumph for Mr. Cad
stones policy. The majority is forty three,
with only nineteen members absent. In this
division Of a nearly full House party lines were
strictly followed. Every Unioni,t voted against
Home Rule. Every Liberal and Nationalist
compared Mr.. Gladstone into the lobby.
result which Unonsts have confidently as
sumed for the last twelve months to be abso
lutely hopeless was accomplished before their
eyes. The Gladstone Government commanded
the unblClen support of Radicals and National
lists The Home Rule bill was passed TO the
committee stage by the same majority which
had received the sanction of the electors in the
general election. The popular mandate on the
main issue dividing TIE parties of the day was
respected by Mr.. GladstOnes followers and
allies without a dissenting voice.
II will now be the Prime Minister'S arduous
duty to steer the Home Rule bill through the
committee. This will be one OF those feats of
polit;ca. deXte!ty for which he is fully equipped
by experience and habits Of mind. General
principles have determined the second read
ing the bill will now have to be taken up in
detail and subjected to minute analysis. The
~
supported him, Will now cmbairass him with
amendments, and the Unionists will be on the
ale,t to take advantage of every detection.
No other leader could succeed in carrying the
bill through the committee : but we confidently
expect that Mr. Gladstone will avoid shpwrcck
and bring his Home Rule c:aft into safe waters.
lie is always at MS best in the exposition cf
complex details The tlexibiliry of his mind
enables him TO discriminate sharply between
essential, and non-e,SentialS in matters Of prln-
ciple, ard 10 adapt himself with marvellous
facility TO the conditions Of debate and crit
;cism 1t is not unlikely that the bill will be
materially altered in committee, but we con-
slider It's final passage by the Commons 70 be
a forcgone conclusion The Lords Will then
reject it. and thereby greatly strengthen Mr..
Gladstoncs control over his Radical support
crS. Agitation against the privileged leeis-
lative class will be powerful lever for forcing
upon Parliament the establishment Of a Scpa
late Parliament in Dublin.
The closing speeches in the debate disclosed
the fact that nothing new is to be said about
the general principles of coercion and Home
Rule. Mr.. Balfour and Mr.. Gladstone were
both at their best, but 50 thoroughly has the
Home Rule issue been discussed IN and out Of
Parliament during the last seven years that the
leaders are no longer able to invent fresh
phrases or 10 introduce novel argument. The
Home Rule question has literally been talked
out There never was clearer Justification
for closure Of debate. While the ways and
means of carrying out the principle OF legis-
lative autonomy may be discussed in detail dur
ing the next month, the general principle has
been authorltativcy affirmed by the Commons
on the second reading. The moral effect OF
such victory as Mr.. Gladstone has won in
bringing out full, unbrokcn vote of the Home
Rule majority cannot be anything but pcrma-
nent and decisive. There is the record Of
constitutional majority Of forty three IN favor OF
separate Parliament after general election in
which Home Rule was the main issue. l. com
mits Great Britain 10 the policy. After that
deliberate affirmation Of the principle of Home
Rule. coercion bills and CnIoG.st compromises
are out of the question. Home Rule sanctioned
in principle a. 1t has been by the Liberal party,
the people Of the United Kingdom and ma
jority OF the Commons Is an experiment that
must he fried