The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-01

There seems to DO no doubt that the
physical force party In Ireland is resuming
operations, on the plea that the struggle for
home rule has failed. There is absolutely
no ground for such q plea. and those who
urge it need expect nothing but the severest
reprobation from Irish-Americans. At this
moment Mr.. GLADSTONE has well-founded
hopes Of carrying the next general election
by greatly increased majority; and moth
ing can blast those hopes except recourse
to violence and crime on the part OF mis-
guided Irishmen.
1t is. or should be. well understood that
the Gladstonian majority in the present
House OF Commons was elected on the New
castle programme. Of which home rule for
Ireland was the principal. but not the only.
feature. AS the principal feature. 1t claimed
and received prior treatment at the hands
OF the Ministers. and n Home Rule bill
which even Mr.. JOHN L. REDMOND accepted
as an installment Of his country's dues. was
passed and sent up to the House OF Lords.
That it would be rejected by that body was
universally expected. and no rea! friend OF
Ireland desired the rejection to be made the
pretext for an immediate dissolution OF
Parliament. 1t was clear to every intelll-
gent onlookcr that it was Mr.. GLADsToSE's
duty not only to fulfil his pledge to Ire
land. but also to keep as far as possible the
promises to the English electors which were
embodied in the Newcastle programme.
Had he done otherwise. he might justly
have been taxed by Irlshmen with insin-
cerity. for 1t Is incredible that an ex-
perienced statesman honestly devoted to
home rule would deliberately ALLEVIATE all
the English friends of Ireland.
1t beloved Mr.. GLADSTONE to keep all
the friends that Ireland has in England,
and to gain as many more for her as pos
slble. by showing himself no less faithful to
English than to Irish interests. That is
precisely what he has done, and it is ac-
knowledged even by his opponents that he
Is much stronger to-day than he was at the
juncture when the Home Rule bill was re-
jected by the Lords. His determination to
pass the Parish Councils bills and the En-
ployers' Liability bill. and Lord RosEBERY's
successful mediation between the coal
strikers and their employers. have given the
present Ministry much flrmer hold upon
the masses OF the English people than they
have ever possessed since the last general
election. But the abolition OF plural voting
and an Improvement or the methods OF
registration are also Indispensable. IL the
current OF popular opinion in favor OF Mr..
GLADSTONE is to make itself fully felt.
Measures to those ends ought to be passed,
or at least carried through the House OF
Commons, and the odium OF their rejection
cast upon the House OF Lords. Then Mr..
GLADSTONE may appeal to the constitu-
encies with fair prospect OF obtaining
majority. which the hereditary Legislators
will not venture to resist. lest they imperll
the existence of their order.
We repeat that. at present. all the signs
dlscernible on tho political horizon OF Great
Britain indicate an overwhelming triumph
for Mr.. GLADSTONE and the home rule
cause. There is only one thing that can
darken the fair prospect. and that is an out
burst OF violence and crime which will irrep-
araby weaken the claim OF Irishmen to
self-gOveTnment In the eyes OF law-abiding
Engllshmen. An Irishman who at this time
undertakes. by O recourse to dynamite. to
put pressure on a friendly Government, is
either a traitor or a lunatlc. Whether
lunatlc or traitor. he is the tool OF Ireand's
enemies. and. as such. he will DO viewed
with contempt and detestatlon by every
genuine Irish patriot.