The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-15
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY IS. 1898.
SIX PAGES.
MIR. GLADsToNE's HOME RULE BILL.

II not the greatest. Mr.. Gladstone Is
certainly the most picturesque public
character of the nineteenth century II
we consider Napoleon Bonaparte as be-
longing TO the eighteenth. A man with
so many notable sides to his character is
hardly to be found in history. Scholar.
scientist. financier. politician. he is equal
" at home in tracing out the roots OF
an Indian dialect or in forecasting the
monetary needs OF Great Britain's vast
empire.
The scene Monday evening when he IN
troduced in the House of Commons his
bill for Home Rule In Ireland was one
which II has not been vouchsafed to
many men to have the ability TO call
forth. Many OF those who struggled In
the surging mass TO come within the
sound OF his voice were undoubtedly i'm
PEELED there by deep and sincere interest
in the cause which 1t was known the
orator would champion. Many others
went from curiosity. pure and
simple. because all knew great
scene was TO be enacted. But the NOV
ing and all-pervading cause Of the whole
occasion. was the personality OF the man
Gladstone. 1t was the desire to hear the
greatest orator of the age on one Of the
great occasions of the age, that drew the
thousands Of cultivated, intellectual peo-
nile from all clines and lands to West
minister Hall that evening. The scene was
a distinct tribute paid by capable men to
genius, and, as such, is worthy OF being
remembered and stored away by history
for example in the future
We have not always felt sure that
Mr.. Gladstone's theories and political
teachings were for England's good. He
has said things as a public man, and he
has advanced principles Of action as
public man. which seemed TO us TO carry
menace and threat to the perpetuity OF
Fngiand's power and existence. We are
not sure but that in the very matter In
hand. with circumstances as they are.
what he proposes does not contain the
elements OF British disintegration. But
whether the specific measure which he
proposes be now wise and beneficial, or
whether IT be not. II cannot be denied
that there runs through the great speech
which ne delivered In bringing It forward
love of Justice and broad sympathy
with whoever suffer from oppression,
that would have done honor TO the great
nc, characters the world has known In
any age.
He was probably right when he said
there are but two roads relating to Ire
land that lay before the English people,
one of which leads to autonomy and local
se,f-rovernment for Ireland. the other of
which leads 10 coercion of the Irish and
TO compelling them 10 submit TO foreign
rule; and, II that be true. he was Ger
tainly right In adding that 1T was Inn
possible TO bring the inhabitants of the
country under coercion into sympathy
with the coercing power" II there were
any possible doubt of the last proposi-
ton whenever stated, We OF the South,
who passed through reconstruction. could
testify at once. and with the broadcast
emphasis to its absolute truth.
Removed, as we are. from the actual
scene. 81 Is very near TO presumption for
0s to form and pronounce an opinion upon
the difficult questions involved in this
controversy. But there is no presumption
In an honest man saying openly at any
and all times that the propositions OF
government laid down by Mr.. Gladstone
are In themselves reasonable and just.
and such as all societies should be Or
lions existing IN Ireland. at this time may
make IL wise or unwise that they should
be put into force there now, we shall
not undertake TO express an opinion ON.
pire should be one that aimed at leaving
90 the Irish, when they are ready and in
condition TO accept the trust, free and
untrammeiled control Of their local and
stone Of all sound and conservative gov
erament The English have it them
selves. they have sent 1t out to all the
lands which they have stocked with their
blood and ruled with their laws. and IL
q Just as imperative that they should
accord the principle freely and without
stint to Ireland. as that it should be en-
enjoyed in Wales.
We understand this 10 be the funda-
mental idea OF MIR. Giadstons's new bill.