The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-07
THE CAUSE OF ireland.
Second Reading Of Home Rule Bill
Moved by Gladstone.
THE RISE AND THE CAUSES
or the Movement Explained by the
Premier-1he Grand Old Man Speaks
mt Length in the Int rests OF the
Bill.

LONDON, April THE galleries in the
house of commons were full, but the house
itself was not crowded, when Mr.. Glad
stone rose at 3:45 p. m. to move the second
reading of the bill to establish home rule
in Ireland. Mr.. Gladstone said;
desire TO remind the house of the fact that
the stage of the home rule BILL at which IL has
now arrived may in some important senses be
called the principal stage. The sense OF par
liament has already been declared in this
house. and various sections OF the country
nave also declared their sense In the most de-
cided form. England, which was adverse TO
home rule In 1856, has largely moved In the
direction of qualifying that decision. None
of those opposing the bill have, with one ex-
ception, either criticized il strongly or offered
an alternative policy. The exception referred
90 was made by Leonard Courtney, who
seemed TO think that the only thing necessary
was to reconcile the Roman Catholics in Ire
land. A majority OF the Protestants are now
opposed TO home rule.
III it took themeO years to bring them round,
Al would take 200 years 10 convert the much
larger number of Catholics. Catholics in Ire
land were ostensibly reconcied 10 the union
for the first 20 years after its establishment,
because they had no means Of making their
discontent known. When O'Connell, after
triumphing In the civil arena over so great
man as the Duke of Wellington, was put into
prison at last, the
Era of Physical Force Arrived.
My friend, the honorable member for Bod
min (Mr. Courtney, who recommends patience
as the sole hope of the people OF Ireland
should know that his principle cannot be ac-
ceptable when there is abundant and conclu-
sive evidence that the people will not rest ur-
Ill the change for which they have prayed be
granted. The arguments against home rule,
such as advanced at Ulster, do not appeal TO
humanity; they trample all principle under
foot.
All the enemies OF home rule want is to get
the power in their hands. They have no SYM
pathy with us; they are moved by no sense OF
Justice. Their cry is 1T is quite right That
England and Scotland should have an admin
istrative system of their own, and that they
should also enjoy large measure OF self gov
ernment. But it must not be so with Ireland.
The Irish should not have an administrative
system with which can sympathize, but
should be forever governed by Dublin castle.
while local self government remains prac-
fically unknown to them" Their arguments
are that the Irish people have no political prin-
eiples upon whose sympathies the government
could reckon, and add whatever power they
had given them would
Only BE Used To Extort More.
There was perfect union of hearts between
the Irish Protestants and Catholics during the
years from 1852 TO 1895. This Is no dream; IL is
reality. II has happened before; why should
IL not happen again Ireland Is a small coun-
try by the side Of a great country. weak
country by the side of a strong one, poor
country by the side of rich one. 1t is some
times claimed that we supply no argument In
favor of a change, but we declare that the
present method OF government in Ireland Is
Incredibly, almost immeasurably, wasteful.
rfxv fafI a
much per head as the civil government of
England. prefer that do justice in a
tranquil spirit, and call the attention of the
honorable members 10 the spectacle of autono-
nous unions between states of Europe and
America. / will advance four propositions
for your consideration.
First--That there is in the civilized world
no Incorporate or union maintained by force
that has ever prospered.
''The United States" began Sir William
Hicks. Mr.. Gladstone interrupted, say
ing:
said no incorporation union. The honor
able gentleman has skipped the essential
word. Incorporation union means that which
suppresses legislatures of independent part. L
give as the next example, Holland and Bel
GUM. which, after precarious existence of
Is years, effected a divorce. These countries
are now happy and prosperous, simply be-
cause they are separate. The next case Is
that of Austria Hungary. where the iucorpor-
alton union has been given up because the
country was left to choose between giving IL
pand total ruin. / contend that unions not
incorporated, but autonomous, have been
Attended In All Cases by Success,
as we see in the case of Austria Hungary,
Norway-Sweden. Russia Finland, Denmark
Iceland. Let me also refer TO the most con-
elusive case of Germany and to that of the
United States.
Mr. Gladstone then proceeded to com
pare at some length the position occupied
by Ireland and the British colonies. He
read letter from Mr.. Fitzgerald con-
trasting the prevalence of discomfort In all
che British colonies, so years ago, when he
Nitzgerald) became a colonist with the
loyalty and the state of contentedness pre-
vailing now. The letter gives as cause
of the change the introduction of home
rule In the colonies. In conclusion the
letter says: 1.-TWO experiments have been
going ON before our eyes-one carried on
in Ireland, the other in the colonies; one a
miserable failure and the other miracu-
lous success. Mr. Gladstone continued:
During the last 80 years l2 votes Of want of
confidence in the government have been given
-four by the Irish people. none by the purely
British. AS 10 the English-Irish finances, |
will not enter into that question; l admit that
1t Is Not Easy Work
10 settle the finances between two countries
that have been closely associated for ~ years.
In conclusion, let me say that II is an indubit-
able historical fact that until the year lSE the
question between Great Britain and Ireland
was question between q class and n nation.
il Is not 80 now; IL Is question between ma
tion and nation.
There can be no more melancholy or degrad-
ing spectacle on earth than oppression and
wrong In whatever form inflicted by one ma
tion upon another; on the other hand, there
can be nothing nobler than nation deliber-
ately setting itself 10 remove an injustice: not
through fear, not hastily. but under the sole
influence OF duty, Of honor. determined not 90
brook with whatever remains of evil tradi-
tion and pay the debt Of justice. and consult
BY bold. wise and good acts its own interests,
~ own honor.
Mr.. Gladstone concluded his speech,
which was often interrupted by enthusi-
sstic applause, at 5:l5.
William Hicks-Besch moved rejection
pf the bill. at the same time payinu a hiQh