Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-02-16
BALFOUR'S REPLY.
Gladstone's Opponent Lifts the
Unionist Cud gel
THE EXPENSE OF HONE RULE.
The Contribution From the Imperial Ex-
chequer e.. A Plea For Ulster
Land Agitation Grim
inal.

LONDON, Feb, 15-In the house Of
commons Rt Hon. A. J. Bafour, the
conservative leader asked Mr., Glad
stone whether under the provisions Of
home rule the contributions from
the imperial exchequer to local pur-
poses in Ireland would be continued,
and II they were not then he desired to
ask what security British taxpayers
would have for advances under the
land purchase act2
Mr.. Gladstone replied that contribu-
tions from the imperial exchequer for
Irish local purposes would cease, and
the bill created first charge on the
Irish conso idated fund in favor Of the
British exchequer for repayments un-
der the land purchase act
Mr. Balfour then, amid loud unionist
cheers, began his reply to Mr.. Glad
stones speech of Monday evening. He
said: "rhe house, first OF all, has the
right to inquire into why Is any bill,
good or bad, required. This Is the
question which the prime minister has
tried to answer on two famous occa-
sions-once in 1885 and again last even.
ing. The dilemma which the prime
minister placed before the house in
1886 has proved to be no dilemma at all,
and we are reduced to the conclusion
that it Is deemed necessary TO shake
the foundations OF the ancient consti-
tuition Of the country, not because CO.
ercion is in active operation in Ireland,
but because we have on the statute
book permanent act for coercion
which NAV or may not be required.
"Ihe prime minister must see that a
bill of this magnitude is hardly justi-
fed by any condition of affairs like
that from which the necessity OF the
crimes act arose BY universal admis-
sion there are two causes of trouble in
Ireland; one the agrarian condition Of
the country. and the other the fact that
it is possible, owing to the unhappy
history of the land question for persons
with political object TO serve, to
arouse a criminal agitation throughout
Ireland. do not care which OF these
alternatives Is chosen. Whichever Is
chosen, it does not point TO the necessi-
ty of home rule, rather to the impossible
ity of its adoption. 1t is criminal to at
tempt to set up in Ireland a legislature
practically indept ndent of the imperial
parliament by what right are they
to proceed TO cut off Ireland from the
rest OF the United Kingdom be-
cause II majority arbitrarily selected
wanted home rule? When Protestant
Ulster, with an absolutely unanimous
voice, declared against the measure
with aversion and adherence, then ma
jorities ought not to count; they be-
came mere local ebullitions of feeling.
Ulster at least deserved exceptional
treatment, for which no provision APP
peared in the bill now placed before
the house" Ig
Proceeding to discuss the provisions
: of the bill in detail, Mr. Balfour con-
tended that the plan outlined for deal
ing with the constab ulary and with the
4 civil servants OF the government would
' certainly lead to the inflction of great
: hardships. Every time judge rendered
a decision IL he did not find favor
, with the populace he would become a
poorer man until at last he might be a
pauper CLOSING he said;
1.-THE land agitation began in 1879
= under the guidance of an able politician
1 who postponed perhaps for a genera
, ton, perhaps even longer, the full con.
great harm was thus done, although
our children and grandchildren will
still feel the effect of revo ution in Ire
land and betrayal in England, still
r think the country and the house
: have the power to say now
3. This project shall go no fur
( Their Much as they have suffered
in the past from vacilatiou, they
, will at all events now put an end Il
= this absolutely imp lssible o.
: ex ,cution in its details and even wors,
d in the general principles by which thu
y prime minister, under the cloak an'
c guise OF drawing together in close
4 harmony the different parts of tn
I United Kingdom Intends to found insti
y buttons which must tend, ever ant
ever as time goes on, to separate then
in TEMPER mind and ultimately in ma