The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-04-19
The Home Rule Bill Described.

Judging from all the reports received
on this side of the ocean, ii is a marvel
of political skill and seems to have
consolidated Gladstone's rather motley
crowd of suppOrtes into united ma
iOrity. At least this is tue of all but
the handful of Parnellites. Their or
gan in Dublin criticises the bill severe
", and their position when the test
comes may still be matter of doubt.
In brief the bill proposes to constitute
in Ireland an Irish Parliament to con-
sist of legislative Assembly and a leg
silative Council. The Assembly is to
consist of 103 members elected by pop
ular vote. The Council is TO consist of
As members elected by those who own
land which is assessed at a rent-value
of at least 500 a year. These two
houses are to have jurisdiction in all
matters pertaining to Irish affairs as
distinct from affairs pertaining TO the
Imperial Government. If the AS
sembly passes a bill which the Coun-
Gil defeats, the Assembly can again,
after lapse of two years, or after dis
solution of Parliament pass it and II
the Council again defeats 1t, the Two
bodies must meet together and by
Joint vote decide the measure. "A
IViceroy is to be appointed by the
Queens Government to rule over Ire
land in about the same nominal way
in which the GOvernor-General rules
over Canada, or the Queen herself
rules over Great Britain. That is, he
is to appoint a cabinet which is to be
responsible to Parliament and which
goes out of business when Parliament
votes a lack of confidence. All money
measures must originate in the AS
sembly, so that the Viceroy and his
cabinet are dependent upon the will of
the Assembly for the means whereWith
| to carry on any government. For the
first six years the Imperial Govern
ment is to appoint the judges in Ire
land, but the Irish Assembly is to fix
their pay. After six years the Vice.
roy's Cabinet will appoint the judges.
There are various constitutional re-
strictions designed to secure religious
freedom. to insure public education and
to guard personal rights.
In addition, Ireland is to send 80
representatives to the Imperial Par
lament at Westminster. The powers
of those 80 members is the critical
point in the bill. They are, In
principel to vote on imperial
matters only, but not no matters
pertaining only to great Britain. But
these Irish members must participate
in any vote of confidence, and by this
means they may hold balance Of
power, which may prove decisive even
on British affairs. For instance, if q
majority of British members were
Jesirous to prevent a certain measure
from passing. they could move vote
of lack of confidence, and the 80 Irish
members might, by voting with the
minority, turn out the ministry. AS
they have that power now, however,
and as the opponents of Home Rule
insist on retaining Irish representa-
tives in the Imperial Parliament, and
as any British minority that resorted,
on measure pertaining to Great Bri-
tain only. TO the aid of the Irish men,
bers in this way would be very apt to
incur immediate unpopularity, the dan
ger at this point is theoretical rather
than real. The Grand Old Man has
majority of about 80 back of him.
May he succeed in crOwning his mar
velous career with the success of this
bill and may he then follow it up with
the success of the local veto bill, which
according to the Liberal rally at Man
chester, stands next on the program.
The Voice.