Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-13
TO MEND OR END 1T.
Liberal Manifesto Against the
House of Lords.
REJECTION OF THE HOME RULE BILL.
A Stage in the History Of the
Irish Question.
VICTOR is PREDICTE d.

LONDON, Sept. I3-The circular ISSUED
yesterday by the National Liberal Fedora
ton, mention OF which was made in these
dispatches. is virtually an important minis
terial manifesto. The federation has sent
to every federated association in the United
Kingdom a copy of the manifesto, the sub
stance of which is here given:
THE rejection of the home rule bill by
the house of lords not only marks another
stage in the history of the Irish question.
but has bearings so important to our sys-
TEN of parliamentary government as to call
for very careful consideration. For seven
years the Irish home rule question had
been subject to discussion in the con-
sttuencies more full. thorough and sus-
tained than had ever before been given to
any political proposal.
I'm July. 1892. Mr.. Gladstone came into
power with a clear mandate to deal with
the subject
The circular here briefly summarizes the
course Of the bill in the house OF commons
and the house OF lords, and then continues:
The seven years discussion by the country.
the eighty-two days consideration by the
house Of commons and the definitely ascer-
tained wishes OF over two million OF electors
are all TO count for nothing when opposed
to the views Of some four hundred con-
serVatiVe peers representing themselves
alone and for the most part assembled
merely by virtue of being the sons of their
fathers.
"A little more than a year ago a coercion
ministry appealed to the country and was
decisively elected from office; yet Lord
Salisbury and his colleagues today override
the verdict pronounced at the polls and
arrogate to themselves paramount authority
in the state.
The permanent tory majority in the house
OF lords is now pitted against the popularity
elected majority in the house of commons.
Addressing the members of the National
Liberal Federation at the great New Castle
meeting held two years ago Mr.. Glad
stone said: If Lord Salisburys threats
are carried out the house of lords will raise
UP a question which will take precedence
OF every other question, because upon that
question alone will depend whether the
country is or is not self-governing. or
whether, on the contrary, there is a power
not upon or behind the throne but between
the throne and the people, that will stop
altogether the action of the constitutional
machine That issue is now raised, and
the question of mending or ending the
house OF lords, which held a subordinate
place in the New Castle program, may be-
fore long. as Mr.. Gladstone forecasted. dis
place for a while all other subjects OF re-
form and cry aloud for vigorous and un-
finching treatment. IL the house of lords
is faithful to its traditions and practices.
IL will capitulate; IL IT is not, We OF the
liberal party will enter on a fight the re-
suit Of which We shall not be afraid.
For the present we entirely reject the
peers pretensions to the right to force the
dissolution of parliament, and look with
confidence to the government to go forward
with those reforms for which the country
waits. The ingrained dislike of the upper
house to all progression had been exhibited
this year before the rejection of the home
rule bill How far its members will venture
further to iout the popular will remains to
be seen.
ITO all true lberals the political situation
bill has passed the house of commons and
has been rejected by the house of lords.
The bill is doubly certain to become law.
The ministry is strong, its supporters loyal
and our program is sound. Our opponents
have played their last stake. II we pro-
ceed with courage and determination not
only will the Irish question be settled, but
q real era of reform will be entered upon"
The importance of the manifesto is en-
phasized by the fact that the National
Liberal Federation has always been in
though his name does not appear in connec-
ton with the issuance of the circular. was
doubtless aware of its contents before it
was issued.
All the newspapers publish comments on
the manifesto, printing their articles in
prominent places The tory organs treat the
circular contemptuously, and pretend to
attach no importance to II.
The Star (radcaD publishes fits comment
under the caption "The Bugle Note" In
the course OF its article it says that the
close quarters with the tyrants whom they
have tolerated so long. In this sentence is
condensed the radical opinion Of the whole
country