The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-04-29
HOME RULE.
Tho Bill Passes Its Second Reading in this
Commons, which PresaEos Final Vio-
tory for the Measure.


Commons, which PresaEos IA Final Vio-
tory for the Measure.
LONDON, April 2--The members Of
the house of commons fOckcd TO the
house early Friday to secure seats for
the final encounter over The second
reading of the Irish home rule bill In
debate Mr.. Gladstone said that the
home rule bill was certain to pass its
second reading Friday night and that
it would go the committee May 4. This
statement was received with cheers by
the supporters of the measure.
Rt Hon. Sir Henry James, liberal
unionist, addressed the house in oppo-
eition to the bill. He said that the
government of Ireland, would be in the
hands of those now forming the major.
ity of the Irish representatives-men
drawn from the land league and proved
to be conspirators against law. These
men would take place and power with
the determination to sweep out of Ire
land the landlords, whom they regarded
as an English garrison.
EARLY in the evening the debate was
monopolized by minor members. At 10
o'clock. Mr.. Gladstone entered hurried
ly and, amidst cheers, members began
to return rapidly. At 1880 Mr.. Balfour
was received with cheers.
All the members had meantime taken
their places, and the house waited ex-
pectantly for the final debate on the
second reading.
Mr. Balfour rose shortly before IL
o'clock. A longer period had never
been occupied with the second reading
OF the bill, he said, than had been al
lowed for the present debate. No man,
however, had dared to contend that
within the narrow limits of the two
islands, four assem- blics, with four exec
utives, could be operative in harmony
with one imperial parliament. He, him
self, could not believe that this childish
imitation of the United States consti-
tuition could ever commend itself to
the Judgment of the British people.
Cheers. He, therefore, would put the
idea aside as not immediate TO the dis
cussion. The home rule bill had been
brought forward to meet the liberal
party's necessities, which were con-
nected with Irish agitation and Irish
crime 'Hear, hear. ~ Never had such
an important constitutional change
been proposed with such fimsy reasons.
Substantial arguments for the neces-
sity of the measure could be enumer-
ated on the fingers of one hand Two
of these arguments We're that the union
had failed and that coercion had failed.
''If you commit this great political
crime" said Mr.. Balfour in closing his
speech, you make yourselves RESPONSE
bic for an irreparable national disaster,
and all hopes of peaceful and united
Ireland will vanish forever"
AS Mr. Gladstone rose to address the
house the cheering was renewed. Like
Mr.. Balfour, he was in splendid form.
His voice was clearer and fuller than
before during the session, and his move
ments have evidence of unusual energy
and earnestness. The principal weap-
ons of the opposition, he said, were
bold assertion, persistent exagge-ation,
constant misconstruction and copious
arbitrary and baseless prophecies.
True; there were conflicting financial
arrangements to be dealt with, but
among the difficulties nothing existed
which ought to abash or terrify men
desirous to accomplish great object.
The opposition had evaded steadfastly
the real question of the second read
ing-how must Ireland be governed if
this bill be rejected? Lord Salisbury
had asked for twenty years of coer-
cion, but as the policy of converting
Ireland to Protestan tism, inaugurated
under Queen Elizabeth, had failed
down to the present time, what ground
was there for hope that in but twenty
years more ii would succeed? The late
government had started with major
ity of 100 Neither the children nor
grandchildren of this generation would
see such a majority again. Yet the
whole fabric of their policy had failed,
and what guarantee was there that it
would not fail again? The present bill
sought to close u controversy that had
lasted for centuries. Irelands loyal ac-
ceptance of the present bill should
cause distrust and disbelief to vanish.
There had been no disaffection of the
Irish mind since the door of hope had
been opened"
The announcement that the bill had
passed the second reading by vote of
BAT to 304 was the signal for more cheers
and hat waving.