The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-19
ONE STAGE OVER.

The Gladstonian home-rule bin for Ire
land has been read first time and stands
for second reading on the 18Th of March.
! This stage of progress does not affirm the
principle of the bill. 1t only permits the
measure to be printed and its provisions to
( be studied in detail. The principle is In
volved in the second reading Its REJECTION
! will doubtless be moved by the opposition,
which consists of the Conservatives and
! Liheral-U nionisls, but If Gladstone's ma
! iority holds together the seeond reading will
! be carried triumphantly. The real fighting
viii come on motions submitted as instruc-
tions in going into committee. if the former
category of flank attacks be repealed. But
| long before Parliament reaches the second
reading the details will have been dissected
and discussed in the newspapers pretty
| thoroughly.
Thus far disclosed. the opposition of the
| Conservatives is on grounds quite deducible
| from the history Of the party. But the
hostility of some of the Liberal Unionlsts
is Numerically opposed to their former
position. Particularly is this the case with
Mr. Chamberlain, whose attitude is more
explained by piaue and personal antag-
onism to Mr. Gladstone than by rational
sore in this mans breast that he has not
been consulted and made confdant OF In
everything Fourteen years ago be was In
obscurlty below the gangway. Now he
aspires to be Premier, and because be
could not swing the Liberal party by the
tail he has cut adrift from it and committed
himself to association with the dukes and
marquises of patrician craftsmanship, against
whom he formerly rallied as useless beings,
who toll not, neither do they spin"
One of the musly aud rusty weapons
which Mr.. Chamberlain has taken to the
grindstone and polished for the fray is
quite too theatrical for effective execution.
He affects to believe that should home rule
be given to Ireland there will be increase of
peril in time of war. The intention of the
bill is to pacify and reconcile ireland.
But according to the Liberal Uni0nist
leader Ireland will become more and more
irreeoncilable and intraetable and would
make use of highlands difficulties in war to
cut loose altogether.
But look at the situation at present! An
army of from 10000 to $4,000 soldiers is
maintained in Ireland. In addition there
are about $4,000 sOldeT-drlled policemen,
armed with rifle and bayonet. One-ffteenth
of the whole British regular army is garri-
soned In Ireland; but as far as the United
Kingdom is concerned the garrison is one
fifth. The public safety does not require
regiment in England, Wales or Scotland.
but policy makes the troops in Ireland
constant force. N other part of the coun-
try has a police force armed except with
batons Can it be doubted that il Ireland
is made cUntented by obtaining local Par
lament for internal affairs, while not losing
her proportionate power in Federal Govern
ment, coercive administration by soldiers
and police will be unnecessary? That is
GladstOne's drift as peacemaKer and healer
of the wounds Of the past.
Suppose there were war With whom is
Great Britain likely to quarrel? France
has grounds of grievance in Egypt. but a
quarrel is very unlikely. Russia has am
billions in the Balkans and would like
to dissect Turkey. England stands in the
way, but may yield eventually. The con-
struetion of the Nicaragua canal wauld
indeed give new turn to the game. With
no other power in Europe will England fall
out. But ii is curious thing to reflect
upon that even If England were at war
with both France and Russia her danger
would not. as matters are at present. be half
so great as In the event of war with the
United States. a somewhat foolish war
scare was aroused four weeks ago. when the
annexation of Hawaii was preached. 1t
was thought England might bar the way
with her feet But England did not bulge
one inch and had no such intention. The
reason is plain. Ireland. discontinued.
makes war with the United States impos-
sible. Canada has also to be considered.
Even food supplies and trade have to be
weighed. for the commercial relationships
of Britain with the United States are
greater than with all her colonies put to-
getheT. Such war is not probable, least
of all should Ireland be a maneuvering
ground in international strife. By concllia-
ton Hungary has made her peace with
Austria. Ireland can be brought into har-
moniouS relationship with England in the
same way. Delay in doing justice has en-
gendered fostering enmity. and no Anieri-
can can understand why England has been
so shOrt-sighted