The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-07
Lord Ro,ebery and the Liberal Union,st.

Lord Rosebery and the Liberal Unionists.
According to the 81. Jdmes's Gazette, q re-
union of the Liberals and the Liberal Union
lists Is probable, Lord RosEBERY having al
ready entered into communication with the
Unionist leaders. Mr.. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN
and the Duke OF DEvoNsHIRE, on the sub
ject. This assertion. which. we notice. Is
repeated on alleged independent authority
by the London correspondent OF New
York newspaper. is scarcely credible. IL
there were any foundation for it. not only
the Irish Nationalist, but all honest Glad
stonians would be justified In regarding the
new Prime Minister with grave dlstrust
Whatever may be the reputation OF Mr..
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN for stiffness and
lack Of political convictions. no one has ever
imputed dishonesty TO the Duke Of DEVON
SHIRE. Stiff-necked and wrong headed the
latter may be. but he is not the stun OF
which a turncoat Is made. He has no
temptation to swerve from tho line OF OPP
position to home rule. which he marked out
for himself In 1886. and to which he has
infexibly adhered. II he wants Office. he
has a better chance Of superseding Lord
SALISBURY as leader Of the Unionists than
OF becoming chief Of the party which he de-
serted. A coalition between the Duke Of
DEvoNsHIRE and the new Prime Minister
would necessarily be based upon a COM
promise in which all the substantial con-
cessions would have to come from Lord
RosEBERY. Over and over again has the
Duke OF DEvoSsHIRE declared that he would
never consent TO give Ireland a separate
government Of the type formulated in the
last Home Rule bill. and represented by q
Parliament at Dublin. The new Premier
must agree to something materially short
OF Mr.. GLADsToNE's last proposal IL he Is
to win tho cooperation OF the Duke OF
DEvoNsHIRE. But should he openly an-
nounce an intention OF thus deviating from
the Liberal programme. or should he even
be suspected OF promise to that effect. he
would at once and irreparably lose the con-
fidence OF his party and its Irish allies.
1t must be remembered that the last Home
Rule bill represented the minimum which
either section OF the Irish Nationalists will
accept. Mr.. JOHN +. REDMOND. speaking
for the Parnellites. declared that he
acquiesced. although reluctantly. in the
passage OF the measure by the House OF
Commons. because, as 1t Is only the first
step that costs. he believed IL would be the
forerunner OF more satisfactory legislation.
Mr.. SEXTON. on behalf OF the McCarthyites.
pointed out that the financial clauses OF the
bill were inadmissiblc. and he waived oppo-
sition on that score only because he was
assured that the fiscal relations OF Ireland
to Great Britain should speedily be made
the subject of careful investigation. Had
either the Parnellites or the Mccarthy
ties been told that the bill was n finality,
constituting the utmost that they could
hope for. they would have combined to re-
iect 1t. Much less will they submit to any
future mutilation OF that already too i'm
perfect measure. The separation OF Ulster
from the rest OF Ireland: provision that
the Irish Executive should be. as In the
time OF GRArTAN's Parliament. irrespon-
sible to the Dublin House OF Commons; the
denial to the Irish Executive OF exclusive
control over the Irish Judiciary aud police:
any OF these deductions from the conces-
sions embodied in Mr.. GLADsToSE's latest
bill. would be regarded by all Irish Nation
alists as a fragrant breach Of faith. They
would justly accuse Mr.. GLADsroSE's sue
cessor of treachery; and they would be
able. collectively. to throw eghty.one votes
against him.
But the damage to the Liberal party.
caused by an actual or suspected accommo-
dalton with the Unionists. would not end
with the alienation OF the Nationalist mem
bers. The honest and thorough-going
British converts to tho home rule prln-
ciple. OF whom Mr.. JOHN MORLEY Is now
the most conspicuous representative In the
Cabinet, have riveted the Liberal party to
the Irish cause, not only by the passage OF
the Home Rule bill. but by public declara-
lions since Mr.. GLADsTOSEs resignation.
On Monday the National Liberal Fedora
ton, speaking for all the Liberal associa-
lions OF the kingdom. Issued a nantes to
pledging the organization to follow the
home rule programme; aud. on the same
day. the Liberal and Radical Union OF Lon
don passed emphatic resolutions to the
same effect. A disavOwal of these pledges
would cause utter disintegration In the
Liberel ranks. In view OF the intentions
firmly reasserted by his party. and OF the
actual and prospective Parliamentary situ-
alton. Lord RosEBERY could not. even il he
wished. offer the leaders OF the Liberal
Unionists terms OF accommodation which
they could. with any consistency or de-
cency. accept.
For our own part we believe that Lord
ROsEBERY has no desire to dlyeTge from
Mr.. GLADsToSE's programme. within the
field of home affairs. aud that he will de-
clare his purpose to fulfil it at the meeting
OF the Liberal members Of Parliament
which is to take place next Monday at the
Foreign ONCE.
generated in the Kings County Prohibition
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