The sun., 1894-03-15
Ro.eb.ry Beaten a, the start.

That Lord RosEBERY's Government has
been defeated at the very outset by COM
bination OF British Radicals and Irish Ma
tionalists. Is due to the Premier's own state
ment in the House Of Lords. and TO nothing
else. The precise text OF that statement is
now before US, and we shall find 1t easy to
demonstrate that by no ingenuity can it be
made TO mean anything but an admission
that the Lords were right in rejecting the
Home Rule bill. II the British Radicals had
kes.t.ted 20 -ebuhc each ~ admission.
they would have acknowledged that their
recent agitation against the upper House
was insincere: and. had the McCarthyite
members refused TO side with them. they
would have been repudiated as traitors by
all Irish patriots on both sides OF the Allan
tic Whatever may be the immediate result
OF the vote on Mr. LABoUCHERE's amend
ment to the address. it is clear that the
Prime Minister has made an irretrievable
blunder. He has shown that no good can
come out Of Nazareth; that no leader capa-
ble OF com manding the confidence OF Radi-
calls and Nationalists can be taken from the
upper House: and that the standard bearer
OF the Commons in a struggle against the
veto power OF the hereditary legislators
DS a toLliDOhtI.
Before examining the text OF Lord ROSE
BERr's fatal utterance. and proving that by
no casuistry can it be explained away. let
US recall the fundamental proposition OF
Mr. GLADSTONE. a proposition upon which
the whole position Of his party rests. not
only with regard to the home rule question.
but with reference to the veto power exer-
cised by the upper House. Mr. GLADSTONE
laid down the principle which. until 1t was
recently disputed by Cnionists, had never
been questioned by any English statesman.
that. since the Acts OF Union. whereby
first Scotland and then Ireland were po-
litically Incorporated with England. no sec
ton Of the United Kingdom has been rec
ogniLed by the British Constitution a pre-
dominant over any other. nor has the vote
OF an English member OF Parliament been
held superior. in respect OF legal or moral
validity. to that OF any other member.
That this principle should ever have teen
pronounced open to a doubt by Unionists
seems almost incredible. since. IL the doubt
were well founded. II the vote Of an Irish
member were not. for all purposes and
especially for purposes Of vital moment 20
ireland. as welghty aud decisive as the
vote Of an English member then Ireland's
demand for . repeal OF the Act Of Union
was righteous and unanswerabie. Never
the,ess. the Cnionists planted themselves
on the preposterous ground that. as re-
CARDS az al events the home rule question.
the vote ot an Irish member. OF OF a Scotch
or Welsh member. did not possess the same
moral and binding validity as that Of an
English member; aud consequently that.
until a majority o, the members Of Eng
land proper should demand home rule. IL
would be not only the right but the duty
OF the House Of Lords TO stop the way.
Mr. GLADsroSE's answer was. as il may De
gathered from long series Of speeches.
including his last memorable deliveranee.
that the solemn and conclusive verdict of
the United Kingdom could be constitution
ally expressed only through a majority ot
the House Of Commons, and without any
reference 10 the share OF England proper ia
that verdict; and. moreover. that. IL on any
other theory Of the Constitution that YER
dict were psrsistently rejected by tie
House OF Lords. steps must 10 taken TO
abolish the exercise Of such a veto power
Such we're the lines upon which the Lib
eral party had firmly placed itself. and
which. by its agitation against the Lords.
IL had announced . determination 10 follow
to the end How is it possible 10 reconcile
with the convictions and intentions above
outlined the words spoken by Lord ROsE-
BEEY on AOEday in the House Of Lords ?
The noble Lord Lord SALISBURY. " he said.
has made one remark on the subject Of
home rule. With which l confess myself in
entire accord. He said that before Irish
home rule could be conceded by the imDe-
! rial Parliament. England. as tie predOmi-
nAnt member Of the partnership OF the
three kingdoms. must be convinced of It's
, justice That may seem % b . eOhsidsrA-