Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-20
Roseberv and Home Rule.

Lord RoSeberyS Sieech at Euiioui
Saturday night leaves no doubt as 10
his attitude towards home-rule. If IT does
not silence criticism in his own party OF
his declaration touching home rule, made
10 the Peers on the 18th, it will be be-
cause the several factions composing that
party are spelling for a fight within their
own camp II II is not accepted az salts
factory, in the sense of being Clear
by the opposition leaders 1t VIII be
because these are determined TO con-
tinue to misrepresent him in order to
shake the confidence of his followers In
his integrity of purpose.
Dissociatcd from his previous utter
ances on the home-rule problem, the new
Premiers speech in the House of Lords
was susceptible of being considered
little ambiguous. But when we connect it
with the views he expressed when the
home-rule bill was last rejected by the
upper house. and give him the credit for
honesty that is his due his enemies both
In anC out of his party, are placed In the
position OF having taken a garbled extract
-
II.
Roscbery's Edinburg speech was en-
tirely consistent with the speech he deliy-
cred upon the defeat of home rule by the
Peers In 1892. In the later he treated the
question not from the standpoint OF a
partisan and a demagoguc. but from the
high plane of British statesman-treated
f,f a.. q,
entire nation was interested, to the end
of establishing real union and harmony
between Ireland and the rest of the coun-
try. So also he treated it in his Edinburg
explanation. In saying that he did not ap-
preach the Irish problem on historical or
sentimental grounds but as a great ques-
ton of policy; that the advocates OF the
Irish cause should try as they had been
trying since 1886 TO bring conviction to
the mind of the partner having the most
votes. and that it was of infinite impor-
lance 10 convince the heart, mind. and
conscience of England that home rule
was right, Rosebery mapped out a plan
OF campaign. which, 1t would seem TO us.
the true friends OF Irish self government
must recognize is the only one upon which
victory would be To the real and per-
manent advantage of the country
All students OF the history Of reform
in Great Britain know that the Lords
have never failed TO bow to the will OF
the majority of the British public when
ever that will has been clearly and de-
finitaly expressed after calm deliberation.
This Rosebery stated in effect when he
declared that the opposition TO home rule
from the UIsterites and the Lords was
due entirely TO the knowledge that these
elements were upheld by English opinion
the opinion OF the partner having the
most votes. He, therefore. proposes as
the most rational and certain way of
carrying home rule the weakening of the
support Of Lords, by convincing a ma
Jority or the English people that Irish
self-government would not only be Just
concession, but would be best for all the
partners. That home rule attained under
these conditions would be better for Ire
land than II 1t were wrestnd, SO to sneak
from Parliament, by q bare ma joritv that
did not represent the dominant sentiment
or the British people as a whole. does
not seem to admit. of question. His aim
Is to unite the Liberal and the Irish
parties upon broad. liberal and pa
tr'otic platform. II these will so unite
the opposition will be placed more on the
defensive than ever before. and when the
victory shall have been won It will he
substantial and complete. carrying with
1t no experimental feature.