The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-15
HEPOLIrICAL SITUATION IN GREAT
BRITAIN.


Lord Rosebery's speech in the House
Of Lords is certainly very notable one,
and il must also be a very surprising one
to the Irish side of the Liberal party, as
well as TO the Radical wing Of that party.
In saying that England must be con-
WINGED before she comedies Home Rule
to ireland Of the business Of the demand
for IT. he practically denies that there
will be any concession Of Home Rule to
ireland while party Of which he is the
mouthpiece rules the destinies OF the En-
pire For this remark must be taken
along with the further one, which was
neither more nor less. in substance, than
| that England was watching Ireland with
| a Jealous eye and with strong suspicion
| that there was powerful leaning, in
part Of ireland at least towards agrarian
crimes Those who know the condition Of
things existing in two-thirds of Ireland
know perfectly well that local causes
in the present state Of affairs hopeless
there for many years to come. While
Lord Rosebery, from his late associations,
is committed to the principle Of Home
Rule-as he ought to be-and may here
after present a plan Of his own, we take
his speech to be practically a reputation
Of the Home Rule scheme as proposed
by MIR. Gladstone. and, if we can read
the signs Of the times Alright. the very
strained alliance between the Irish party
and the Liberal party Of England is there
by declared to be ended and done. The
English Liberal party will fight hencelorth
for the control Of England by the votes
of Engiishmen, and we regard il as a
most fortunate circumstance for that
party that this is so. While appealing to
their own countrymen in behalf Of demo-
cratic doctrines for the sake of those doc
trines themselves they have the certainty
Of triumph at some time in the future.
But when they seek to take a short cut
to their goal by endeavoring TO pass laws
affecting peculiarly local English interests
through the votes of Irishmen they cut
their own throats and break down their
platform Of principles in its most impor-
tant part.
one thing seems certain as a couollary
from Lord Roseberys speech, if the time
has not yet come, as he admits, for Ire
land to be granted Home Rule. then the
present movement for abolishing the
House Of Lords is premature That move
ment rests mainly upon the rejection by
the House Of Lords Of the Home Rule BILL
But If England approves Of this action by
that House there would seem to be no
ground upon which it can henceforth be
supported Democracy is on trial in
America and in France. What may be
the outcome of the issue in France we
cannot conjecture, for democracy is so
hampered there by the shackles left on
its limbs by the feudal state and the
Capitalization of power that its trial there
cannot be said to be an altogether fair
one. But its trial in this country is as
fair as any it can ever hope to receive.
of free press, whose freedom is guaran-
teed to it by both the organic law and
the fixed and immovable opinion Of the
people We have the serenest confidence
that that fact will bring democracy
through its trial here as the vehicle which
is to convey man to his highest estate
on earth. English democracy will proba-
bly, keep its eye upon American de-
mocracy for several generations yet be-
fore it makes its final and decisive move
against the House Of Peers. But if our
institutions move along BEAUTIFULLY and
well for the next fifty or seventy-hve
years we have no more doubt that Eng
land will abolish the part in legislation
now exercised by men not chosen. but
born to their part, than We have that
men will always manage their own ar
fairs when permitted rather than to trust
their management 10 other persons.