The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-23
what VIII tho Irish Nationalist Do 2


Before the reassembling OF Parliament It
was announced that certainly the Parnell-
ties. and probably the McCarthyites, would
insist upon the immediate introduction of
bills providing for the relief OF evicted ten
ants. and for amnesty to prisoners convict
ed Of political offences. 1t was also expected
that one or the other Of the Irish National
groups would ask Mr.. GLADSTONE to desig-
nate the date when the Home Rule bill
should be reintroduced.
Is IL likely that these demands will now
be pressed. seeing that the House OF Lords
have forced Mr.. GLADSTONE to drop even
measures Of such manifest Importance to
Englishmen as the Employers Liability bill
and the Parish Councils bill Is 1t not evil
dent that proposals OF interest to Irishmen
alone would be treated with even less con-
sideration by the hereditary legislators.
and Is 1t not, therefore. the duty OF Irish
patriots to cooperate with English Radicals
In making case. 80 to speak. on which they
can appeal from the upper House to the
country with the utmost assurance Of sue
cess ? In what other way can the hopes Of
Ireland be so speedily and 80 thoroughly
fulfilled The vote OF 400 to 40. by which
the Home Rule bill was thrown out by the
Lords. is proof that nothing but the extinc-
ton OF the hereditary Legislators will Sc
cure self-government for Ireland. For
either wing Of the Irish party to take ut this
juDcture a single step calculated to over
throw or embarrass the GLADSTONE Gov
eminent. and thus strengthen the upper
House. would be worse than an act OF mad
ness 1t would be an act Of treason to the
Nationalist cause.
No matter what course the Lords may
take. Irish patriots can lose nothing and
must gain much. by helping Mr.. GLAD
STONE to carry through the House OF Com
mons, bills for the abolition OF plural voting.
for the reform Of the registration laws and
for the payment OF members. II. yielding
to the prudent advice Of the Duke OF Dew
oNsHIRE. the Lords refrain from throwing
out these bills. the Gladstonian element In
the English population will be materially
enlarged at the next general election.
Should the upper House. on the other hand.
cling to the stiff-necked policy of Lord
SALISBURY and reject the bills. 1t will pro-
woke an outburst of Indignation which will
prove equally favorable to the Gladstonian
candidates. In either event. the English
lTiouuo Vi ltcldnu Stauu W win AT tne DullOC
box, and 1t is incredible that any Nationalist
should fail to recognize the fact. The only
loophole OF escape for the Lords from their
impending predicament would be found in
a sudden change OF Government brought
about through the desertion OF Mr.. GLAD
STONE by his Irish allies. We cannot be-
lieve that an act Of such stupendous folly is
contemplated. and certain we are that
American onlookers. who perhaps see more
OF the game than do the players, would find
it hard to forgive the wanton sacrifice OF a
precious opportunity.
Is 1t possible that Irishmen do not per-
ceiye that. even among tho Lords them
selves. the wisest feel that their order Is In
jeopardy. and that. IL additional bills. es-
pecially measures affecting exclusively the
House OF Commons. are rejected. the up
rising OF the people against hereditary leg
islators will acquire irresistible momen-
tumH They ought to see that the downfall
OF the Lords is an object OF even more vital
moment to Ireland than to England. for,
with that obstructive body once removed.
the passage OF Home Rule bill would not
encounter the slig htest difficulty.