The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-07
PARIIAMENr UBD.
Lords Salisbury aud Rosebery Exchange
Parting Shots.
TCabIe Letter to The United Press.l

LONDON, ENG, July 6.-The House of
Lords met at noon to-day. Lord Salisbury
said this was the last time the House
would meet before the dissolution OF the
present Parliament took place, and he
wished to reply to the recent speech OF
Lord Rosebery, in which he had attacked
the legislative preponderanee OF the House
of Lords.
Lord Salisbury proceeded to say that
the upper house took no share what
ever in the votes through which govern
ments were displaced or inauguarated,
neither did they have any part in the pro-
vision of funds for the public service. AS
regards other matters, however, the House
Of Lords possessed precisely the same
powers as the House of Commons.
Lord Salisbury continuing, said the
House of Lords had been working to resist
the Inauguration of changes which were
not supported by majority OF the nation.
In regard to home rule for Ireland, Eng
land, he said, was certainly hostile to it.
He also believed that a majority OF the
nation would fail to support an attack
upon the Established church, and that as
far as home rule for Scotland and Wales
was concerned, neither could be carried
without exciting the most passionate re-
sistance of the people of England.
The policy of the Unionists, his lordship
declared, was positive, not a negative
one, for they intended to legislate with
view to relieving the suffering of the
poorer classes. They would try to revive
the agriculture of the country, and would
also give their attention to the creation of
small holdings for tenants. the revision of
poor laws, and would consider measures
for the amelioration of the social condition
of the people.
Lord Salisbury's remarks were greeted
with cheers.
Lord Rosebery in answer to the new
ment He said that while one side of the
House of Lords was Overwhelmingly strong
it was impossible for a Liberal Government
to carry any measures introduced, how
ever benefcent
The distinctive feature of the present
electoral campaign as compared with any
previous occasion of the kind in the his
tory of the country is the number and va
riety of party manifestoes.
During the week the country has been
deluged with party and factional pro-
grammes taking in every conceivable
ground in the treatment of the issues
upon which the coming election is to be
'eontested.
The general party principles of the
leaders of the various parties and factions
are shown in these addresses, and this
is especially true of the programme issued
by the Liberal leaders. Lord Rosebery
sounds the battle-cry of the Liberal party
in demand for the reform OF the House
of Lords.
Sir William Harcourt regards the local
vote question as of first importance, and
John Morley alone puts home rule into
the forefront of the line of battle. The
Liberal and Radical conspiracy of silence
against home rule has stirred Mr.. Morley
to the depths of indignation, as evinced
by his Manchester speech, in which he
said: "If at this election the Liberal can
didates shall put home rule aside, the Lib
eral party will become the most dishonest
political organization in the history of the
country"
But for this honest utterance there is no
doubt that the Liberals would go on ignor-
ing the pledges to the Irish party, which
kept them in power until Mr.. Gladstone's
retirement from Office and political life
ruined them. Mr.. Gladstone himself sent
the chill Of death through the hopes of
home rule by absolute silence in regard to
this measure in his recent farewell letter
to his Midlothian constituents
Since Mr.. Morley delivered his Man
chester speech and stung by the wide
spread reports that the ex-Premier had
turned Unionist, Mr.. Gladstone has found
it advisable to write brief letter advising
the people of England to recognize the
just claims of Ireland" the phrase mean
ing anything, Unionism or home rule, &C.
cording to the views of the reader.
Lord Rosebery and Sir William Har-
court in their speeches yesterday, how
ever, found it prudent to admit that home
rule was still plank in the platform of
the Liberal party, but ii the Irish leaders
have not by this time become disillusion-
lied as to the value of Liberal pledges
they have themselves to blame. The Rad
ical manifesto is as honest and straight
forward declaration as any that has been
issued.
1t simply advocates home rule, not only
in Ireland but in Scotland and Wales as
well, beginning, however, in Ireland. The
Radical programme places democratic re-
forms first on the list, but unless the bal
ance Of the parties in the coming Parlia-
ment shall restore the value of the Irish
vote, which is not at all likely, the chances
are that the Irish cause will be postponed
for at least decade.