The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-13

her slave oppressed, &C.
VII.
The chapter on Gladstone and Homo
Rule is from the pen of Mr.. f. w. Hirst.
There Is no doubt that the treatment OF
the last section OF Gladstones career In
wolves peculiar difficulties. A dissolution Of
party ties and political associations, unpre-
cedented since the days when Peel broke
with protection, left a long drawn train of
animosites which have scarcely yet sub
sided The resignation OF the Liberal Minis
try on the 18th OF June, 1895, was followed
by a few days OF negotiations, after which
Lord Salisbury, receiving an assurance from
Gladstone that there would be no DISPOSE
ton on the part of the majority to EN-
barrass the government. consented to form
an administration. Lord Randolph Church.
Ill had made Sir Stafford Northcotes po-
sition In the Commons intolerable. and so
the baronet was converted into a peer, Sir
Michael Hicks Beach became leader OF the
House Of Commons. and Lord Randolph
himself Secretary for India. To all ap.
pearances. an extraordinary change had
come over the Conservative party. Lord
Wolseleys suggestion Of an autumn ad-
vance on Khartoum was negatived; the
evacuation Of the Soudan, against which the
Conservatives had vehemently protested.
was carried out. In regard to Ireland thu
change OF front was even more remarka-
BILE than In Egypt. The appointment OF Lord
Carnarvon to the Lord Lieutenancy was
the signal for the opening OF negotiations
with Mr. Parnell and the very Ministers
who, in opposition, had inveighed bitterly
against Gladstone for the mildness OF his
coercive legislation. declared. on the very
first day after the reassemblng OF Parlia-
ment. that they had decided to allow the
Irish crimes act to expire. Some Of them
went further. and appeared to give coun-
tenance to attacks made by Mr.. Parnell's
followers upon Lord spencers Irish admin
stration, with reference to the Maamtrasna
murders the perpetrators Of which had been
convicted and three Of them executed. This
surrender to Parnell was the subject Of q
trenchant letter to the Times from Herbert
Gladstone, which ended with these words:
For my own part do not regret what has
occurred. The policy Of the Tories has
given an Unreasonable impetus to the de-
mand for the reform OF the Irish govern
ment, and for the establishment Of sys-
TEN OF government founded upon the will
and the trust of the Irish people. the bene-
Ats of which will. I believe. amply repay the
country for the damage done to political
consistency and morality by the discredita-
BILE and cowardly action OF the Tory ad-
ministration," Mr. Hirst prints an extract
from a letter written on October H. 1890.
by the late Sir Thomas Dyke Aclund Sir
Thomas testified that. In August, 1885, he
dined with Gladstone. two important mem
bers OF the late Liberal government being
present The three discussed the question
OF the Irish demand for homo government
Gladstone maintained that ireland must
have Parliament Of its own as the only
possible means OF satisfying the Irish peo-
pie When We Joined the ladies'. he threw
himself on the sofa. beckoned to me- and
said: 'Acland, we have come to the break up
Of the Liberal party have never named
the persons present but / have frequently
told the fact anonymously to prove that
what Gladstone proposed in 1886 was .
mere act Of duty done with his eyes open
to the consciousness to himself. not. as the
wretched scribblers say. to catch votes"
Mr.. Hirst asserts that Mr.. Chamberlain had
Z huoo'oacu iiOi4l LILO NoEy uTbI appearance
OF Mr. Parnell to conoiliate the support Of
the Irish Nationalists. "It 10 understood
that towards the close OF Mr.. Gladstone'S
second administration. Mr.. Chamberlain
proposed a scheme OF national councils for
Ireland which was supported by Mr.. Glad
stone and all the commoners In the Cabi.
net. In the spring Of 1885. Mr.. Parneu ar
ranged that Mr. Chamberlain and SIP
Charles Dixie should make q political tour
in Ireland. and only oountermanded the ar
rangement on finding that Lord Randolph
Churchill and Lord Carnarvon were prepar-
ed to go further than the Radical leaders In
the direction of Home Rule"
The Irish people, enfranchised for the
first time in their history. were about to
give a vote which would almost certainly
he by q vast preponderanoe for Homo Rule.
AS a matter OF fact. at the general election
Of December. 1885. tho Parnellites carried
IS out OF lo3 seats. II such q vote should
be given, Mr.. Gladstone had made I'D his
mind In favor OF a generous scheme. He
believed, however. that q Liberal majority
could be secured independently of Mr.. Par.
nell, and he did not choose to bid against
Mr.. Chamberlain and Lord Randolph
Churchill at an Irish auction. The CONVEX
sation with Sir Thomas Acland shows that
he did not underestimate the dangers Of