New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-02
IRELAND'S OPPORTUNITY
Home Rule May Be Obtained By
Hand of DIR. Chamberlain.

London. October 16.

complishing it's hearts desire In the matter OF
Home Rule. should obtain it by the hand Of Mr.
Cham berain. II would be a strange thing But
It Is by no means impossible. On the contrary
the game is at the moment visible on the face
of the cards. AS far Mr.. Chamberlain's vary
ing convictions go. there Is nothing startling IN
the prosTect 1t would merely be a barking
back to a former frame Of mind. He has In his
time filed so many parts the political stage
that the present generation has forgotten. or
never knew. that among English statesmen he
was the pioneer Of settlement with Ireland on
the basis OF Home Rule A member OF Mr.
Gladstone's Cabinet In 1883. he drafted and laid
before his colleagues an elaborate scheme de-
signed to delegate to Irishmen the control OF
local affairs In Ireland. In celebrating the
scheme be had the valuable assistance OF Sir
Charles Dixie not then in the Cabinet The pro-
posal was discussed and rejected by majority
of the Cabinet Mr.. Chamberlain was so much
In earnest that. In company with Sir Charles
Dixie he rendered his resignation.
This was not the first occasion on which he
had shown himself friendly to the development
Of local government IN ireland. The resignation
of Mr.. Forster consequent on the kilmainham
treaty, an historic arrangement In which Mr.
Chamberlain took an active part. he was ready
even anxious TO succeed Mr.. Forster, and was
prepared 70 carry on the government OF Ireland
In the spirit Of cancellation Of national feeling
on a system Of cooperation with the Irish mem
bers In 1886 when Mr.. Gladstone was recon-
structing his Ministry. shattered by the intro
duction Of the first Home Rule BILL Mr. Charn-
berIain consented or certain conditions TO re-
main In office What his motive Is" Mr.. Glad
stone forlornly wrote in a memorandum Of this
date. Il do not clearly understand II was
stated that he coveted the Irish Secretaryship-
To have given him the Office would. al that
time. have been held to be declaration OF war
against the Irish party"
This is a little obscure Presumably It refers
to the crisis created in 1882 by the resignation
Of Mr. Forster Certainly it is the direct con-
trary Of facts to affirm that Mr. Chamberlains
nomination to the Irish Secretaryship at that
tirne would have been q declaration OF war
against the Irish party. On the contrary. ne
was In daily friendly communication with them
The point of view shows the amazing ignorance
OF matters OF detail close at hand that occasion
ally envaloped Mr.. Gladstone. With his head In
the clouds he could not the pitfall at his
feet An Irish Member. a leader IN Israel. some
time ago made TO me an interesting conmunica-
ton dealing with this critical epoch. probably
the turning point In Mr. Chamberlain's career.
have not asked permission TO mention the
name Of the authority. but I have no doubt it
would be available II aUthoritatively demanded
On May 4, 1882 Mr.. Forster. rising from cor
seat behind the Treasury Bench. explained
the reasons for his resignation OF the Irish Sec
retaryship. On that same evening Mr.. Chamber
lain found an opportunity OF seeing the Irish
leader I refer 10 Ut not Mr.. ParnelD and
consulting him as TO what line he should take
on particular questions in the event Of the Irish
post being offered 10 him. In reply TO definite
inquiry Mr.. Chamberlain said the offer had not
10 70 r2r1ff mad
matter Of course that II he wished TO take the
Irish office it would be at his service On the
next day. Friday. May s. the Ministerial whip
moved IN the House OF Commons for the issue
Of writ TO elect memLer for the West Riding
Of Yorkshire in place Of Lord Frederick Caven-
dish. VINO had accepted the office OF Chief Sec
rotary to the Lord Lieutenant My informant
conveyed to me the impression that this was the
first intimation Mr.. Chamberlain received OF the
settlement. This private insult. public
arront CALLING to a proud spirit. Three years
later IT was fully avenged
Bearing in mind this bit Of personal history.
it is evident that there is nothing at the back
OF Mr.. ChamberIain's mobile mind that should
prevent him. circumstances being adequately
tempting. to have a fresh deal on the Home
Rule question. OF course. the proposed legisla-
ton would not be branded by that name ''Ex-
tended local government" the wise would call
II. AS a matter Of fact. the scheme submitted
to the Cabinet in 1888 by A1r. Chamberlain and
Sir Charles Dixie was so labelled Whether,
after this lapse Of years. Mr.. Chamberlain has
or has not any lingering affection for his early
love. the suit will unquestionably be forced upon
him. Englands difficulty has ever been re-
garded Ireland's opportunity. The country
is in grave difficulty now. Suddenly faced by
imperative demand to revolutionize q fiscal sys-
tenn upon which its prosperity was based and
has for half century grown. II finds political
parties riven, familiar associations broken old
links Of craftsmanship cast into the melting Dot
In spite Of a series Of unparalleled bIunders
in face Of disclosures made In the report OF
the War Commission, the Unionist majority IN
the House Of Commons. IL not IN the country
was FIVE months ago unbroken AT a single
speech Mr.. Chamberlain shattered its founda
tons. which have since at increasing pace crura-
bled away.
The Irish members. born political experts
long trained in the school at Westminster. per
ceive their opportunity. and are preparing with
accustomed skill and singleness Of purpose 10
take advantage OF e. They enter the lists IN
trammelled by considerations that sometimes
handicap political sections in the House OF
Commons Trojan or Tyrian. II is all the same
to them They mean TO have Home Rule and
they will see that they get It. anticipatory foy
OF possession being heightened by the circuu-
stance that It will be MT Chamberlain. sd
vancing by subterranean passages. who work,
out their salvation.
The deal the vital question Will not Omen
during the life OF the present Parliament That
existence Is Irecarious and viii with difficulty
be maintained throughout the next session.
The Irish members hug to their hearts the con-
viction that this IS a minor issue resting with
them II fs Mr. Chamberlain's Injunction ana