The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-04
iii.

What was the attitude OF Lord Randolph
Churchill during his first Ministerial term,
and during the campaign preceding the
general election Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
1885, toward the Parnellites and their pro-
gramme of Home Ruler This is a question
which was much discussed at the time,
and which the author Of this biography
IL in a position to answer. 1t is certain
that, although no bargain Of any kind ex-
listed, Lord Salisbury's Government, which
had come into office or Nationalist votes,
which was forced to govern Ireland by the
ordinary law, and which, ever with Ma
t~ionalist help. possessed no majority in
the House OF Commons, was dependent
largely Upon Nationalist good will. To
preserve that good will was vital to their
power to bring the necessary work Of the
expiring Parliament to a creditable con-
~clusion, and to the success of their ensuing
struggle at the ballot box with Mr.. Glad.
stone. The appointment Of Lord Carnar.
Won as Viceroy had been a part of the gen.
eral policy Of concession to Irish feeling
which the new Government vas forced to
adopt. His opinions we're known TO be
sympathetic TO Irish aspirations, and he
was for that reason agreeable TO the Ma
t~ionalist party. His first speech in the
House OF Lords, as ord-Lieutenant of Ire
land, had been a declaration Of the aban-
donment OF coercion, and an appeal in
terms Of generous since rity for a kindlier
feeling between the two countries.
His son tells us that Lord Randolph
Churchill was always inclined 10 blame
Lord Ashbourne for his absence from Ire
land during the critical summer preceding
the general election of 1885. THE Irish
Chancellor's constant presence In Dublin"
Lord Randolph wrote in 1850 in an extant
memorandum, might have been of inesti-
mable service to the Vlceroy and the Gov
eminent. Lore Carnarvon, a nobleman OF
broad sympathies, liberal mind and warm
ina ination, was left alone without any
previous knowledge Of the country to sur
vey Ireland, to realize its conditions, and
to appreciate the difficulties Of its govern
ment, under the influence and guidance of
Sir Robert Hamilton, at that time Perma-
nent Under-Secretary, who had some time
previously arrived at the conclusion that the
concession OF Home Rule in one shape or
another was inevitable. There was no
countervailing influence Of knowledge and
authority with the Viceroy, such as lord
Ashbourne might have afforded. and Lord
Carnarvon glided gently into the heresy
which 30 grievously embarrassed and dam
aged his colleagues. and oorrespondingly
siren gthened the party Of repeal" This
statement could not have been penned by
a man personally favorable to Lord Car
narvon's views.
Much more light Is thrown on this matter
in the book before us. The famous empty
house meeting between Lord Carnarvon
and Mr.. Parnell took place at the end Of
July, 1885. In a drawing room in Grosve-
nor Square, dismantled and deserted at
the end Of the London se ason, the repre-
sentative Of the Queen in Ireland and the
executive head Of the Irish Government
met the man whom, the mass Of the;l1nglish
people, high and low, had been taught
during five years by the leaders OF both
political parties to regard as guilty at least
OF high treason, and probably OF completely
in murder. Lord Carnarvon began, we
are told. by explaining carefully that he
spoke for no one but himself, and that.
as the Queens servant, he could listen to
nothing inconsistent with the union Of the
two countries. After this formality had
been assented to by Mr.. Parnell, the two
rulers OF Ireland-coroncted impotence
and uncrowned ramhled discur-
sively over such topics ne seif-govcrnment
and national aspiration, colonial parlia-
ments, and a central Legislative body.
which might, it appeared. possess-a re-
markable l~ioenso-the right Of protecting