The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-02-22
HOME RULE QUESTION
 DISCUSSED IN COMMONS
SECRETARY FOR IRELAND DE- CLIMBS TO OUTLINE GoV-
 ERNMENT,s PLANS.

Throne Offered for Purpose of Ex-
 tracing What Liberal Ministry In-
 tended Doing, Overwhelmingly De-
 feated-Chief Secretary for YreIand
 Has Not Departed from the Principles
 of the Party Led by Gladstone from
 1886 to 1892.
 London, Feb. 21.-As an amendment to the address in reply to the speech from the throne, Colonel B. J. Saunder- son, unionist, to-day moved in the house of commons an expression of alarm at the statement in the kings speech that the ministers were consid-. ering proposals to effect changes in the system of the government of Ireland, believing that his matesty's advisers had committed themselves to a policy which will endanger the liberties and property of the loyalist minority, pro- mote discord in civil life, and impair the integrity of the United Kingdom. Colonel Saunderson stated that the ob- ject of his amendment was to extract some statement as to what the govern ment meant by the proposals suggested
 After considerable discussion James Bryce, liberal and chief secretary for Ireland, said the speech from the throne meant nothing more than that the pre- nier and other liberal leaders had repeatedly stated, and what had been endorsed by the enormous majority re- turned to parliament, that much was necessary to improve the adrnilistra- iton of Ireland. MT. Bryce said home rule had no terrors for him. and that he had not departed in the smallest particular from the principles of the liberal party led by MT. Gladstone from 1886 to 1S9S Mis- majesty's government had every reason to make an effort in the direction of improvement of the system of government, and the associ- ation of the people herewith. MT. Bryce asked that the house defeat the amendment, because he believed the greatest possible Encouragement might be given to the policy of the creation of an intelligent self-government for Ireland now under consideration. The electorate of the United Kingdom had given the house mandate for conci!ia- tfof, and the extension of self-govern- ment to Ireland The present oppor- tunity should be seized. The demand of Ireland was one which no constitu- tional government could overlook. Mir. Bryce declined to outline the govern ment measures indicated In the speech from the throne.
 MT. Bryce's speech was received with tremendous and continued outbursts of nationalist cheers.
 MT Dillon, nationalist, who followed, said that so long as the government acted in the spirit of MT. Bryce's speech the nationalists would allow the gov- ernment time to develop its plans, and give them fair and frank considera- ton.
 Joseph Chamberlain said that the Unionist party had maintained during the elections that the government was a home-rule and little-En nglander gov~ ernment. It had been proved tonight that it was a home-rule government, and it would be proved later that 1t was a little -Englander government. Many members on the ministerial benches, he said, had found 1t necessa- ry during the election to pledge them- selves to oppose home rule, and, there fore, the government would proceed by the more invidious methods of install ments.
 It would, nevertheless, have convinc- ed the country that it was a home rule government.
 The house divided, and the anend- ment was defeated 406 to SS.