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

so good to them as that OF Lord Randolpns
elevation. The working class electors VINO
had voted in two rapidly succeeding cleo"
tions against Mr.. Gladstone saw in lord
Randolph Churchill their favorits and
champion. They recalled tho disasters
and depression Of their party in the past
aud the political convulsion from which 1t
had at length emerged. They saw 1t
triumphant where it had but lately been
despised They saw it united where 1t
had lately been distracted, and, with what
measure Of reason the reader can judge,
they attributed the revolution to Lord
Randolph Churchill more than to any other
man.
How did Lord Randolph discharge the
duty Of leading the House OF Commonsf
For him It must have been a critical moment
when, after the new Parliament had met
for the transaction of business on August
49,, 1888, he rose to follow Mr.. Gladstone.
1t is not surprising that, in spite OF all his
acquired skill and ease as a speaker, his
nervousness was apparent. Nevertheless
he spoke with dignity and strength, and
his lucid, ordered statement left no impress
sion of inequality in the minds OF those
who had Just listened to the greatest OF
parliamentarians. Although the Irish were
inclined to interrupt derisively, the House
was generally sympathetic. The policy
toward Ireland which Lord Randolph
announced was definite and simple. 1t was
the same policy which had been defined
in a memorandum sent by him to Lord
Salisbury after the election Of 1885, from
which. during the remainder of his life,
Lord Randolph nevgr diverged. The Irish
question presented itself, he said, in three
aspects. namely. social order, the land
question and local government. The late
Administration had been of the opinion
that these three questions were indis-
solubly connected, and their policy had
been to deal with them all by one measure.
The new Government, Lord Randolph said,
proposed to treat them, to a very large
extent, as separate and distinct. The law
was to be uncompromisingly maintained
whether against Orangemen in Belfast,
which was still distracted by savage riots,
or against Nationalists in Kerry, where
an Increase in "Moonlighting" and boy
cotting had been recorded. In regard to
~land-whioh subject a royal commission
was also to examine the Government
would not encourage any extension OF
the principle of revision OF rents by the
direct interposition OF the State. but would
rather aim. at the creation of a general
system OF single THAT is to say, peasant
ownership, by the influence and leverage
Of the credit of the State. As to local
government, the new leader OF the House
promised that decisive action would be
taken.
when Parliament rea sembles at the be-
ginning Of February next the Government
are ~sanguine that they will be prepared
with definite proposals on that large ques-
ton. Their object will be as far as possible
to eliminate party feeling, and to secure
for the consideration of the question as
large an amount Of parliamentary CO.
operation as can be obtained, 80 that
whatever settlement may be arrived at
may not be regarded as a political triumph
of either party, but rather In the nature OF
a final and lasting settlement He added
that "the great sign posts OF our policy
are equality, similarity, and, if may use
such q word, simultaneity Of treatment
30 far as is practicable in the develop
ment OF a genuinely popular system OF gov
eminent in all the four countries which
form the United Kingdom" Lord Ran
dolph ended by declaring in simple terms
that the verdict Of the constituencies for
The maintenance OF the Parliamentary
Union must be considered final n irrever-
sible. II we recall the events OF the last
two decades, we must recognize that the
policy thus outlined by Churchill was that
which Tin spite OF some lamentable lapses,
OF many purposeless and vexatious delays
and Of more than one exhibition Of pref
udice, or even tyranny has upon the whole,
as history records, been carried labonously
forward by Unionist Administrations, and
which in the end, although 1t has left many
grave problems unsolved, has indisputably
advanced the social, political and economic
stability OF the Irish people. To those who
are inclined to question the truth Of this
statement, the party which passed the
Wyndham Land Purchase act would be
justified in replying, Isl monumentum
quPris, circumspice."