South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2178, 11 March 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1880.

The appeal of Earl Beaconsfiolcl to the people of Ireland betrays a significant change of front on the part of the British Government. By many it will bo regarded as an art of condescension, but by others it will be considered a confession of weakness. In whatever estimation it may be held, the fact is undeniable that it discloses an extraordinary alteration of attitude and policy on the part of the Tory Governors of the Empire. Hitherto the claims of Ireland have been treated with indifference when not positively ignored. This has been chiefly due to the offensive manner in which they have been advanced. The British Lion, whose den is Loudon, will not submit to be trampled on. It is one thing to supplicate, and another thing to demand. Had Ireland contented herself with asking for justice in the way of self government, she might have been enjoying it by this time. But her representatives have unfortunately committed the error of adopting an obstreperous attitude when they should have united forbearance with firmness. The wrongs of Ireland, while universally acknowledged and deplored, have been aggravated rather than redressed or alle-

viated, through the rashness and obtuseness of those patriotic gentlemen termed Home Rulers. AVe have no wish to disparage their efforts. AVe have the utmost -sympathy with thenaims, and we are perfectly convinced that as the world grows better these aims will he achieved. AVhat we deprecate is the means that have been adopted in order to promote these aims. These means have been ill advised in the extreme. Rash impulse, instead of welldesigned effort, has been relied upon to move the mountain. Englishmen and Scotchmen all over the world have sympathised with the object aimed at by those who sought to obtain for Ireland the privileges of local administration, and the concession would probably have been granted long ago had the agitators mingled a little discretion and common sense with their valor.

That Ireland . lias had wrongs to complain of no one acquainted with British history can deny. That there are grievances now calling for redress is equally true. But we are prepared to maintain that redress has been delayed through ill-advised agitation. Instead of decorously pleading their case, and appealing to that overwhelming instinct on the part of the great British community—their sense of justice—the representatives of Ireland in the British House of Commons have conducted themselves in such away that their loyalty has been questioned, and their turbulence has been condemned. This is not the respect with which a weaker power should treat the stronger. However well grounded its claims, if advanced in an offensive manner, it is not to be expected that they will be entertained. For what she has already suffered Ireland owes much to the impetuosity and over-zeal of her indiscreet mouthpieces. Scotland has received a much greater amount of justice and concession at the hands of the British Parliament, and why? Simply because her representatives, instead of clamouring for justice and threatening all kinds of retribution if their wants were not attended to, have approached the Parliamentary festive board with respect, and have accepted what has been apportioned them thankfully. Unlike her weaker sister, Scotland has not earned the reputation of being an eternally dissatisfied hot-bed of sedition. She has had wrongs, but she has been content to calmly represent them instead of demanding their rectification, Hence it happens that in the British Parliament the respectfully urged claims of Scotch members have generally commanded a much greater share of attention and respect than the impetuous demands of Irish representatives.

The news cabled, however, shews that while reform has been delayed and concession retarded by Irish impetuosity, the time for concession is rapidly approaching. What is called Home Eule in Ireland, is in reality simply an extension of local government. A separate administration for Scotland as well as for Ireland is required before the various portions of the British dominion can be placed on a firm footing. The Ccntralistic system has worked badly, because the branches of the Empire enjoy a most unequal amount

of representation. Of the advantages of a United Kingdom there can be no question, but administration to be effective must be localised as much as possible. The appeal of Earl Beaconsfiekl can elicit by one response —“ We, the people of Ireland, are loyal to to the core ; we believe in the unity of the British empire ; we shall tight vigorously, if required, for the predominance of British interests in European affairs, but we require, - and we must have, the privileges of self government.”