Gladstone's Home Rule Measure.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 137, 16 January 1886, Page 4

Gladstone's Home Rule Measure.

Latest Despatches Received on the Subject. New York, December 20. The " Tribune's " cablegram says : Mr Gladstone denies the accuracy of the published statements, still he has not denied that he is resolved on conceding the principle of home rule, The conviction is universal among the English of all parties that Gladstone means to crown his career by carryingthroughParliatnentan Irish scheme that will be satisfactory to Parnell. It was alleged this morning that, he has acquainted Queen Victoria with his purpo?e. Lord Salisbury was certainly informed before the majority of Mr Gladstone's colleagues knew what was brewing, nor have they yet heard anything on the subject direct from their late chief. They seem inclined to make him understand the doubtful prudence of undertaking to reverse the policy of the Liberal party and the empire without consulting his associates in public life. The Tory and independent press agree that Gladstone has raised simply the issue of union or disunion. Far more striking is the response of the Liberals to Gladstone's proposal. The Liberal papers of high standing, and two only support it. No assurances, safeguards, limitations or guarantees of Mr Gladstone's devising are worth a straw, says the "Times." An independent Irish Parliament means, sooner or later, secession. That is the line on which the battle is to be fought, New York, December 20 (Special). — The " Sun's " cable from London says : — Thos. Power O'Connor, president of the Irish National League of Great Britain, in an interview this morning said : " Gladstone will carry his scheme of home rule through Parliament if he can square Lord Hartington and Parnell. The British people have taken the plunge more quietly than was expected. We of the Irish Parliamentary party are undecided what form of self-governmeDt to demand. The tendency is in favour of the colonial plan in preference to the federal plan formulated by the late Isaac Butt " The "Sun" continues: Correspondents have been hunting Parneli for several days, but thus far without success. It is believed he is secluded at the seaside, somewhere in the south of England, Parnell is exceedingly prudent of speech, and ia doing his best in the present crisis to avoid all contact wish members of the press.

Queen Victoria Enraged. New York, December 20 (Special). — The " Times " cable dispatch declares the situation with which the week ends is curiously characteristic of both England and Gladstone. In no other country could a project which five years ago would have been regarded as the universal extremity of treason be so suddenly sprung on the public and so seriously discussed as the matter of Irish home rule. Of course Hawarden and Wind sor aie at war, The story reaches me tonight on absolute authority that Gladstone did write to the Queen, stating his views about home rule. She was enraged, sent for Lord Salisbury and gave him Gladstone's letter. He only said it was an indiscreet thing for Gladstone to do, and that he never could keep his pen off from paper. He took a copy of the letter away with him, and consulted Lord Randolph Churchill who made a wily suggestion that the be3fc thing to do was to divulge the fact, and, the better to avert a suspicion of the royal source of the informotion, the statement that Gladstone had written to the Queen was put in the way of the " Daily iVews," which printed it. Then a copy of the letter to the Queen was shown to the editor of the " Times," who has since written on that basis, and he is the only man, outside of the Cabinet, who has seen it.

Gladstone's Statement. London, December 19th. — The following dispatch from Gladstone has been received by the Cable IS ewe Company : " Hawarden, December 19, 1885 —If I should at any time have any plan or intention to announce on the question of Irish government, it will be done publicly and on my own responsibility, not by an anonymous and irresponsible declaration. My political friends are assured that I remember my obligations to tium, and may safely understand that I am bound to none of the ideas respecting home rule for Ireland recently announced in my name. After saying this much I hold myself excused from replying to further inquiries rumors or allegations regarding the Irish question.— Wm E. Gladstone. In response to a request for his opinion of the home rule proposals, the Earl of Derby, who was a member of Gladstone^

Cabinet, writes that the original plan for the establishment of home rule in Ireland has been materially modified by Gladstone's subsequent statements, and that it is therefore impopsible for him to express on opinion on the subject. New York, Dee. 19 -(Special).— The " Post's " London special says : I have this morning seen a letter from Mr Gladstone in his own handwriting A'hich says bis duty at the present moment is "to think, and think, and think." He repeats what he said at Midlothian, that he could only ap proach the subject in a practical way, as if he were a responsible Minister. The Crown looks to the Government to take such steps in the mat ter as they may deem necessary in the interests of the state. He says in a characteristic sentense that what has been attributed to him by the London press is : other people's opinions of his opinions, I just as the colors of the rainbow are in us, not in it. The only point upon which he makes a distinct correction is about the conditions of the Crown veto, which he says he could never have proposed. It should be exercised only by the advice of the Irish Ministry. I can further state pasitively that no negottations, either direct or indirect, have passed between Gladstone and Parnell. Mr O' Connor told me yesterday the Irish party accept such a scheme as outlined. There is much interest felt to know how the news have been received in America.

Election Incidents. Dispatches of November 25 said the greatest interest in the whole electoral field centered in the contest at Birmingham between John Bright and Lord Randolph Churchill. The Duchess of Marlborough and Lady Churchill, who is a daughter oi Leonard Jerome, of New York, at the head of 300 ladies, made a house to-houae canvass, and were everywhere politely received. The Radicals cheered them. Lady Churchill also addressed the workman in the principal factories. John Bright in his speeches referred humorously to the "Primrose Campaign." The result was declared on the 24th, Bright being elected, but with a majority over Churchill than the Radicals expected. Sir Charlef Dilke was elected for Chelsea by a vote oi 4,291, the Conservative candidate receiving 4,116. Dilke's committee asserted that an organisation of ladies went from house te house making infamous and untruthful charges against their candidate, based on the recent divorce case. Tn his speech, Sii Charles threatened one of the party (whom he did not name, but who is known to be Lady Cadogan) with one year's imprisonment for intimidating voters, and also with a suit for slander. Lord Randolph Churchill, who wae also a candidate for Paddington, gained that peat by a vote of 2,831, against 1,025 for his opponent. The Tory candidate defeated Sir Hugh Childers in Pontefract. In Hamstead Sii H. Holland, Conservative, received 2,78E votes, defeating the Marquis of ) orne, who received I,Blo— a result which is said to give immense satisfaction in al most all circles, as Lome has had the misfortune to please nobody. It is reported that the Prince of ales and his set were especially delighted. The Queen took a lively interest in the progress of the elections. On the afternoon of the 27th, she sent a despatch to Lord Salisbury, summoning him to dine at and sleep that night in Windsor Castle. A special telegraph wire was transferred to the Castle, and Lord Salisbury directed all the election returns to be promptly transmitted to him for the information of the Queen, who did not hesitate to express unqualified delight at the result. When driving thro gh "Windsor, on election day, Bhe smiled on the electors, knowing that theh candidate was hers. Mr Gladstone is said to be fearfully chagrined over the result, and earlj in the contest abandoned all hope oi more than the barest Liberal majoritj at best. A story was current or the 28th that he had intimated te Lord Salisbury a willingness, in the even< of the Conservatives' success, to give the whole Liberal strength to the Government on "all reasonable measures," in order te prevent the necessity of yielding to th« course of placing England under Irish dictation. In the event of a Liberal ma jority, however small, the friends of the Ex-premier say he will re-assume office, and will relinquish power only when be cea«es to live. The " London Times "in s leading article on Dec. 2nd, advocates Gladstone's coalition proposition. The defeat of the Hon. Hugh Childers specially gratified the Liverpool Tories. The Liberals ascribe the work to the Irish Home Rulers. The interference of Miss Milner, a cousin of the unfortunate Lady Durham, at the hustings in York, is said to have caused the defeat of her brother, Sir Frederick Milner. An election riot occurred at Nottingham on the 26th. Several serious conflicts tools place between a mob and the police, in which forty-seven persons were injured. Troops were called out to suppress the disturbance. In London several Tory candidates hired steam fire engines, which ruphed madly through the streets with bells clanging and whistles blowing, while men clinging to the engines showered Tory leaflets on the crowd. Among the Conservatives elected are Pule3ton, of the old firm of Jay, Cook, & Co., and Louis J. Jennings, lately editor of the New York " Times," both former residents of America. The clergymen of the Established Church throughout Great Britain devoted their sermons on November 30th to a vigorous propagandism against the Liberals, the effect of which was felt during the ensuing week. The "Church Record," analysing the result of the first week's elections in 143 divisions, finds that 48 candidates who favoured disestablishment were defeated, and only 28 returned. The "Record" infers that the Church question was the leading cause of the Conservative success The Liberal collapse is variously explained. The Tory papers talk incessantly of "the Tory reaction," but nobody believes this. There is no Tory reaction. The sweeping defeats of the Liberals in London and Lancashire are entirely due (saysjadespatch of November29th) to the Paenellite vote, to the unequalled perfection of its organisation, and to the frantic energy of the Irish leaders and the rank and file. On the other hand, the Liberals worked with lassitude, their appearance being r hopelessly weak in the second part of the campaign, and Gladstone's being employed in explaining away the first half, and the speeches of Chamberlain. Already moderate Liberals are utilizing the writ for Chamberlain's destruction. A "Times" dispatch of December 4th mentions — among other caeualtias attending the election — that Cbarsley (the defeated Tory candidate against Baron Rothschild, in the Aylesbury division of Bucks) died at a local hotel from injuries received at the hands of a mob. The |residendes of several Tories and the two chief hotels of Rabstock, Somerset, have been destroyed, and scores of people including police) were injured at Worthington, where the police were sttinedL

Fifty casualties were reported at Wilton. The successful Liberal candidate there was beaten black and blue, and only by the aid of sixty policemen, battling their way to the station, did he escape being thrown into the river. Col. W. K. Trefus, who recently returned from Egypt covered with distinction, and had just inherited an enormouß fortune from his aunt, the famous Ladie Kodie, was a Tory candidate in the Devon division. He died while the votes were being counted. The result showed he had been badly beaten.

In Ireland. Fifty thousand Parnellites gathered together opposite the vice-regal lodge in Dublin on November 29th, despite the rain which was falling, and pledged their confidence in Mr. Parnell. Crowds of youths, headed by bands, paraded the principal streets, singing " God save Ireland." A row took place opposite the Conservative working man's club house, in which several windows were broken by stonea. On the same day, four thousand adherents of Mr Callon, opposed to Parnell 's nominee, Nolan; assembled at Dundalk, and prevented Nolans people from erecting a platform Parnell, who was present, attempted to speak from a wagon in the market place, but was hauled down. He retired shouting, *' you hired ruffians !" A number of fights took place outside and inside the hotel, in which Nolan was severely handled, and a young man stabbed- The big vote last by by the Parnellities in Londonderry and the west division of Belfast, astonished everybody. The Conservaties were only elected by slender majorities of 25 and 37 respectively It was hitherto considered that the Orangemen were supreme in bote cities, and the Orangemen are, consequently, terribly chagrined over their narrow escape from defeat in their own strongholds. They accuse the Parnellites of false personation of voters by the wholesale, especially in Londonderry. The Parnellite vote in Dublin was immense — 23,772 against 4,476 cast for the Conservatives, and 3,170 for the Liberals. Tremendous enthusiasm was shown when the result was declared, but no rioting ensued. A band of youths placed the American starsandstripesaroundthestatueof Grattan, festooning the flag with green ribbons. A party of collegians sallied forth from Trinity, captured the flag and bore it in triumph to the college. American flags were borne in the procession, while the paraders sang "God Save Ireland." The Irish are very sore, however, about their failure in the close Ulster fights. Lord Ernest Hamilton defeated John Dillon in Tyrone ; and Haley telegraphs the registration lists were stuffed with names not on them when the revising barristers closed the inspection. When his defeat for Dundalk was announced, Phillip Callan spoke at great length with a tone of humiliation and disappointment. At one point in his speech he said : During the last five years I have repeatedly challenged Mr Parnall to the proof, but he has carefully abstained from putting a finger upon a wrong vote ever given or a wrong act ever done. He said, last Sunday, that I was " truculent and unmanageable." Now, I brand that statement, in the face of Mr Parnell, as a deliberate, malignant lie." Callan here turned round and shook his hand at Parnell. "I brand him a slanderer and a coward ; as one who has malignantly villified me. My friends have been spoken of by Mr Parnell as hired bands of ruffiaus. I had no money to buy them with ; for although I entered Parliament a rich man comparatively speaking, lam now a poor man. Mr Parnell entered Parliament with his estates encumbered, but he has now a large estate and a balance at his banker's, and it ill becomes him to turn on me in my poverty. I now ask you to go home, to say nothing offensive to anyone, but to bide your time, and the day will come when my political and private character will be amply vindicated." Parnell made no reply to Callan.

Bradlaugh Becomes CommunicatiAe. In an interview on Nov. 29th with Chas. Bradlaugh, member-elect for Northampton, he said : " Personally, I believe I stand a better chance of being permitted to take my seat under the Tory Government, which is likely to remain in power, than ever I would have under Gladstone's Cabinet. My sympathy for Gladstone has tied my hands, and I frequently snuffed, out myself out to avoid harming his party. I have no reason to spare the Tory Government. I am able to bring against it every kind, of weapon. Hitherto my display has been made peacefully in Trafalgar Square." He further boasted that he had caused the defeat of twenty Liberals by running Radicals in the sarrte districts, because he preferred Tory to \Vhig opponents. He declined to divulge his plans as to the future, stating that he had hitherto damaged his cause by prematurely divulging what he intended doing. " I shall," he said, "observe absolute secrecy in the future toward friend and foe alike."

Complexion of the next House. Despatches of Nov. 29th say that although the extension of suffrage was expected to lower the standard of candidates to a certain extent, the new House of Commons, judging from the character and standing of the members already elected, promises to rank, socially and intellectually, with any previous parliamentary body in the history of the United Kingdom. This result has falsified the prediction of crested Tories, and is especially gratifying to the Army and Navy, whose representation in the next Parliament includes some of the most bril liant officers in both branches of the British service. General Hrmley, the leader of the Scotch Brigade in Tel-el-Kebir, and an able military essayist, heads the list, and Captain Charles Beresford, who has been a popular idol since his gallant exploits at Allexandra, share with him the glory of this bloodless but important victor. Not including the two officers mentioned, four Generals, five Colonels and two Admirals, all of them notable men, have secured seats, by najorities that have no doubt of the steem in which they are held by those in whose power it is to unfer upon them new dignities. Then, like Prof. Roscoe, the famous chemist, replace a mob of weak and frowsy carpet-baggers, who were con« spicuously numerous m the last House, and the marked elevation of the social status of the Parnellite members is already shown in the representatives of that party who have won seats.

Proscription Proposed. At a meeting at the National Liberal Club of Great Britain, on December 15th, of those Liberal members of Parliament whose majorities had been reduced by the casting of the Irish votes for the Tories, and of those Liberal members who had been defeated fay the same tactics, a resolution was adopted by a unanimous Vote, pledging each gentleman present not to employ Irish labour in future, and to gradually, but as speedily as possible disnarge all Irish workmen now employed. The speakers, who were very soreheaded and used bitter words, assured the meeting that the whole Machinery of the Birmingham caucus would be employed to make these proscriptive measures effective. Many said that their own Irish workmen on their farms and estates and in their mines and factories, whohi they had ; provided with sustenance in troublous titoes> had

agitated and voted against their masters, their bread-providers, at the bidding of strangers. Keferring to the Parnellite manifesto which was issued on the Saturday morning proceeding the borough elections, and which exhorted all the Irish electors in Great Britain to vote for Tories, except in the cases of a few specified Radicals.