HOME RULE FOR IRELAND. MR GLADSTONE'S MEASURE GREAT EXCITEMENT IN ENGLAND. The Interest in America.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 154, 15 May 1886, Page 6

HOME RULE F O R IRELAND. MR GLADSTONE'S MEASURE GREAT EXCITEMENT IN ENGLAND. The Interest in America.

The Atlantic despatches are particularly full in respect to the Home Rule proposals of the Gladstone Government, -which appear to have created as much interest in America ac in England. When it became known that Mr Gladstone was resolved to submit a measure granting Home Rule, and that parleying was going on between the Premier and Messrs Chamberlain and Trevelyan, adverse demonstrations were organised On the 2nd of April, a deputation of Irish Presbyterians had an interview with Mr Morley, Chief Secretary for Ireland. Replying to the statement made by Rev. Dr. Martin, to the effect that a Parliament in Dublin would be hostile to the rights of Irish Presbyterians, Mr Morley expressed the opinion that Mr Gladstone's measure would make ample provisions for the security of every religious body in Ireland. The deputation afterwards had an interview with Mr Chamberlain. Mr Gladstone has declined to receive the deputation. On the sanoe day the " Pall Mall Gazette," usually a warm champion of the Premier, declared . " Gladstone is riding straight for a fall. He refuses to modify the Irish scheme, and the result will be that the country will have neither home rule in Ireland nor Gladstone." The "Gazette" announced in the same way precisely that Salisbury would "ride for a fall" at the time the Tory Premier was arranging for his own defeat. ' It is thought the editor has special knowledge that Gladstone, being convinced of the good policy of his Irish proposals, and that the Tory and Radical politicians have determined to defeat them, means to force the issue and bring about the defeat aB soon as possible.

Antagonistic Meeting at Guild Hall. A great mass meeting was held on the afternoon of April 2nd in the Guild Hall, to protest against the granting of a Parliament to Ireland. The Lord Mayor presided. Sir John Lubbock (Liberal), member of Parliament for London University, moved the adoption of a resolution condemning Gladstone for his intention to hand Ireland over to Parnell, whom he had previously denounced. A working man arose and offered an amendment to Lubbock's resolution, but was howled down, and the resolution was carried amid wild enthusiasm. At every mention of Mr ParnelPa name the audience hissed. The name of the Premier was treated in the same way every time any speaker used it, and there were cries of "Gladstone is a lunatic " All the speeches were intensely patriotic, and the speakers were loudly cheered. Mr George Potter, a Liberal, ventured to propose an amendment to the Lubbock resolution, to the effect that Mr Gladstone was entitled " to the confidence of the audience and the British public," but Mb voice was drowned by groan 3 and cries of "go home," "turn him out." The meeting closed with three cheers for the Queen, atter which the assemblage left the hall singing "Rule, Britannia "

What Huxley Says. The New York "Tribune" prints a cable letter from Professor Huxley, who is now at Bournemouth for his health. The "Tribune" says editorially: What Professor Huxley has to say will be found most entertaining. It is a downright condemnation of any attempt to give home rule to Ireland. The professor declares that it ia merely a circuitous way of sending his country "to the devil." Huxley bas always declined to enter the political field. Perhaps if he had done his part there as well as he has in the field of science, England would have been further from ruin than he thinks it ia now. Huxley doee not think there is any statesman in England, and he says he would have voted with the Conservatives at the last election if it had not been for Lord Churchill's course.

The RusH of Members for Seats. Extraordinary pains as to the secrecy of Gladstone's scheme were taken by him The Prime Minister was so anxious to preserve the secret of his measure until the moment of its divulgence from his own lips that he has restricted the Ministerial issue of copieB. Obligations of secrecy were imposed upon all the recipient?, who were held individually and collectively responsible for the Bafe-keeping of the mystery up to the hour when its author revealed it. Great consternation prevails among the Irish landlords. Mr Gladstone slept well on the night preceding Bth, the date fixed for the speech. His voice was fresh, strong, and evidently enduring. Immediately after his breakfast Gladstone repaired to his official room. There he found prepared for his perusal the morning papers and scores of telegrams bearing on the task of the day, and more than one letter from close personal friends and advices bringing words of cheer and congratulation. Before the night watchmen in the House were relieved, or the lights were extinguished, a number of members of Parliament and gentlemen possessed of cards which assured their admittance began to arrive to make themselves doubly certain of their privileges by getting to their seats eleven hours before Gladstone would reach the House, and retaining them during the long interval. McDonnell Sullivpn, Nationalist member from South-weßt Meath, was the first man to gain entrance to the House. He got in as early as 5.30 in the morning, and at once proceeded to make sure of his place, It is alleged, however, that Sullivan secared his advantage by bribing a friendly policeman to permit him to have access by way of the back stairs. The Southwest Meath member was not long the sole occuppant of the echoing chamber. He was almost immediately followed by a score of his Parnellite colleagues. The rule regarding seats is practically " first come, first served," and Sullivan, therefore, had his pick of the whole floor. He chose the very best seat, next to and immediately below the gangway on the opposition or left side of the Speaker's desk. As the Ministerial bench is situated just opposite on the right of the Speaker and the Prime Minister has usually occupied the seat just below the gangway on that Bide, Sullivan has secured a vis-a-vis to the orator. It was not long before all the Parnellities were in the House, and they preempted the best places in the locality invaded by Sullivan and got places to the front of Gladstone during his speech. The rush of the British members followed close upon the advent of the Parneilities. It was yet early in the' morning when air the seats on the floor were taken. A seat chosen in order to be retained must be ticketed with the hat of the member who means to occupy it, and the hat must be the, one he is wearing that day, as no substitution is permitted. This rule retains the membere within the limits

agreeable to. traverse . with .bare „ heads. The present, generation ] never -, witnessed such a "hatting ""scene as occurred'in*the House of Commons .this morning lcng before London was awake. A number of members were afraid to trust to the, honour of their colleagues for the maintenance of the rules on an occasion like that of to-day, and ' these ' retained possession of their <- chosen Beats by remaining in them bodily all day. >

Great Crowd Greets the Premier. The weather was warm, clear, and beautiful. At 3 o'clock the crowd outside the palace gates was enormous. It filled all the epace down Westminster bridge and extended pretty well up Parliament-street, towards Whitehall. -At that hour there • was a perfect jam. The people filled >J$ Downing-street, where Gladstone's official residence was situated. This crowd was patiently awaiting for the Premier to make his appearance on his departure for the Commons. Gladstone finished reading his papers and telegraphic and mail 1 correspondence at an early hour. He spent the remainder of the morning and part of the afternoon in contemplation. He refused to permit himself to be disturbed by calls from any large* number of persons who attempted to see him. He made but; one exception, that in favour of John Morley, Chief Secretary for Ireland, whom he sent for and conferred with for a short time. . The enormous clock, towhieh "Big Ben," England's giant bell, rings the time in Victoria Tower, on the southeast corner of the Parliament buildings, stopped this afternoon. Its stoppage was noticed by the crowds in the streets, who depended upon its tones for knowing the time of day, and it was regarded by thousands as an occurrence of ill-omen. Soon after 3 o'clock all the thoroughfares about St. Stephen's were so crowded with people that all attempts to carry on traffic in the neighbourhood had to be suspended. Mounted police were placed on duty patroling, because it was impossible for officers on foot to get about. In the Commons the members have now begun to divide themselves into parties, with a view to their probable support or opposition to the coming speech. It was ascertained that no less than 450 of the 670 ! members had entered and secured seats by ] "hatting" or personal occupation before 12 o'clock.

A Crowded House. Peel, Speaker of the Houee, took the chair promptly at 4 o'clock. The chamber at this time was packed to the very extreme limit of its capacity, and every door showed the hallways crammed with people, all ci aning to see and to hear. The weather at this time suddenly changed, clouds lowered, and thunder was heard. Nevertheless the mass of people outside increased and became denser. Catholic priests were conspicuously numerous in the crowds, and no less than thirty-five branches of the London organisation of the Irish National League were- represented by full deputations, whose identity was easily established, even at a distance, by their green regalias. Political clubs beyond numbering wer«3 also present to take part in the popular demonstration. At 4 o'clock delegations from thirty-two Liberal clubs had been counted in the throng, before going to the Commons.

I An Enthusiastic Greeting. Mr Gladstone took a drive through St. James's Park, going to and from the west end "of Downing-street. He desired to be awhile in the fresh air before going to Parliament.^ He returned to his residence, and in a few"* moments started upon his way to the Commons. The police had opened a way for him to Parliament- street and down tnat across Bridge-street to the House. They had to work hard to make this passageway, and harder yet to keep it open. Gladstone went in an open carriage, and his appearance was greeted with deafening cheers. The enthusiasm of the people all the way from the door of his house to the Commons entrance was spontaneous and thrilling. It vented itself at the beginning of the journey in a roar great enough to make most statesmen dizzy, and when the whole immense multitude caught the signal, a tremendous, long-sustained cheer was set up, the like of which was never before heard in London, and which was plainly audible in the House. The cheering continued until long after Gladstone had entered tho Parliament buildings. Within the building, the Piime Minister's reception, though less demonstrative, was equally enthusiastic with that he had just had without. He was apparently in the best of spirits and bowed to the right and left to his acquaintances as he passed them At 4.30 Gladstone entered the House. His entrance was followed by loud and prolonged cheers which continued for several minutes. Among the Liberals and ParnelHtias the wildest enthusiasm prevailed, and it is safe to say that no such scenes were ever witnessed before in the Commons.