The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1886. HOME RULE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1536, 24 July 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1886. HOME RULE.

Mu Gladstone’s appeal to the country has resulted in bis defeat, and the prospect of Home Rule tor Ireland being granted has therefore been indefinitely postponed. Hitherto the people of Ireland consoled themselves with the reflection that it was not the people of England but the landlord class that kept them in thraldom, but now they have been robbed of this modicum of solace. Scotland and Wales have, it appears, pronounced strongly in favor of Home Rule, but England has shown her emphatic opposition to it. Considering the influences that were at work nothing else could have been expected, but the majority of the Conservatives is certainly astonishing. At the general election in last December the Liberals were 333, the Conservatives 251, and the Parnellices, 86 ; now the figures are : Conservatives, 316 ; Unionists and Gladstoniaus’ combined 269, and Parnellites 85. Thus the Unionists and Gladstones who, together, formed the Liberal paity before, have gone back to where the Conservatives were in. December, while the Conservatives have taken their place in popular favor. When wo consider that at the December elections the Irish vote was cast in favor of the Conservatives, whereas at the election now closed it was given in favor of Mr Gladstone, the change that has come over the people must be looked upon as wonderful. Homo Rule has done it. Nothing else has occurred that could have caused such a change. But, after all, nothing else could have been expected. The split in the Liberal ranks destroyed any chance of success, and the way in which the question was put to some of the constituencies rendered it improbable that they would vote for it. First of all, (he split in the Liberal ranks led to Unionists and Gladstones contesting the same seats, with the result that Conservatives slipped in between them, and in ibis probably will be found the explanation of the great Conservative reaction which has set it. The people also saw, ho doubt, that it was useless to support a party split op into factions, and they decided to uphold the party that showed unity and discipline. But the way in which the Unionists represented the Horae Rule proposals to the electors was perhaps the crowning cause of the defeat, First of all the “ No Popery ” cry was raised. It was represented that the Protestants of Ireland would be left to the mercy of an Irish Catholic Parliament, with the result that they would be subjected to pains, penalties, and persecution, and such representations could not of course fail to exercise great influence over the minds of the unthinking classes. To I ( i • "•as added the dismemberment of ., l!8 . and further still, the possiMlit™o^lreland annual tribute required or .. ’ ~„v Land Purchasing Bill proposed to ou, out the Irish landlords with bonds secured by the British Exchequer, and it was represented that if Ireland would not pay the interest on these bonds the English taxpayer would have to do so. This was the way the matter wes represented to the peop'e by the Chamberlainites. It was dishonest .in the extreme to represent matters in jthis way, for, as

Mr Gladstone pointed oat, the Customs and excise duties which remained under Imperial authority were sufficient to pay the necessary amount. There, was no risk ; the British Government could collect as much as they liked through the. Customs, they would have power over the police to enforce the payment thereof, and, also over a Court of Justice that would give legal effect to their actions. It was therefore dishonest to frighten people in such a way with such a, bug-bcar. But honesty in po'itics is seldom met with, and we are very much afraid that it is not a virtue which the Chamberlain .Radicals study. One can understand the Conservatives opposing Home Rule, the Marquis of Hartington is Conservative in everything except in name, and no one could expect anything but opposition from him also, but why the Oharaberlainites should oppose what they have so frequently declared in favor of is inexplicable. The great objection Mr Chamberlain had to Mr Gladstone’s proposals was that it did not provide for the Irish members retaining their seats in the Imperial Parliament. Had Mr Gladstone consented to allow the Irish members to remain in the British Parliament he would have given in his own adhesion to the Bill. Puncli has a comic cartoon representing Mr Parnell rising to leave his seat with Mr Chamberlain and Lord Randolph Churchill forcing him to remain. One would think that English members would be very glad to get rid of the Parnellites, yet such is not the case, and the reason given for it is tint Mr Chamberlain contemplates effecting great reforms, and that be thinks the Irish members would assist him. It is supposed that he wants them to abolish the House of Lords, aud Landlordism, believing them to be Radical enough to vote for anything in that way. This view is strengthened by a late telegram which states that Mr Jesse Collings urged on agricultural laborers to vote against Mr Gladstone ns his success would delay land reform. Mr Oollings advocated Home Rule for the last five years, and his action now can be accounted for only on the grounds stated above. He wants to retain the Irish members to assist in effecting land reforms.

If this is the object in view the Radicals have made a mess of it. They have placed the Tories in power, and there they will remain probably for the next five years. If the Gladstoneiteg, Unionists, and Parnellites combined together they can at any moment (urn them out, but it is doubtful that they will, and consequently reform in England may be said to be hopeless tor some years to come. One satisfaction the Parnellites have in all this ; they have pretty well demoralised the House of Commons, and they will continue to be a thorn in the side of whatever party is in power, so long as they remain in the House.