THE DEFEAT OF THE HOME RULE BILL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1544, 19 August 1886, Page 3

THE DEFEAT OF THE HOME RULE BILL.

Truth gives the following account of events io connection with the defeat of Mr Gladstone’s BUI in the House of Commons:— ' This use of particular words by the Premier was the rock upon which negotiations had already split. Had he promised distinctly in his speech on the second reading himself to bring in a proviso in Committee for the retention of the Irish members upon Imperial matters, the Bill would have been won. Had he later on at the Foreign Office meeting, when he gave way on this point, and that lie would withdraw the 24 th clause, it would have been won. Mr Gladstone, who, it has been asserted again and again by the Opposition journals of the metropolis, was prepared to do anything aod to roept anything in order to secure a majority, has fallen owing to his consc'antiousness. He would not say, on t:,o second reading speech, that he would himself propose a proviso in regard to the retention or the Irish members, bemuse he had not the pnrport of the proviso in Id ■; mind. Ha would not at the Foreign Office say that the 24th clause should be withdrawn, because he was not sure whether, as a matter of drafting, the clause would have to be withdrawn, or whether it would only have to be altered.

When Mr Parnell made his revelations on Monday night, all eyes were turned on Lord Randolph Churchill, and everj one was surprised that he did not gel up and give Mr Parnell permission to speak. He did not for a very good reason. He nothing to do with the interview to which Mr Parnell alluded. The member of the Cabinet who had met Mr Parnell W’»s not in the House of Commons. Had Mr Parnell stated the name it is probable that the Bill would have been carried. This he was strongly urged to do in » personal explanation after the leader,, of the Opposition had sat down ; but, after consulting a few friends, he decided that this would be a breach of good faith without the permission of the person concerned. Thus the very two men—Mr Gladstone and Mr Parnell—who have been denounced as utterly unscrupulous had each the fate of the Bill in his hands, and preferred defeat to any tampering with the strictest veracity and strictest honor. V