THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1894. HOME POLITICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2634, 17 March 1894, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1894. HOME POLITICS.

The Tories of Great Britain have developed a wonderful -interest in the question of Home Rule. Up to the time of introducing the Home Rule Bill in the House of Lords last year Lord Rosebery was considered a firm and staunch Home Ruler, but iu moving the second reading of the measure he spoke so haaltingly and languidly that it was generally considered that he had not his heart in the work. When, therefore,, he became Premier curiosity was aroused as to what he would do, and the suspicion eutertained of him was strengthened by the absence of all reference to the question in the speech from the throne. The Tories at once pounced upon this omission, and insisted that it was desirable that the measure should again be broughfforward. Lord Rosebery replied that no one would more honestly and earnestly support Home Rule than he would, but that he did not intend to introduce it now to make sport for the House of Lords. It is easy to see what both parties are aiming at. The Tories are anxious to go to the country on the question of Home Rule unencumbered by any other consideration, because they believe that an election fought on that single issue would turn in their favor. The Liberals kuow this, and are working so that when they appeal to the country a large number of other questions of great importance shall also be submitted to the nation. The Liberals are undoubtedly playing, their cirds well and doing the right thing, and we cannot understand the action of the Irish members in pressing forward the claims of Home Rule at the preseut time. It is, of course, necessary that they shall not allow it to be lost sight of, but to push it it unduly so as to compel the Government to appeal to the country on it now would discount the chances of the measure. Lord Salisbury's dictum on the question is intolerable. He holds that Home Rule must not be granted until an English majority is in favor of it. That means that a majority of English, Irish, and Scotch is not to count. There is at present a majority iu the House of Commons iu favor of it, but the majority of English members are opposed to it, and Lord Salisbury says that so long as that is the case the measure must not be allowed to pass. This ia an intolerable doctrine for the leader of a party to enunciate. If the Irish and Scotch members are to count for nothing what ia the good of giving them a seat in Parliament. It appears that Lord Rosebery has been guilty of some indepcretion of speech which bears the construction that he sympathises with Lord Salisbury's view, but Mr John Morley and Sir W. V. Harcourt havo said that an English majority is not necessary to pass Home Rule. It would be monstrous to say otherwise. The English, the Irish, and tha Scotch members meet in one Parliament and on equal terms, and a majority of the whole decides every question. Home Rule must not be made an exception; to do so would be moustrous, aud Lord Salisbury x knows it. But his object is to create racial* prejudices, and national feuds. He tried to create religious prejudices, but failed, and now he is appealing to national sentiment with a view of inciting England to unite against Ireland and Scotland. This is unworthy of a leader of a great party such as he is leading, and it is a most extraordinary thing that the people tolerate this attempt to split up three nations which have been so loug united. If the Government are given sufficient time to develope their policy, so as to have a good Radical programmo to place before the couutry, they will win, but if forced to a dissolution in the present distracted state of parties def »at is inevitable. Mr Labouchere is responsible for having embarrassed the Government considerably. His motion for advising the Queen to exercise her powers to compel the Lords to pass measures which had been approved by the country was inopportune, and leads to the conclusion that he is actuated by personal motives. With the contention that the Prime Minister should be a member of the House of Commons we thoroughly agree, but the Liberal Party having almost unanimously selected Lord Rosebery for its leader ib is the duty of Liberals to give him loyal support. The position of the Irish members is different from tha 1 ; of the other Liberal supporters of the Government; they have been elected on the one ticket only, viz., Home Rule. So far as they are concerned it does not matter one straw to them which party will give them that, but they have a right to exercise discretion in the steps they take to attain their object. Iu our opinion the Redmond section, at any rate, is acting very indiscreetly in their endeavor to force Home Rule just novy. The Government oupht to bp aijqwed to develope their policy, so as to have a splendid programme to go to the country with, and consequently they ought not bo handicapped with Home Rule just now. But tho Redmond faction does not express Irish seutimont ; altogether there are. only six or soveu Rediuondites * n M 0 House, so whatever stop they may take is of very little importanco. We regret to Bee so much disunion amongst Liberals as there appears to be at the present time, but wg trust that, given time, Lord R laebory will bo ablu to consolidate then* once again. ~ - -..-*■- - ~ LORD ROSEBERY. Tubre can be no doubt that it would be more in harm-vy with the iitness of things that the Liberal Prime Minister of Knrland should ha a memhpr of the House of Commons than of the House of Lords As a Commoner hu would have to sunk fivqnntit eleutjo-) ; !h woald be brought fc; to face -vith Hie I'ooplo, and v/ouM thus learn their thought*, their wHh's, i'.'i'i their iv piratitnis, and bo in a !>el,t<;rri ■>Htio» togi ve legislative expression to popular desires than he can be a-i a member of tho Houso of Lords. It is right enough for the Tory Premier to be a Peer of tho Realm: tho Conservative Party are iu sympasy with tho Lords, and Ifonßequently he is at no disadvantage, but tho Liberal loader, who is to (legislate for the massofl, should obtain hia mandate from the popular voto. Mr Gladstone has recognised this through his whole life. Time after tinio eiTorts havo been put forward to induce him to tako a soat in tho Houbo cf Lords, but ho on all occasions strenously refused a poerago. Even now that ho has retired into seraiprivacy ho has rufused \i for UiwwU or

his wife. Mr Gladstone has recognised I that in a democratic state, the people j alone are the source of all power, and for this reason he has always relied on the people. This is the true spirit in which to look at this qnostion, but it is not Lord Rosebery's fault that he is a member of the House of Lords. It is due to an accident of birth, but though born in the ermine, he has so far shown that he is thoroughly democratic in hia sympathies. Lord Rosebery was born in 1847, and is therefore 47 years of age. On the death of his grandfather in 1868 he succeeded to the title, snd the immense estates appertaining thereto. Lord Rosebery is a very wealthy peer, one of the wealthiest it is said in Great Britain. He is a man of distinguished literary and scientific culture ; and presided over the Social Science Congress in 1874. At the age of 21 he was elected Lord Rector of I the Aberdeen University, which Institution conferred on him the degree of L.L.D. Lord Rosebery has always proved himself a thorough Liberal, and has made efforts to reform the House of Lords, bo as to bring it more in harmony with the democratic spirit of the age. He is also extremely firm in his foreigu policy, a great advocate of Imperial Federation, and a man of undoubted ability. . Judging by his published speeches, he is in thorough sympathy with the working people, and unless we are much mistaken he will do his best to better their condition. In one of his recent speeches he told the working men not to be satisfied with picking up the crumbs which feel from the table of capital, but to insist on gettiug a seat at the table, as they had a perfect right to it. For some reason his sincerity on the Home Rule question has been doubted, but his pronouncement of a few days ago ought to dispel such suspicions. We do not believe that Lord Rosebery has the slightest hesitation in supporting Home Rule. If he had he would not have retained his position under Mr Gladstone. He is not a man to whom office can be a temptation; in fact, Mr Gladstone had a great difficulty in getting him to accept it. It is, therefore, only reasonable to think that if he had objected to Home Rule he would have resigned, but he did not do so ; and now he declares his determination to push forward the measure. It is, however, alleged that he intends to extend Homo Rule to Scotland and Wales, and in our opinion this is the best thing ( he could do. So far, at an v rate, we have faith in Lord Rosebery, and we have no doubt he will prove a worthy successor to his great chief—Mr Gladatone.