MR GLADSTONE ON THE IRISH SITUATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2254, 18 December 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

MR GLADSTONE ON THE IRISH SITUATION.

The deputations representing the Cork, Limerick, VVaterford, and Clonmel Corporations, and the party of ladies deputed to present to Mr Gladstone the monster address signed by 500,000 women of Ireland, proceeded to Hawarden Castle on Oct. 4th. The ex-Premier, with whom were Mrs Gladstone, Miss Helen Gladstone, Mr Herbert Gladstone, the Rev. Stephen Gladstone, and the Rev. H. Drew, met the visitors on the lawn. As soon as Mr Gladstone was recognised a hearty cheer was given, and the right lion gentleman having briefly welcomed the deputations, the whole party was conducted across the lawn to the library, which was entered by way of a French window. Besides the Mayors and the town clerks of the Corporations represented, the deputation included the Lord Mayor of Dublin (Mr T. D. Sullivan), the Lady Mayoress, and Mr Gill, M.P. The Lady Mayoress of Dublin having read the address from the women of Ireland, the Mayor of Cork presented the freedom of that city The Mayors of Waterford, Clonmel, and Limerick, on behalf of their respective Corporations, made similar presentations. The lastnamed gentleman expressed an earnest hope that Mr Gladstone would, before long, visit Ireland. Mr Gladstone, in reply, referring to the invitation from them to visit Ireland, said that at his ti ne of life he must regard the undertaking of a mission of that kind as beset with uncertainty ; but whatever might be the question of his bodily presence or absence among them, in heart and in spirit they had, and always would have, an ample share in his interest and in his affection (cheers). It was sometimes said that by the proposal now made he was performing an act of renunciation with regard to previous measures with which his name had been associated, and retracting from them the character of wisdom and beneficence which in former times was considered to attach to them. Such was not the case. There was never a moment when he felt a more lively thankfulness for whatever share he had in the enactment of those important measures. It was necessary, before a proposal of this nature could properly be made by a responsible Government, that it should beyond all doubt and upon demonstrative evidence be made clear that it was made in accord with the determined and temperate desire of the Irish nation ; but it was also necessary that it should be made clear that such a proposal stood within the limits of Imperial honour, Imperial safety, and Imperial well - being. These aims had been completely attained. It was in the hope of conducing in some small measure to the settlement of this great question, and it was that hope alone, which kept him where he was. Speaking of matters as he now saw them, he was there to remain or to withdraw simply as might appear to him to be good for the progress of this question. There were those who thought that hti withdrawal would tend to bring about a satisfactory settlement ("No, no"). He had not yet been able to see that, but if he did see it he would act upon it. The interest of England, in his opinion, was quite as much involved in thi question as that of Ire-

land, and that in many ways. Looking pimply at the question of money to be saved, was it not a disgrace to this Empire, known for its financial getiiu* all through the world, that at this moment the civil government of Ireland on the Ciul Estimates was every quarter 16a per head of the popul t-tiou, while the civil government of England and Scotland cost 8s per head ? The speaker contended that there was no way to put legislation for England, for Scotland, and for Wales upon its proper footing without the preliminary solution of the Irish question ; hut the highest of all considerations affecting the interests of England in the subject was that her chaiacter required it. The idea of separation was now useJ somewhat unscrupulously by thfir opponents (cheers) He thought they themselves knew that separation was not in the minds of the promoter- of this Bill, and to speak of those who promoted the Home Rule Biil as Separatists was a monstrous misuse of terms. It must have occured to their minds to compare the position of Ireland under the G rattan Par lament with the position which Ireland would have hold had the recent Home Rule Bill been passed. He contended that under the Home Rule Bill far more actual liberty and self-government would have been secured to Ireland than was attained under Grattan's Parliament. Let him say j with reference to the intervention of Ireland in Imperial affuiri, his opinion was that, do what they might, when Ireland came to hor own local Parliament her interference in Imperial affairs would be rather indirect in the medium of influence, than direct through positive controlling influence. He contended that Ireland from the year 1800 to the passing of the Reform Act had little power of expressing her wishes in Parliament. She had very little power by the Reform Act ; but immediately after the Reform Act Ireland j began to raise the national voice, and as her power had been progressively ♦•xtpnded, her voice had become more and more clear and determinate, aud it required the boldness that was either superhuman or else infra-human to deny that the voice of Ireland now called for the establishment of her own national and local autonomy. Referring to the different sections of the existing Parliament, he said the Government seemed to think that a liberal efftnion of money from the exchequer would have the effect of diverting the Irish people from their purpose. He did not believe that would be found to the case. Secondly, the Government had encouraged the occupiers of land to believe that the judicial rents would be in some cises renewed, and in some cases reduced. He reserved his judgment on the measures which the Government intended to bring forward next Session, and also upon the wonderful encyclopaedia of promisor which was delivered on Saturday by a gentleman of whoso performances they knew much less than his promises. He disputed the title of dissentient Liberals to be called I Unionists, and remarked that, inasmuch as they would have to go with the Government on other questions besides Ireland, they were probably become the tail of the Conserrativo party. The addresses spoke of the delay in the progress of the question of Home Rule. But was there any reason to be hurprised at it? They had more reason to be surprised at the $rreat progress which the Irish question had made. A few dreamers thought that on this side of the water the Irish question depended upon his poor individual existence. If the thread of that existence were broken to-morrow, it would make no difference as regarded the Irish question. In London, unhappily, the majority was aaainst them ; | but this was because London knew nothing of the blessings of self-government But a little time and reflection, the opening up of facts, and the state of opinion at home aud abroad, would set all this right. Moreover, their cause had been formally adopted and enrolled as au article in the creed of the Liberal party — a fact which the history of the past 50 j years showed to be the precursor to an ! ultimate, if not an eaily, tiiumph. He I He belie\ed in the early triumph of the Irish cause (cheers). Mr Gladstone afterwards signed his name in the burgess-rolls of the cities I represented, and subsequently enter- ! tamed the deputations to luncheon.

Vat was finishing a story thus.: "Shure an 1 ho put the pistol to his head, pulled the thiigger, an' in a jiffy he was dead all the I rot of his loife." Lon'<;kkm.o\v and Fields the publisher were m. iking a shott pedestrian tour when, to their biiprise, an angry bull stood in the pathway, evidently determined tw attack botli poet and publisher. " I think," said Fields, " that it will be prudent to give this re viewer a wide margin." "Yes," replied the poet, " it appears to be a disputed pa- sage." A Scotch clergyman remarked to one of his flock that he heard he was about to be marnied for the third time The reverend gentleman added: "They say, John, you're getting money with her. You did so on the last two occasions. You'll get quite rich by the wives." " 'Deed, sir," quietly responded John, " what wi bnngin' them in and puttin' them out there's nae mqckle made o' them, Mr.' 5 Busy Folk.— People who get through an immense amount of work are always those wh<> know that idling inu-t not be allowed to put forth a cowtou* hand and steal fivn minutes here and half an hour there It is often found that the busiest folk are those who can find time to do a kind act to a friend or neighbour, for they know how to fit in one thing with another, till they are actually s<iid to be able to"' make" time when wanted. A oood-x vruiiK 1 ) newspaper chap was at a rustic picnic and rashly spoke to a young l.idy without tho fonn.ility of an introduction. Hi happened to see .1 srreat fat caterpillar crawling on her lace collar, and jumping toward her sii.l, '" Madam, permit me to " Hut th's young lady wa\cd him off with an imperious and insulting gesture and said, " How d.iro yon speak to me without an introduction ! You are certainly no gentleman, sir !" Here the caterpill ir over-balanced itself .»nd fell down into her neck. " Youclt ! Oh! Help! Take it off. ()!), please do take it off, somebody!" scivun^d the fair one. The newspaper man was the only " somebody " around, and he said, " 1 couldn't think of it, m.id.im : I h.uen't been introduced to the citerpillnr !" Tins .story is told at tin evpense of the wife of n 8 m Frano'sco millionaire. Living rather on the out-kiits of the city, the servints of the family are continually annoyed bv peaK at the bell from itinerant pedlars. Alterc itions between the hostile paities frequently ensue, and often the mistress, of the. establishment is forced to interfere. One ukmii nable dly a soap pedlar appt> wed on the soene. He had come to sell and to stay. He prat-ted the properties of: his soap in the face wf indignant protest, until tni'i.im rushed fr<»m her boudoir and shrieked frantically, "Oh, go away ! Wo never use soap." I)uring the opera season her handsome carriage drew up beforo the entrance to the Grand, and, as she sailed replendent into the lobby, the observed of all observers, a prophetic voice wailed through the crowd, " But she never uses soap ! " Oxk of the most illustrious of modern French financiers, being about to enteitam some ladies at dejeuner, went to a fruiterer's shop in order to obtain some delicacies for hi=? visitors. " How much are the^o peaches?" he asked of the merchant. " Three hundred francs, Monsieur le Baron," said Hie dealer; "and I beg to direct your attention to the fact that they are of a phenomenally laigo size." "Hum — if one were only sure that they were good !" mused the baron. " I guarantee that their flavour is exquisite. Would you like to tiy one and see ?" So saying, the fruiterer took a sihei-bladed knife, placed one of the three poaches on a plate, cut it in half, offered one half to the b inker, and ate tho other half himself. Then he asked, " Well, what do you think of them ?" " Delicious," replied the banker ; " wrap the other two up for me in paper." The baron placed a two hundred franc bill on the counter. "Excuse me; it's four hundred francs," objected the dealer, without moving a muscle, " What ! Why, it was only three hundred francs when there were three !" " Certainly ; but these two peaches arc now rarer than they were a minute ago. If we were to eat another, the lv>t one, which would then be unique, would bo worth not less than a thousand francs." I