HOME RULE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 16, 16 January 1891, Page 16

HOME RULE.

HE Parnell fiasco at the present moment brings this question into very prominent relief. The leadership of the party is a vexed question, and on this leadership a great deal depends. Is it possible that some, even of the most pronounced political Home Rulers in England, would not be sorry to avail themselves of the present misunderstanding, in order to the shelving of the question, at least, for a time ? Is it quite certain that this is not the case? Cnly time can solve this question. Politically, it would not seem to matter much to English politicians whether Mr. Parnell continued head of the Irish Home .Rulers or not. This is a position which seoms to concern the Irish themselves rather than the English Home Rulers. We ourselves think that it would be wise for Mr. Parnell to retire and allow someone else to lead, but we do not see why Mr. Gladstone and others should make his retirement an indispensable condition of Home Rule advocacy, if on principle they are Home Rulers ; and we cannot but think there is a great deal in what Mr. Parnell said in Limerick as to the inadequacy of the provision of the Home Rule measure which Mr Gladstone is prepared to concede to Ireland This, so far as we can see, would settle nothing finally, and it is not improbable that before many years the British Government would be seen to propose the repeal of the Home Rule Act, if passed on the lines proposed by Mr. Gladstone The withdrawal of the land question from an Irish Parliament, the retention of judical appointments by tke English Government, and the command of the police force by that Government, would render Home Hule for Ireland a mockery, a dilusion, and a snare. Such arrangements would render the measure unworkable, and after a little could have uo ot-her effect $hau the exasperation of the people and

the creation of a state of things worse than the present. At the same time, however, we do not see how the retention of the leadership by Mr. Parnell would either prevent the establishment of a better arrangement, or the prevention of the evils feared. He is, no doubt, an able and far-seeing and determined politician, but it cannot be admitted that there is only one such man in all Ireland. The Irish cannot afford to offend or oppose Mr Gladstone, and should not think of doing so, unless driven to such a course by an absolute necessity. Unless the measure proposed by the leader of the Liberal party in Great Britain should be little else than a sham, it would be very unwise to run counter to his views as to the leadership of Mr. Parnell. As we have said more than once before, it is extremely to be regretted that the occasion should have arisen of discussing this painful question. But the facts relating to it are notorious, and force themselves on the attention of all Irishmen, and many others. We heartily wish Mr. Parnell would of his own accord relinquish a position which appears to us, under the circumstances, utterly untenable. We join with all wuo affirm that his services to the cause of Ireland have been very great, and that all Irishmen owe him a deep debt of gratitude ; but this would not justify them in imperiling the question of Home Rule, and we hesitate not so say that Mr. Parnell if he thought the cause in danger, would himself be amongst the very first to desire his relinquishment of the leadership of the party. This he evidently does not yet see, and it is this that is so greatly to be regretted. We can only hope he may soon come to see it.