The Irish Question.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 203, 30 August 1886, Page 2

The Irish Question.

Mr Glahstone has apparently abandoned I that portion of his Home Rule scheme which contemplated the buying out of the Irish landlords. This proposal war, always open to objection, but it was included with a view of satisfying Tory landlords thru wholesale confiscation was nol intended. In the course of his election addresses Mr Gladstone warned the owners of Irish lands that if they rejected the otter of full compensation for their properties it would not be repealed. I\iie to his word, the ex-Premier lias dropped that part of his scheme, which was e.eVer liked by any section of politicians The Home Rule party objected to the Irish Parliament being saddled wilh a debt contracted by the Imperial Parliament, and a general distrust was expressed throughout England thai Ihe first act or the Home Rule Government would be to repudiate that dcbii The Radicals, under Mr Joseph Chamberlain, strenuously objected to English money being expended in such a way ; many of Mr Gladstone's own followers were opposed to the principle ; and the Tories, of course, denounced the whole scheme, l'.y abandoning the land purchase proposals, Mr Gladstone will have jjiven great satisfaction to the Home Killers, ami will have removed one of the stumbling-blocks lo complete Liberal unity on the question. If Mr Chamberlain desires reconciliation with his old political chief, the opportunity is now offered him ; but by latest accounts the leading Radical dissentient from Mr Gladstone's views appeared still inclined to follow a divisive course. In this connection it may be remarked that the rejection of Mr l'arnell's amendment to the Address-Sn-Reply, by a majority of 12 j, is by no Cleans to be accepted as a test of the relative strength of parties in the new Parliament. When the division was taken, Mr Gladstone had left England, and his followers would vote according to their personal opinions. The amendincut of Mr I'arnell proposed a very exceptional remedy for Irish distress, viz., legislative interference with the operation of statute taw, and it is no matter of surprise that it was decisively rejected. In Mr Gladstone's absence, the Home Rule debate in the Imperial Parliament is divested of interest, and the result is a foregone conclusion.