Irish Home Rule.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 95, 24 April 1893, Page 4

Irish Home Rule.

THE SECOND READING CARRIED.

A MAJORITY OP FORTY-THREE. EXCITING SCENE IN THE HOUSE. London, April 22. Ulster men groaned and hooted Mr Gladstone on his arrival at the House of Commons to-day, and cried out, "Traitor!" Mr Gladstone was visibly annoyed. In the House of Commons the second reading of the Home Rule Bill was carried by 347 votes to 304. The House was crammed, and the greatest excitement prevailed. Sir Henry James, in a brilliant speech, declared that civil war would rest with the Government!. Mr Balfour declared the Bill to be a concession to agitation and crime, and hind that a million and a-balf Protestants in Ireland were prepared to forcibly resist it. He reiterated that, if the measure passed, all hope of maintaining peace in Ireland would vanish. Mr Gladstone made a vigorous reply, denouncing the Opposition for exaggerating baseless prophesies. The majority is precisely the same as that on the motion in the Irish Parliament in 1800 in favour of the legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland.

On Mr Gladstone returning to the Chamber after the division the Nationalists jumped on tho seats, cheering and waving their hata, while the Ministerialists and those on tho Treasury Benches followed their example. Mr Gladstone repoatedly bowed his acknowledgments.

During tho unusual scene Mr William Redmond excitedly exclaimed "Parnell shall not be forgotten to-night! Three cheers for Parnell !" There was much ironical laughter from members of the Opposition. Every member of the House eithor votod or paired. Sir Edward Watkin, M.P. for Hytho, voted against tho Bill, but Mr WilliamSaundors, M.P. for Walworth, who had also declared hih intention of opposing it, was at the last moment re-converted by Mr Burns.

The Ulstor delegates who were in the lobby cheered tho Queen, and sang the National Anthem. Eventually the police cleared the lobby. Tho Ulster mon declare that thoir party will movo no amendments in Committoe. Several leading members of tho Opposition upprovo the pioposal, bub the majority of the party prefer to contest the Bill lino by lino. Many amendments have already boon tabled. Immediately tho result of the division was announced, bonfires were lighted in tho Nationalists' quarters in Belfast. The populace was greatly excited, bub the police prevented any collision between the two factions. Tho result was recoivod in Dublin with wild enthusiasm.