Lord Rosebery on Home Rule

Evening Star, Issue 8118, 18 January 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

Lord Rosebery on Home Rule

At a conference of the Scottish Liberal Association at Glasgow, the Earl of Rosebery, in the course of a speech as president, Sdid : Referriug to the Brazilian revolution, he observed there was no attempt to set up a new Brazilian State of the centralised kind. It was to be the United States of Brazil, with federal autonomy in each of the provinces. As to Scotch Home Rule, the case was different from Ireland, for the case of the latter was the case of oppression, while that of Scotland was one of neglect. In going into battle it was well to count the difficulties. When theyhad a definite opinion from England on this point they would be surprised at some of the obstacles. He had to deal with the question in the spirit of one who had dealt with them both in Parliament and the Government. He had not only' to look' to what he wished for, but also what he could gain. It was in that spirit he approached the question of Scotch Home Rule. Generally, he believed the principle of Home Rule to be universally just and sound ; but it was a question of degree. In some places Home Rule was a question of county government ; in others it was private Bill legislation ; in others a legislative body not of too great capacity ; and in others a Scottish Parliament. It was not mainly a matter of local option, for in the long run whatever Scotland wanted Scotland would get. Though the fight would be stiff, though the obstacles against them were yet if Scotland; we're united, in making the demand Re had not the slightest fear of the result. Whilst upon these questions he trusted the Liberal party, the present Liberal leader, and his successor, his main confidence was in the people at large.—(Loud cheers.)