THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1893. MR GLADSTONE’S SPEECH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2483, 30 March 1893, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1893. MR GLADSTONE’S SPEECH.

In another column will be found the opening portion of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone’s Home Rule speech. Wo are sorry we cannot publish the whole of it, but the balance deals with the machinery of the Bill and is of a technical nature, so it is not so interesting as that portion which is given. Sir Edward Clark, one of the Tory leaders, said, “it was a marvellous example of physical and intellectual treat.” The Glasgow Herald says:—

*• Speaking as he did for two hours and a-quarter, his performance was a wonderful instance of sustained vitality. His powers of exposition were never clearer, his grasp of detail was almost as perfect a? ever, and the earnestness and positive enthusiasm with which he threw himself into his great task must have been the envy of many a younger man. His voice at starting was in perfect order. It is not to be w ondered at that as he went on it showed signs of wear, and when he neared the close his tone was so lowered, that, though the House kept a silence that could be all but felt, his voice lost much of its power to travel, and many of his words were difficult to catch.”

When wo recollect that Mr Gladstone is now 84 years of age, we cannot help feeling that his vitality, his vigour, and his extraordinary powers of endurance are almost miraculous. No one can read that portion of the speech which we publish, without feeling that it has emanated from a master mmd, which is now as clear and vigorous as it was 40 years ago. There is one thing in the speech to which we desire to refer. We have always held that the religious feuds in the North of Ireland were the result of party politics, and this is borne out by the statement made by Mr Gladstone. But Mr Gladstone’s statement may not be appreciated fully by persons unacquainted with the history of the times to which he refers. Briefly put Mr Gladstone’s statement means, that when Ireland had her own Parliament Catholics were not allowed to vote, or to occupy any public position whatsoever. The Catholics met at a convention in Dublin and formulated demands for political equality with Protestants. The convention appointed a committee to lay thbir demands before the public, and the first place the committee went to was to Belfast, where the northern Protestants received the Catholic representatives with every demonstration of welcome. They took out the horses and drew their carriage into Belfast amidst the greatest enthusiasm. This shows the good feeling which at that time existed between Catholics and Protestants, but this was before Orangeism arose, and when Ireland had her own Parliament. The Irish Parliament was abolished, and Ireland’s rulers adopted the old Roman motto of “ divide and govern.” For political purposes Ireland was then divided into two factions, and it has been kept divided ever since. Had been allowed to retain her own "7 . -t the religious dissensions z her bane would which have so - » d f aud if she never have been lie.. " - mt now succeeds in securing self-goveiTTT**v- ? religious differences will be a thing of repast within five years after she begins to manage her own affairs.