MR GLADSTONE'S HOEM RULE MEASURE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3521, 11 January 1886, Page 3

MR GLADSTONE'S HOEM RULE MEASURE.

The latest despatches received on this subject from London to the Hew York Sun says : -Mr O'Connor, president of the National League of Great Britain, m an interview thiß morning, said Mr Gladstone will carry hie scheme of Home Rulo through if he can square Lord Hartington and Parnell. The British people bare taken the plunge more quietly than was expected. The Irish parliamentary party are undecided what form of selfgovernment to demand. The tendency is m favor of the colonial plan m preference to the federal plan formulated by the late Isaac Butt. Continues the correspondent: — They have been hunting for Parnell for several days, but thus far without success. It is believed he is secluded at the seaside somewhere m the south of England. Parnell is Mceedingly prudent of speech, and is doing his best m the present cri is to avoid all contact with members of the Press. A special to the New York Times of December 20th declares the situation with which the week ends is curiously characteristic of both England and Gladstone. In no other country couid a project which five years ago woulil have been regarded as the extremity of treason be so suddenly " sprung " on the public and so seriously ducusßed as the matter of Irish Home Rule. Of course Ha*ardon and Windsor are at war. A story reaches me tonight on absolute authority that Mr Gladstone did write to the Queen stating his views about Home Rule. Bho was enraged, sent for Lord Salisbury, and gave him Mr Gladstone's letter. He only Btiid it was an indiscreet thing for Mr Gladstone to do, and he never could keep his pen from the paper. Ho took a copy of the letter away with him, and consulted Lord Kandolph Churchill, w ho maHe a wily suggestion that the best thing to do was to divulge the fact, and the better to avert a suspicion of the Royal source of information state that Mr Gladstone had written to the Queen. This was put m the way of the Daily News which printed it. Then a copy of the letter to the Queen was shown to the editor of the Times who has since written on that basis, and he is the only man outside of the Cabinet who has seen it On December 19th the following despatch from Mr Gladstone was received by the Cable News Co. :— " Hawarden, December 19th. If I should at any time have any plan or intention to announce on the question of Irish Government it will be done publicly and on my own responsibility, not by an anonymous and irresponsible declaration. My political friends are assured that I remember my obligations to them an 1 may safely understand that I am bound to none of tho ideas respecting Home Rule for Ireland recently announced m my name. After saying this much I hold myself excused from replying to further enquiries, rumors or allegations, regarding the Irish question. — Wm. E. Gladstone." In response to a request for his opinion of the Home Kule proposals, the Eurl of Derby, who was a mem- er of the Gladstone Cabinet, writes thnt tho original plan for the establishment of Home Rule m Ireland has been materially modified by Mr Glad tone's subsequent statements, and that it is there for o impossible for bin to express an opinion on the subject. The special of the Now York Post at London says: — I have this morning seen a letter from Mr Gladstone, m his own handwriting, which says his duty at the present moment is to think matters over, and he repeats what he said at Midlothian, that he could only approach the subject m a practical way as if he were a responsible Minister of the Crown. He looks to the Government to tako such steps m the matter as they may deem necessary m the interests of the State. He says - m a characteristic sentence — that what has been attributed to him by the London Press is other people's opinions of his opinions; just as the colors of the rainbow are m us not m it. The only point upon which he makes a distinct correction is about the conditions of the Crown veto, which he says he could never have proposed. It should be exercised only by the advice of the Irish Ministry. I can further Btate positively that no negotiations either direct or indirect have passed between Gladstone and Parnell. O'Connor told me yesterday that the Irish party will accept such a scheme as is outlined. There is much interest felc to know how the news has been received m America. ELECTION INCIDENTS. Despatches of Nov. 25th state the great interest of the whole electoral field is centrod on tho contest at Birmingham between John Bright and Lord Randolph Churchill. Tho Duchess of Marlborough and Lady Churchill, who is a daughter of Leonard Jerome, of New York, at the head of 300 ladies made a house to house canvass and were everywhero politely received. The Radicals cheered them. Lady Churchill also addressed the workmen m the principal factories. John Bright m his speeches referred humorously to the " primrose" campaign. The result was declared on the 24th, Bright being elected, but with a smaller majority over Lord Churchill than the Radicals expected. Sir Charles Dilke was elected for Chelsoa by » vote of 4291. The Conservative candidate received 4116. Sir Charles Dilke's committee asserted that an organisation of ladies went from house to house making infamous and untruthful charges against their candidate, based on the recent divorce case. In his speech Sir Charles threatened one party (whom he did not name, but who is known to be l.ady Cadogan), with one year's imprisonment for intimidating voters, and also with a euit for slander. Lord Randolph Churchill, who was also a candidate for Padding* on, gained that seat by a vote of 2831 against 1025 for his opponent. The Tory candidate defeated Sir Hugh Childers m Pontefract. In Hampstead Sir H. Holland, Conservative, rec-ived 2785 votes, defeating the Marquis of Lome, who received 1810, a result which is said to give immense satisfaction m almost all circles, as the Marquis has had the misfortune to please nobody. It is reported the Prince of Wales and his set were especially delighted. The Queen' took a lively interest m tho progress of the elections. When on the afternoon of the 27th sho sent a despatch to Lord Salisbury summoning him to dine and sleep that night m Windsor Cast c, a special telegraph wire was transferred to the castle, and Lord Salisbury directed all the election returns to be promptly transmitted to him for information. The Queen did not hesitate to express unqualified delight at the result, and when driving through Windsor on the election day, she smiled on tho electors, knowing that their candidate was hers. Mr Oladetone is said to be I ear fully chagrined over the result, and early m the contest abandoned all hopes of more than the barest Liberal majority at the best. A Btory was current on the 28th that he had intimated to Lord Salisbury his willingness, m the ovont of the Conservatives' success, to give the whole Liberal strength to Government on all "reasonable measures," m order to prevent the necessity of yielding to the course of placing England under Irish diction." In the event of a Liberal majority, however small, the friends of the ex-Promier say he will resume office, and will relinquish power only when he ceases to live. The Lon- . -| dou Tinm, m a leading article on I

December 2nd, advocates Mr Gladstone's coalition propositions. The defeat of the Hon. Hugh Childers specially gratified the Liverpool Tories. The Liberals ascribe the work to Irish Home Rulers' interference. Miss Milner, cousin of the unfortunate Lady Durham, at Hastings, m York, is said to havo caused the defeat of her brother, Sir Frederick Milner. An election riot occurred at Nottingham on tho 26th. Several conflicts took place between the mob and the police, forty-seven persons being injured. Troops were called out to suppress the disturbances. In London several Tory candidates got hold of the steam fire engines which rushed madly through the stroets with bells clanging and whistles blowing, while men clinging to the engines showered Tory leaflet* on tho crowd. Among the Conservatives elected aro Mr Pulstone of the old firm of Jay, Cook and Co., and Mr Louis Jennings, lately Editor of the New York Times, both former residents of America. Tho clergymen of the Established Church throughout Great Britain devoted their sermons on November 30th to vigorous propauandism against the Li erals, the effect of which was felt (luring the ensuing week. The Church Record analy-ing the result of the first week's elections m 143 divisions finds 48 candidates who favored disestablishment were defeated and only 28 returned. Ihe paper infers the Church question was the leading cause of the Conservative success. The Liberal collapse is seriously explained. Tory pup. rs talk incessantly of " The Tory reaction " but nobody believes this. There is no Tory reaction. Speaking of the defeats of the Liberals m London and Lancashire, they are entirely due, says a despatch of Nov. 29th, to tho Pm-nolllto vote, to the unequalled perfection of its organisation, and to the fanatic energy of the Irish leaders and the rank and file. Ou the other hand, the Liberals worked with lassitude, their appearance being hopelessly weak m the second part of the cam- a paign, Mr Gladstone being employed m ex-* plaining away the first half. The Times despatch of December 14th mentions among other casualties attending the election, that Chorsloy, who defeated the Tory candidate, against Baron Rothschild m the Aylesbury division of Bucte, died at a local hotel from injuries received at tho hands of the mob. Tho residences of several Tories and two of the chief hotels ■of Kobstock, Somerset, were destroyed, and scores of people, including the police, were injured. At Worthington, whire tho police stopped, fifty casualties are reported. At Wilton the successful Liberal can idate was braten black and blue, and only by the aid of sixty policeman battling thinr way to the station did ho escape being thrown into the river. Colonel' W. R. Trefus, who recently returned trom Egypt covered with distinction, and had just inherited an enormous fortune from his aunt, the famous Lady Rode, was the Tory candidate m the Devon division. He died while the votes wore being counted Results showed he had heon bartly treated m Ireland. Fifty thousand Parnellites p athereel together opposite the Vice-Regal lodge m Dublin on Nov. 29th, and despite the rain which was falling pledged their confidence m Parnell A crowd of youths, bonded by bands, paraded tho principal streets singing; " God save Ireland." A row took place opposite the Conservative Working Men's Llub House, m which several windows were broken On the lame day four thousand adherents of Callon opposed to P rnell's nominee Nolan assembled at Dundalk, and prevented Nolan's people from erecting a platform. Parnell, who w s present, attempted to speak from a wngon m the market place, but was howled down, and retired shouting " You hired ruffians." A number of fights took place outside and inside the Hotel, and Nolnn was severely handle I. The big vote for the Parnellites m London derry and a division of Belfast astonished everybody. The Conservatives were only elected by a slender majority of 25 and 37 respectively. It was hitherto considered the Orangemen were supreme m both cities, and the Orangemen ore consequently terribly chagrined over their narrow c cape from defeat m their stronghold. They accuse Parnellites of false wholesale personation of voters, especially m Londonderry. The Parnellites' vote m Dublin whs immense, 23,773 against 4476 cast for tho Con-ervotive, and 3170 for the Liberals. TremendoUß enthusiasm was shown when the result was declared, but no rioting ensued. A band of youths pi iced the American stars and stripes around the statue of Grattan, festooning the flag with ureen ribbons. A party of collegians sallied forth from Trinity, captured ihe flag, and bore it m triumph to tho College. American flags were borne m procession, while the people sang " God Save Ireland." The Irish aro vory sore, however, about their failure m the Ulster fight. Lord Ernest Hamilton defeated John Dillon m Tyrone, and Healey telegrnpbß that the registration lists were shipped with tbe names not on them. When the revising barr stcr closed the inspection and when his defeat for Dundttlk was announced Phillip Callan spoke at great length with a lone of humiliation and disappointment. At one point m his speech he said : — " During the pa*t five jears I have repeatedly challenged Parnell to proof, but he has carefully abstained from putting bis finger on a wrong vote ever given, or a wrong act ever, done. He said last Sunday that I was truculent and unmanageable. Now I brand that statement on the face of Parnell as a deliberate lie." Callan here turned round and shook his hand at Parnell, " I brand him a slanderer and a cownrd, as one who has malignantly villified me. My friends have been spoken of by Parnell as a hired band of ruffians. I had no money to buy them with, although I entered Parliament a rich man comparatively speaking. lam now a poor man. Parnell entered Parliament with his estates encumbered, but ho has now largo estates and a balance at his bankers, and it ill becomes him to turn on me m my poverty. I now ask you to go home ; to say nothing offensive to anyone, but to bide your time, and the time will come when my political and private character will be amply vindicated." Purnell made no reply to Callan. Despatches of November 29th say, although the extension of the suffr.igo was expected to lower the standing of candidates to a certain extent, the new House of Commons, judging from tho character and standing of the members already elected, promises to rank socially and intellectually with any previous Parliamentary body m the history of the United Kingdom. This result has falsified the prediction of the Tories, and is specially gratifying to the army and navy, whose representatives m tho next Parliament includes some of the moßt brilliant officers m both branches of the British service. General Hamely, leader of tho Scotch Brigade m Tel El Kebir and an able military essayist, heads thelist. CaptainLord Chas. Bere»ford,whobas been the popular idol since his gallant exploits at Alexandria, shares with him the glory of this bloodless but important victory. Not including the two officers mentioned aro generals, five colonels, and two admirals, all of them notable men. They have secured seats by majorities that leave no doubt of the esteem m which they are held by those m whoso power it is to confer on them new dignities. They replace a mob of weak and frowsy "carpet baggers" who were conspicuously numerous m the last House. A marked elevation of the social status of tbe Parnellite members is also shown m the representation of that party who have won seats. Mr Bradlaugh became communicative m an interview on November 29th. He said — " Personally, I believo I stand a better chanco of being permitted to take my seat under the Tory Government which is likely to remain m power than ever I would have under the Gladstone Cabinet. My sympathy for Gladstone has tied my hands and I frequently snuffed myself out to avoid harming his party. I have no reason to spare the Tory Government. lam able to bring against it every kind of we ipon. Hitherto my display has been made peacefully m Trafalgar Square." Ho further boasted he had caused tho defeat of twenty Liberals by running Radicals m some distriois, because he preferred Tory to Whig opponents. He declined to divolge his plans s to the future, stating ho had hitherto damaged his cause by prematurely divulging what ho intended doing. " I shall," he said, " observe absolute secrecy m future towards friend and foe aliko. 1 *