POPULAR LECTURE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3771, 2 November 1886, Page 3

POPULAR LECTURE.

o "GLADSTONE AND HOME RULE."

A3 was anticipated tho announcement that tlic Rev Mr Crewe3, of Chriatchurch, would deliver a lecture on the abovo subject, had tho effect of causing a large auJicnco to como together at tho Assembly Rooms last evening. Mr Richard Turnbull, M.H.R., for Timaru, occupied tho chair, m tho unavoidablo .ibscnco of His Worship the Mayor, and tersely and ab'y introduced tho reverend gentleman, tho chairman adding that the many ladies and gentlemen present would no doubt listen to tho lecture with great attention, for tho subject was ono of great importance. Mr Crowes was received with applause, and m prefacing his lecturo passed a high compliment to the member for Timaru. Coming to the <iu..ation directly buforo them ho gave a sketch of tho early life of William Ewart Gladstone, but the lecturer, m consequence of dwelling on soino minor experiences m his own lecturing, was a long time before lie K ot on to the subject proper. He asked them to only listen to his opinions, and troat them with tho respect honest conviction warranted. In the sketch of Mr Gladstone's life, Mr Crowes dwelt at length on tho famous stateman'a Scottish connection, and the pious training tho "Grand Old Man" had received. After stating that ho was greatly iv favour of the representatives of the people being thorough Christians, like to Mr Gladstone, tho lecturer gave m a chatty kind of way reminiscences of tho every day life of the illustrious statesman and his respected and much adored wife ; of their many acts of kindness, and philanthropic actions. Ho next commenced to review Mr Gladstone's political career, stating that ho was first of all a Tory ; to-day ho was an advanced Liberal, what was known as a Radical. Somo people called Mr Gladstone an " extreme Radical," which, shortly, meant a man who goes down to the roots of things ; examines a tree from the very roots to the topmost leaf on tho highest branch. Tho lecturer explained that the cause of this change m tho politics of Gladstone bad been tho gradual restoration of the confidence of the people. This change had taken place very gradually, and to-day this "extreme Radical" had brought forward the most advanced liberal measure proposed m our time. It waa m consequence of this gradual change that the lecturer believed m him, and was fully m accord with tho measures of reform carried out by the great statesman. Passing over a few points of history which m relation to Gladstone were voluminous, the lecturer came to tho core of his subject, the question of the hour, tho Homo Rule question. Now at starting he would ask, would Ireland bo satisfied with the measure they had to offer ? In his opinion ho would stato that we have no right to deal with that q nestion. We had no right to expect Ireland to be satisfied with what she had received from usinthepast. (Applause.) Therefore, ho would ask, hayo we any right to expect Ireland to be satisfied with anything less than Mr Gladstone has offered ? (Loud applause.) And to that extent the lecturer as a man, free from party consideration, offprejudice, of creed, of caste, or nationality, was prepared to advocate "Homo Rule" for Ireland. (Applause.) What was wanted, what was the pith of tho most important questions now before nations, was more " local government." That was what Ireland wanted, more local government. (Applause.) If the Imperial Parliament was not equal to the government of the Empire under present arrangements, did thoy'gnot think it was worth while to alter these arrangements m tho direction ho had named ? Ho appealed to them as right-thinking men and women to do all they could to see that Ireland got the thing Bhe needed moat ; let Homo Rule bo tried there first, and at tho earliest opportunity. (Applause.) To quote a famous sentence Ho.tio Rule was necessary, because Ireland had been so mismanaged by theEnglish Government that her peoplo had a right to demand and expect such radical changes as Mr Gladstone had been trying to make. (Applause.) After dwelling for a brief interval on the " emancipation question," Mr Crewes passed on to tho Irish Land Bill. And what had been the kernel of the land question was this, the earlier the Irish farmer got up, the more work he had to do, and the more money he had to pay his landlord for the land. And what was the result 1 Why, tho farmer then only put m potatoes enough to keep himself and his family, and let tho bulk of the land do as it will. This great question when settled would be the means, so an eminent authority cited, of bringing thirty millions of people within the borders of " fair Ireland," not as at tho present day, a mere handful of five and a half millions. In concluding his lecturo Mr Crowes once more dwelt on the Christian character of Mr Gladstone, | one of the greatest statesmen the world

has over known. Tho lecturer resumed his seat amid loud and prolonged applauso. Mr John Meo then moved, Mr William Eviius seconded, and it was carried unanimously, that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded the lecturor. In responding, Mr Crewes passed a similar compliment to tho chairman, and after Mr Turnbull had replied, the meeting terminated.