"SOCIETY" AND HOME RULE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4671, 15 June 1893, Page 1

"SOCIETY" AND HOME RULE.

Baron Wolberton'a resignation from Mb office of Lord in Waiting is, according to a London despatch of May 20, a severe blow to the Liberals. For several years the. Baron has been the most generous contributor to the purse of the Liberal party, and was known as one of Mr Gladstone's closest friends and warmest supporters. Mr Gladstone, who expected him to be the Home Rulers' most eloquent advocate in the j House of Lords, feels hia defection keenly. The Liberals say that the young man has not become an opponent of Home Rule, but has merely abated his enthusiasm for it. They add, moreover, that hia was a party conversion. He did not yield to argument, or in consequence of any recent development of the Parliamentary struggle, but because he could not withstand the influence of society women, who almost to an individual are hearty haters of Mr Gladstone. Hia forsaking his leader in the heat of the battle is excused on the grounds of his youth j he is but twentynine years of age. In society the enemies of Home Rule are making curious prophecies concerning the conduct of the Queen, in case the Home Rule Bill passes both Houseß. Society's opinion is that she will not exercise her dormant right to veto, but will abdicate, leaving the responsibility of confirming the Bill to the Prince of Wa'eß. Society haß the conviction, derived from trustworthy reports of the Queen's utterances, that she is bitterly opposed to Home Rule. The Prince of Wales, however, is credited with a willingness to affirm the Gladstone policy, because he openly professes hi 3 friendliness toward the Premier. Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot, now ninety-one years of age, has been interviewed in regard to Irish Home Rule, and the result iB published in the Pall Mall Gazette of May 11. He believes that Mr Gladstone will never arrive at the goal he desires, and that the Irish question presents the same obstacles as squaring the circle. , Ireland was conquered by force of arms, and can only be delivered in the same way. lb is perfectly Utopian, he says, thia wish of Mr Gladstone to establish autonomy for Ireland without granting absolute independence, and he add 3, "I should not be astonished if soma day Ireland should throw herself into the arms of the United States to gaiu what she wants."