Home Rule for Ireland.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1820, 14 April 1886, Page 2

Home Rule for Ireland.

Mb Glabstone's schema of Home Rule for Ireland is the greatest political revolution ever proposed by an English Minister. It is proposed to establish an Irish Parliament setting in Dublin. There is to be no House of Lords, but the Parliament is to consist of two orders sitting together but voting separately if required. Each order to possess the power of veto. The first order to comprise 29 peers plus 75 members to be elected under a property qualification. The second order to include the present Irish members of the House of Commons plus 101 members to be elected under the existing Parliamentary franchise. The projected Parliament to be incapable of establishing any form of State religion or of dealing with the Imperial army and navy, or the foreign and colonial relations of England- Subject to those restrictions, the Irish Parliament is to undertake both legislative and administrative functions. An equitable partition of Imperial burdens would be aimed at, and arrangements made for reasonable safeguards for the protection of the interests of the miniority, Ireland would cease to send representatives to the Imperial Parliament, which would retain the control of the Irish Customs and Excise Departments. The Viceroy to bold office for a term of one year. The Royal Irish Constabularly to remain under the control of the Imperial authorities, and Ireland to contribute one-fifteenth to the charges of the Empire.

These proposals, when fully explained in the House of Commons by Mr Gladstone, in a brilliant speech of three and a half hoars in dotation, were bat coldly received. The Whig section of the Liberal Party are opposed to an; form of Parliament being granted to Irelaed, while a considerable number of the Conservatives take up a similar position. Nor does it appear probable that Mr Gladstone’s scheme will prove generally acceptable to the majority of the Irish people. The Orange population of Ulster are hostile to the proposals, and the members of the House of Commons representing Ulster constituencies have already hinted that they would not recognise an Irish Parliament. Then there are several features in the scheme wnich are certain* to evoke opposition. Mr Parnell and his supporters will almost certainly be opposed to leaving the Irish Customs and Excise under the control of the Imperial Parliament, on the ground thafthe people who pay the duties should have some voice in the disposal of the revenue thus raised from them. The Loudon journals generally condemn Mr Gladstone's proposals as tending to the disruptioa of the Empire. It it certain that the proposals will be strenuous!/ opposed by a strong party in the Imperial Parliament. Should the proposals be rejected—as indeed seems likely enough—it is practically certain that Mr Gladstone will appeal to the country. In that case there would be a general cl action and a period of political excitement and turmoil. What will be the ultimate settlement of this question of Home Rule for Ireland, no man can foretell, but Mr Gladstone’s proposals make a new and striking departure in political history.