MR. GLADSTONE'S BID FOR THE IRISH VOTE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 249, 8 February 1878, Page 7

MR. GLADSTONE'S BID FOR THE IRISH VOTE.

The Standard observes :—": — " No Parliament that can ever be got together in Westminster, Mr. Gladstone in substance urges, will listen for a moment to a proposal to repeal the Union. But ' if you will hear reason, and help to replace me at the head of a new Cabinet, I will give you such an extended local government as ought to satisfy your demands. Parliament is unable to get through all the work it insists upon keeping in its hands. This is proved in a thousand ways, but in none more conclusively than by its failure to give extension to local government. Let the reparation of this particular failure be our task, and j'ou will find you have got all the advantages of Home Rule.' This is a fair free paraphrase of Mr. Gladstone's language. If Mr. Gladstone really means to resume his natural place in the House Commons no one will regret his determination. But how will the Whig chiefs regard the matter ? The Marquis of Hartingtoir is at this mom ;nt receiving the homage of the Scotch Liberals. Will he consent to step down from the post of honor r to which he has been raised, and admit that he has been only keeping the place warm for Mr. Gladstone? It would be a humiliating confession, and yet, if he refuses, the confusion of the Liberal party may become worse confounded. For Lord Hartington to endeavour to cany ' out ''Mr. ' Gladstone's Dublin promises is clearly impossible. ,He has again and

again emphatically declared that he will hold no parley with Home 'Rule, and even if he were to forget that pledge he would not win the confidence of the Home Bulers. Mr. Gladstone's stroke is a bold one and in 'some -respects 'it is -well timed. The Liberal party has now been out of office very nearly four years, and its prospect of regaining power, as Lord Hartington admitted at Edinburgh, is still as remote as it appeared immediately after the general election. Under these circumstances, its members are anxiously looking out for a policy that may help them once more to return to Downing-street. It is just possible that they may follow Mr. Gladstone a second time in forming an Irish alliance ; but it is hardly likely. For an attempt really to give effect to the demand for Home Rule would certainly be resisted by England." ■