PARTIES IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 44, 19 August 1892, Page 17

PARTIES IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

* general elections in Great Britain and Ireland m(wlsk are ° Ver> and have resulted in Mr Gladstone's |Ps» return to power. We greatly rejoice at this, for <gs|||g^ he is the first English statesman holding high ||<|rabp office for seven hundred years who has had either %3!3^ sympathy or pity for Ireland and her people. For <^|g*. seven hundred years the policy generally pursued by English statesmen in reference to Ireland has been a policy of tyranny, plunder, and ascendancy, and the general practice of English writers and statesmen has been to misrepresent — and even calumniate — the Irish people, their religion, and their policy, and their acts public and private. In these respects a change is visible within the last few years and this is mainly due to Mr Gladstone, whose intelligence' sense of justice, and thorough acquaintance with the history of Ireland have enabled him to appreciate the Irish people their condition, and their claims. Mr Gladstone has the' eternal gratitude of the Ir.sh race, n&t rnly in Ireland, but throughout the world. It may be asked — Has the English Government done no good in Ireland ? We answer, let the famines that have desolated the land, the extermination of the people by the English garrison, the fever hospitals for Irish emigrants in Canada, the ascendancy of the Englsh party in Ireland, the cruel tithe system, the destruction of Catholic schools, the ostracism of Irish Catholics, etc. — many of which evils have not yet entirely ceased — be the reply to this question. The English Government in Ireland, since it was first established in this unfortunate country, has done its level best to compel the people to become victims of ignorance and poverty, and the slaves^of the ascendancy party ; and the survival of this people in spite of cruel and persistent misgovernment, is one of the greatest wonders, even miracles, recorded in history. JS'o doubt some small instalment of justice and humane administ:ation have from time to time been literally wrung from the unwilling British Government, but wrung these have been. Nothing has ever been spontaneously conceded to a sense of justice and wise policy. On the contrary, nothing, not even the paltriest concession, has ever been granted till forced from the English Government by the fear of rebellion or social revolution, ttow, however, better things may be hoped for, and the foundation of this hope is the advocacy of Irish claims to justice and fair play by Mr Gladstone. Is it any wonder, therefore, that Irishmen everywhere greatly rejoice at his victory over rampant Toryism, over the party lineally descended from and inheriting the traditions of their cruel persecutors, and of his return to a position in which he may be enabled to carry to completion his wise projects for the amelioration of Ireland. Irishmen rejoice, too, that the men yho persistently misrepresent the Irish people have been relegated to the cold shades of Opposition. The stock-in-trade of Tory politicians is the abuse of Ireland and Irishmen-

their leaders and writers at all times habitually abuse and vilify the people, and, when not engaged in this amiable occupation they are busy in abusing and vilifying their priests and bishopsand their dreary and malignant libels alternate between these two topics with a persistency and iteration almost heroic May we not rejoice, consequently, that such bitter enemies are no longer in a position to translate their shocking hatreds into tacts, and that a wise, learned, and humane statesman is once again at the head of affairs. We augur much from this. But at the same time we are not oblivious to the threats of the Tory party that they will make use of the House of Lords to frustrate the will of the people of the Three Kingdoms and the Principality of Wales and persuade the aristocrats' House to reject the Home Rule Bill. The public is told that all the intelligence learning, and decency of the Empire are opposed to Home Rule for Ireland. This is in accordance with the conceited, self sufficient traditions of the Tory party, which is fully persuaded that outside itself there is neither talent, wisdom nor decency to be found. This, however, is only their own estimate of themselves. The majority of the people is of an entirely different opinion, wbich opinion is not at all flattering to either the intelligence, industry, or information of said Tory party, which has by no means a monopoly of brain or even of sound education. But let this pass. The people no doubt, fully appreciate the estimation in which they are held by their would-be masters, and will probably find means in the future to bring these supercilious people to their knees. Meantime it is the duty, and ought to be considered the high privilege, of all good, liberal, patriotic men, to rally round Mr Gladstone and enthusiastically support him in his endeavours to give peace, prosperity, and liberty to Ireland. We deeply regret the attitude of the few Parnellite members who were returned at the late general election. Seeing what is the opinion of the vast majority of the Irish people these members should abandon the role of factionists and join the other seventy-one Home Rulers who have selected Mr McCarthy as their sessional chairman. We entertain no doubt whatever that it is the most earnest desire of the overwhelming majority of Irishmen everywhere that this should be done, and that if it be not done, and done quickly, at the next general election the Parnellites as a party shall find themselves flung from off the political stage. But we should greatly prefer to see these gentlemen themselves profit by the lesson they have received, and gracefully and, like sensible men, voluntarily give in their adhesion to the majority.