In their remarks on this deputation. Lord Salisbury and Mr.
Balfour differed as to the prudence of Mr. Gladstone in refusing to see it, Lord Salisbury wondering that Mr. Glad- stone had not wished to hear the impressions of such wit- nesses as to the effect of Home-rule on Irish commerce, and Mr. Balfour holding that Mr. Gladstone was wise in refusing to hear them when he had committed himself deeply to Home- rule, in spite of anything they could urge against that ruinous course. Lord Randolph Churchill said he had long known that the first effect of Home-rule would be to drive not only English and Scotch capital, but the greater part of the capital of Irishmen also, out of Ireland to seek safer investment elsewhere, and he declared that he had never known in English history "more cruel and wicked conduct on the part of any British Minister towards a loyal people "than Mr. Gladstone's, in"secluding himself" and "immuring himself" when such a deputation as this wished to urge their views upon him. Mr. Gosehen said that such a proposal as Mr. Gladstone's had sometimes been forced upon a country by tremendous and exhausting wars ; but that to suggest it to the United Kingdom as the voluntary political resolve of a nation in the plenitude of its power, was something quite without pre- cedent. After their interview with the Conservative leaders, the deputation was cordially received by the Duke of Devon- shire and Mr. Chamberlain, on behalf of the Liberal Unionists, the latter remarking that the transfer of great businesses from Ireland to Great Britain, in case of the passing of Home-rule, would probably entirely defeat the financial arrangements which Mr. Gladstone proposed under the Bill for the safeguarding of the Irish contribution towards the joint expenses of the two Kingdoms. Never was there a more important deputation. It was one which, as the Duke of Devonshire remarked, made Mr. Gladstone's resolve to treat the Irish representatives in the House of Commons as the only authentic spokesmen of Ireland, almost absurd. If we are to weigh as well as count political convictions, the words of the deputation made the opinions of a great multi- tude of Parliamentary Land Leaguers kick the beam.
Previous page
