THE CLERICAL ADDRESS TO MR. GLADSTONE.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—When sending my name to the Dean of Manchester as one to be added to the clerical address to Mr. Gladstone on Home-rule, I stated my strong objection to much that was therein contained. I felt, however, that if all the clergymen who sympathised with the grand venture of faith of our ex- Premier were to wait until a long address pleased them in every sentence, there would be no common action at all. I object to the address as reading too much like a party mani- festo, while from party politics I feel a clergyman should hold aloof. I think it a great pity, too, that we were not asked to express, what probably most of us feel, that the great hope of happiness to Ireland is in the drawing together of the Orange and Green elements which are by God's ordering bound to live on the same island. I believe that the best hope for such union is that repre- sentatives freely elected of each class should meet in a common Parliament, which shall be rendered serious by having real responsibility. I believe that in such a Parliament the wicked elements of each party would lose their power, and that no act of national injustice would be done either to Irish landlords or to England. I may, of course, be quite wrong ; but when I find the Prime Minister of England bringing in Bills which have for their end an object which seems to me so desirable, when a man so highly placed seems to me to be ready to apply Christian principle to political action, I do not think I do wrong in supporting in every way I can such a leader. If Home-rule is as really dangerous and impracticable as you, Sir, for example, think, I have no doubt that the effort to establish it will fail. In the meanwhile, and in the inter- ruptions of my more directly spiritual work, I am thankful to know that Mr. Gladstone has risked his influence and his popularity in an attempt to save Irishmen by trusting them ; and I watch with supreme interest the effort which I still believe will be crowned with a magnificent success.—I am,
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