NEWS OF THE WEEK.
ORD SALISBURY has issued an address or manifesto
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to the electors of the United Kingdom. He declares himself deeply sensible of the importance of the new ques- tions of internal legislation coming up for decision with regard to "the diminution of poverty, the prevention of ruinous dis- putes in trade, the amendment of the Poor-Law, and the pro- tection of the health and lives of the industrial community." Under the existing Constitution, "no party is likely to pursue the policy of refusing to listen to a unanimous wish of the working class," and the present Government "have practically shown that they have no aversion to change," if it is required by the welfare of the people. They will be "animated by a similar spirit in dealing with the large controversies opening out before us, the relation of Labour to Capital, the laws for the acquisition of land, and the provisions by which poverty may be diminished." The question of Home-rule is, how- ever, the vital one of this Election, especially to a large portion of the Irish people threatened with separation from Great Britain. "A wrong decision means for them the certainty of bitter and protracted struggle, culminating pro- bably in civil war," and the ultimate "subjection of their prosperity, their industry, their religion, their lives, to the absolute mastery of their ancient and unchanging enemies." We do not know, Lord Salisbury says, the details of this revolution, which have been carefully concealed, but it must "involve the abandonment of the Loyalists of Ireland to the unrestrained power of those with whom they have been in conflict for centuries." It is flagrantly unjust to make either of these sections the master of the other ; and an Irish Parlia- ment, governing through Irish Ministers, must give over the smaller of them to the "unrestrained despotism" of the larger. The former, whose existence is at stake, unanimously affirm this, and it is for the electors to decide whether this dangerous novelty shall be tried. "I pray that you may be guided to shrink from this great outrage on liberty, on gratitude, and on good faith." Lord Salisbury, it will be seen, does not shrink from plain speaking.
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