Mr. McCarthy on Monday delivered a rather important speech at
Liverpool. He stated that he expected a great measure of Home-rule from Mr. Gladstone, "who would never bring forward any measure which could not be cordially accepted by the Irish people." There had been doubts on one or two points lately, and to clear up those doubts he would just mention those points. One was the land, and he thought that if the British Parliament did not settle the question before Home-rale was granted, it must be left for settlement to the Dublin Parliament. England was bound to give Ireland a "free hand" in that matter. As to the police, he wanted it changed gradually, but pretty rapidly, into a civil force, and then handed over to the Irish Legislature. That was, in principle, Mr. Gladstone's original idea, and he did not think the Irish people ought to accept less than that. If these terms were conceded, he would on other points meet the English Liberals in a most friendly spirit. It will be observed that these are almost pre- cisely Mr. Parnell's demands, though the latter has threatened to raise another about the control of the Imperial Parliament, and they involve an immense extension of the original plan. The concession about the police will be considered in Ulster a terrible menace, and the one about the land may place half the Irish landlords at the mercy of their deadliest foes. It is understood, nevertheless, that Mr. Gladstone has given way, and accepted the enlarged terms.
