Lord Randolph Churchill on Thursday made a fierce and even
rowdyish, but extraordinarily vigorous and effective,. onslaught on the Home-rule Bill, delivered to a huge meeting in Liverpool. After declaring that the Gladstonians "exhibit• superb skill in voting, and in the purchase of votes pay higher prices than were ever paid before," he pointed to the fact that in Britain there has not been a single genuine popular meeting in favour of the Home-rule Bill. No one cornea forward spon- taneously to its support. That Bill, dictated by Mr. Gladstone's inner dislike of the English people, to whom he assigns no credit save that of being "a great fact," not only enables Irishmen to govern themselves free from all interference, but enables them to govern England too. They " will dispose of British Parliamentary destinies," as Mr. Morley, in his speech of 1886 at Chelmsford, declared they were doing now. "They have," as Lord Randolph also quoted from Mr. Bryce, " no interest in English or Scottish or Colonial or Indian affairs, but only in Irish ; and look upon their votes solely as means of furthering Irish aims." And they will, under the Bill, be worse than ever, for now they have to use the Parliament for Irish ends ; but if the Bill passes, they will only have to use their votes to foster Irish independence, and diminish British strength. They can turn out any Government, and they will use their right to extort concessions, voting without regard to any principle save Irish advantage. At this moment, their votes are to carry the "knavish and thievish Bill" called the Veto Bill, though they exempt Ireland from its operation. " I have never known," continued Lord Randolph, speaking of the desertion of Ulster, " British policy to embody such savage immorality." The certain consequence of the Bill is civil war in Ireland. Lord Randolph sat down amidst enthusiastic cheering.
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