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Show f. SALISLUPvY'S BRUTAL FRANKNESS. FRANK-NESS. The Quetti's visit lo Ireland has had a disastrous ending, perhaps not so much for th Irish people themselves, as for the British government. It is undeniably true that the circumstances cir-cumstances attending the visit of the Q-Jec-n had .somewhat molified Irish hostility to British misrule, in the seise that it had made it more receptive recep-tive to at least modicrum of home rul. I.. -Vs we P i"ted out when the announce ment of the intended visit of the r- Queen was first made, Irish aspiration spontaneously grew into a hone and wish that it would result in larger liberty lib-erty in Irish affairs at the hands of th- British covernment. This condition condi-tion existed, not in Ireland alone, but ali countries seemed to look upon it as a matter of course that the Queen's presence after an absence of half a 'rntury. was an implicit pledge that the cruel, unrelenting laws of a tyran-o-is government would be materially vnodiMed. So general had this idea become be-come throughout the world, that a fail-tire fail-tire to take some action in regard to it would, at least, have been exceedingly exceeding-ly embarrassing for Lord Salisbury's government. Lord Salisbury has acted. His action, however, lias surprised the civilized world; it is frank brutally brutal-ly frank it can have but one effect, and that is to embitter the Irish at home and abroad and to win for them sympathy from all fair minded nations. Speaking at the Primrose league last week, the English premier thus summed up British intention toward Ireland: "Mr. Gladstone. in an evil moment for the fame of the country and for his party, attached himself to the idea of the separation of England and Ireland. Ire-land. There has been a long struggle, but no one can say the home rule cause presents any elements of sanguine san-guine anticipation for the future. It . might be said that the Irish idea would be realized and that Mr. Gladstone's aspirations would be fulfilled. But I do not believe that the causes which have once been well beaten have reappeared reap-peared to any purpose in English history. his-tory. . r "Apart, however, from the fate of former struggles. I an, Ktiil assumi thft there is no hope of the predominant predomi-nant partner ever consenting to ;rive Ireland practical independence. We have learned -something from the South African war. How a disloyal government, in spite of warnings, could accumulate armaments against the most powerful combatant, and thus secure se-cure a terrible advantage. We now know better than we did ten years ago "Wbot. a risk it would be if TO pave a disloyal government in Ireland the power of accumulating forces against this country. "Mr. Gladstone shattered his own party so that for the moment they are erased and a powerless factor in English politics.' But it must not be imagined that the element is likely to be permanent." p What a rude awakening this speech must have produced in the Irish mind, which had been lulled to sleep by the glamour of the Queen's visit, with its implicit promises and .their fancied re alization? What is left for Ireland In view of this speech of Salisbury's? What an argument it is for physical force, and after all has England ever granted any enlargement of liberty except after her general's had presented their swords to the opposing commanders? It is pleasant to note that the press of all countries has characterized Salisbury's Sal-isbury's speech as a blunder and a I crime. The following from the Boston Herald-reflects the concensus of oninion of the American press, and is a conservative conserva-tive and just estimate of the situation: "If Lord Salisbury had been leader of her majesty's opposition, he could have done nothing to upset the whole effect of the Queen's friendly visit to Ireland more effectual than what he said at the meeting of the Primrose league on Wednesday. Without vio lence to the insignificance or his speech, one might presume that he disapproved dis-approved of the Queen's visit, and designed de-signed undoing its influence. The char-ticter char-ticter cf his address is simply amazing. amaz-ing. It remains to be seen what Ireland's Ire-land's response wil lbe; but we shall not need to wait long. The Irish spirit is too hot to brood long over a taunt like this. But Ireland's memory is long enough. It will never forget this revelation reve-lation of the temper of the leader of the Conservative party, nor will it accept ac-cept with good will attempts to palli- ate the rudeness. The word is one of those yhich, once spoken, rankles forever. for-ever. It was so needless, so contemptuous, contemp-tuous, and, under the circumstances, so insulting, that the mass of Irishmen Irish-men will almost reoent of their courtesy cour-tesy to the Queen while she was among ! them. It will surely cool the Irish ardor ar-dor for service in the war, if there was any. It was a nasty return for the valor of the Irish regiments serving in South Africa. Nor will it be without effect here in America. It will make it much harder to conciliate Irish-Americans Irish-Americans to the policy of alliance with Great Britain, even if the alliance be only one of common interests instead in-stead of formal pledges. Lord Bea- I consfield could be audacious at need; j but lie was seldom rankly foolish." |