'Tue telegram we publish under date of the 19th inst, contains two somewhat startling facts: one, that Mr. Gladstone has elaborated a scheme for the estab. lishment of an' Irish Parliament; the other, that be submitted that scheme direct to her Majesty. The most ardent aduiirere of Mr. Gladstone will acknowledge that discretion lias never been a marked' feature of his character indeed' his' failing' in this respect, notwithstanding his undoubted genius and lofty principles, contributed micro than anything else to the ackuowlarity, ad a party leader, of his clever but most unprincipled Lord Beaoousfield. -Certainly Mr. Glad. stone's latest action, as scon as ever it was known flat the elections lind not been so favourable to the Liberal Party viehoy, will commend itself: to the m derate meu of any'Party. We do not's how ican' be construed otherwise th a transparentt-if-iugenious polit device; whioh; if successful, will-result ini detaching the Irish Party from represen: tation in Imperial "Parliament, while leaving the field open to the Liberals, Radicals, and Conservatives. That Icish Parliament will answer the purpose for which it la intended, we do not believe for a moment, The Irish in Ireland have never yet beer able to govern themselves, and we do not believe they will prove. themselves able to dose now. And, wore such a Parliament established, the precedent would be a most regrettable one in other ways. It would open the door to the disruption of the British Empire inet at the very mometit when it is becom. ing most anitad and most consolidated, and when Imperial Federation for our most distant colonies is one of the ones of the day. Moreover it will in our view be very difficult, even if it is tensible at all, to confine Imperial leg lation to the House of Commis," must be remembered that the Irish Party forms a large and' inflaontial clement in most of the great cities of the Kirigdow, and Icishmon in Bug. land are not likely to rest contented with what has been or may be conceded to their countrymen in Ireland, Not only would an Irish Parlianiont do-cline to brook interfere tice with' their legislative work however opposed or injurious to British interests in general, but the Irish character must have changed materially. if such a body would not more than. ever seek; to embarrass the Government of the whole wntion; having succeeded well of 8b, Mophon's, Had Mr. Gladstone systemutioally matured a scheme for the benefit' of Ireland, and propounded it with all the weight of his authority at the mooting of Parliament. in January, we could have better understood his action: bat he hag followed neither precedent wor taste in the course he has elected to adopt, and we shall expect to find him very severely' ofiticieéd in thia regard. Discripline is, esedntin! to the Proper control and maintonande of. any service, be it civil or military, and' the way in which the honoured chief of the Liberal Party has ignored this ounsid a in laying a scheme of Imperin] importance directly before the Queen at A moment when he was not in office, but when be was seeks ing office and working' for it, oaring but reflect very seriously upon paration as a constitutional statesiaun, Ie gi colour to the Conservative taunt that Mr, Gladstone's -statesmaus Ship is reducible to an absorbing desire to'retain or secure office at almost any sacrifice—even (he sacrifice. of political consistency and good. faith; and that avy are, however hastily con. ceived and' imprudently framed, inay be forced upon the country if likely to secure for ite inaagurator a Longer leas of power. It took Mr. Gladstone jast four-and-twenty hours to change his front send General Gordon to his fate in Khartoum, at an expenditure of thirteen millions sterling, and it haa taken him much about the same parisd—equally regardless of oouséquetices,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.