The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-05-13
SPLIT IN THE IRISH HOME RULE PARTY


SPLIT IN THE IRISH HOME RULE PARTY
We are sorry to that there is n divisio
in the ranks of the Irish Home Rule member
| in Parliament, a number of them having decide
to so obstruot all kinds of business as to fore
the English members to consider whether i
would not be better to give Ireland her owl
Parliament rather than have general legisla
ton hampered and impeded by all kinds o
obj ections. The leaders of the Construction
| lists" as they are called, are Messrs. Biggar ant
Parnell. Mr. Butt, the leader of the Hom
Rulers, objects to this policy, believing i
advisable to adhere to the original programme
of the party. Daring the session of the 18th
by their tacticsl Messrs. Bggar and Parnel
kept the House in Committee for i've hours or
the Mutiny Bill which is usually disposed of it
few minutes. This drew a very indignant
protest from Mr.. Butt. Referring to the sub
ject the Dublin Nation of the 21st has thi.
| leading article:
MR.. BUTT AND THE "oBsTRUCTIoNIsTs
The denunciation of the conduct of Messrs.
Parnell and Big9ar uttered by Mr. Butt some
nights ego in the House of Commons has, we
believed, caused a feeling of pain among the
mass of the Home Rule party in Ireland and
England. That Mr.. Bait did not quite APP
prove of the conduct in question was well
known before he made the somewhat impas-
stoned protest to which we have referred that
he was net prepared to lead the Irish party in
a"policy of obstruction"-just yet-Was ger
orally understood ; but it was not expected
he would pnblicly, in the House of Commons,
reprove those gentlemen, for whose action he
was not responsible, and one result of whose
proceedings has been to show to the Minister
and to England how powerful weapon of
parliamentary warfare the leader of the Irish
party holds in his hand ready for use when
ever he may deem that fitting occasion has
arisen. Mr.. Bntt's complaint of Messrs Big
gar and Psrnell was that they were wasting
tue time of the House by a system of mere OBJ.
strL c;lon-a thing, he said, which the Prime
Minister himself should not be allowed to do
But surprising this charge to be quite true.
we may be permitted to doubt that it will
constitute crime in the eyes of the Irish
people. What interest have they in the
smooth and speedy dispatch of the business
Commons is not their friend; the House of
Commons has no intention of doing anything |
for their advantage; the House of Commons
mean to obstruct and reject every measure |
proposed by the Irish representatives for the |
benefit of Ireland. This being 80, the time of
the House is of no consequence to the Irish
people. TO economist it is no business of the
choose, complain of the drag which is being
0ut on the overloaded parliamentary machine!
rom them the expression of grief or ndigua-
ion will come naturally enough but that it
8 equally well becomes Irish Home Rule
member is more than we can
However. for euch ebulliLions as that of Mr.. |
Butt on the occasion referred to, there are
Ame reasonable excuses to be made. The
IRISH parliamentary party are not at all of one
mind on the merits of the line of action taken
~ Messrs. Parnell and Biggar. Some who are
- devoted to the Irish cause as any of their
honestly believe thtt it is unwise
md prejudicial to the interests of Ireland
nd they find it hard to be patient and remain
ilent while they see two or three members of
heir party foolishly-ss they think-engaging
n an unequal coetest against overwhelming ,
English msjorties. They are unable to re-
ard the spectacle with Indifference, and at ! .
asst some word of depreciation protest is
Vrung from them. That such was the coudi. l
mentioned occasion we can we'll believe.
md we will say, moreover, that Mr.. Bottle .
ceilings and opinions on question of this >
ind are entitled to very grave and respectful !
consideration. But for our own part all the =
bought that we can give to the snbject has =
70 other effect than to deepen our conviction =
hat the true policy for the Irish party lies not y
denouncing the action of Messrs. Parnell .
nd Biggar, but in making an approximation -
, it. We hoped, and we hope still, to see =
Ir, Butt leading the full strength of his party
that direction. He may now be of opinion
lat the time has not come" for such
lovement, hit in that opinion he csnnot long a
on tinue. When his Home Rule motion and a
is Land Bills Education Bills. and Franchise =,
ills are again spurned by the English me lori u
es of the House of Commons, he may, per- c.
APPS, begin to think that the time has arrived +
II the adoption of holder measures than any -,
e say, is possible, and may be hoped for O.
hat is absolutely certain is that the Irish v
sople will consider that recourse to such .,
easures has become q necessity, and will re- -
lire that action be taken accordingly by 81
eir parliamentary representatives. o.
To this complexion things will and must 4;
me 1t last. There lie no other way open TO
, of WEesting orr national rights tEom The