The Irish standard., 1888-06-02
laundering Balfour.

a pronounced Tory, sends the following
dispatch to the New York Tribune:
Although the members Of Parliament
are scattered all over Europe politics
does not stand still. Changes are going
on. none the less important because
some of them are unseen. They are I'D
the direction of modified coercion, II
not the actual abandonment OF tpat
policy, and the reform of gross abuses
in the Irish Government. The collapse
of Balfourism. that grotesque plant
which grew up in night. will vanish
as suddenly. An active and powerful
CLIQUE has been at work for some
months sounding the praises OF Balfour
far and near. Never was any man SO
wise, heroic and far-sighted. he had
saved England and regenerated lre'ana.
The press is largely controlled by the
Government, which can give early
news. the only bride which it dare otter.
1t took up Balfour. We who stood De-
hind the scenes laughed in our sleeves.
Sometimes it is so easy to gull the pub
lie that it seems almost wicked to do 1t.
Balfour himself must know that MS
fire. balloon will soon perish. The pa
ners ascribed to him a merciless deter
mination to crush not only conspiracy
but the whole Irish people, but against
such policy there was sure to come
tremendous reaction. It is beginning
now. A few months hence aud the
Balfour legend will be almost forgotten
except as page of car1cature in lnsh
history. l need not tell you what mas
broug CHIT this change to pass. Nothing
has done it but the boldness, vigor and
ability of Lord Randolph Churchill. In
London a man was almost bounded
down for daring to say a word IN MS
favor. Everybody was against him. YET
he kept on resolutely contending Tor
his idea until the eliminating point
was reached last week at Preston, when
an audience of 5000 persons stood up
and cheered again and again in response
to his plain declaration on the Irish
question. Remember that in Preston
there are few Irishmen. 1t cannot,
therefore, be said Lord Randolph mere:
ly won the cheers of All Irish audience.
The people who applauded vociferously
were hard headed operatives OF Lam
cashire, the shrewdest men in England.
LAS Lancashire thinks to-day so all
England will think tomorrow" says a
proverb-an ominous proverb at this
hour for Balfourism.
Scarcely had the echoes Of that great
speech in Preston died from mems ears
before the prophet of Birmingham came
forth and gave the sign to his followers.
How long is it ago since chamberlain
rebuked Randolph Churchill in the
House for daring to put in plea for
the mitigation of punishment Of Irish
offences So fast is the tide flowing
that it seems year-in reality it is less
than month-since the Government
practically announced that it meant to
postpone reform of grave moment in
Ireland. Churchill then rose and pro-
tested, and reminded the Ministers Of
their pledges and entreated them to
keep honestly to their word and render
Justice to Ireland while suppressing
treason. Chamberlain, the former
hope of the Radicals, rushed forward
and threw his shield over the Ministry.
He would not allow even a suggestion
to be made to it. No Justice for Ire
land. at least within any given limit of
time: give her promises to pay at an
unknown period: tell her a plausible
tale and turn her adrift in rags and
misery, as of yore. Now where is
Cham oerlain? len days have passed
since Chamberlain issued his ultima
tum from Preston. Chamberlain runs
forward with another. "Take mine,"
he cries, sit is the same as Randolph
Churchill's, only much more So" He
throws it at the head of the public and
expects to see the whole world in an
ecstasy Of admiration. Overheard goes
the Ministry; away to the winds fly
Lord Salisbury, Mr.. Smith and 1.-THE
nephew of 1ny uncle" Popkins is here
again with a plan; aud such plan
millions for public works, more millions
for buying all the Irish land, reformed
local government, and bundle of pro-
vincial assemblies in which Irish pa
triotism may find endless scope for it's
exercise. Everybody but the credulous
author saw at q glance that it could not
possibly work, not even in Utopia,
much less in Ireland. A more crazy
project for settling the Irish question
could not have been Matched. Cham
oerlain had always been thought
practical man. It will take him some
time to recover reputati On even for
simple common sense.
The Government defeat in Southamp.
ton is heavy blow. Another seat was
lost through the eagerness of the Minis.
terial ring to prove It's firm hold on the
country, The former Conservative