The Irish standard., 1891-08-15

LII
verted to the belief that Ireland should
have the management of her own affairs,
then it is only question OF time when
he will be expelled from the Tory party
The Tory party through Lord Salisbury
six years ago promised. if successful to
see that a home rule measure was
passed, and on this promise Parnell
worked for the Conservative ticket. But
las! how poor Ireland was betrayed.
Lord Salisbury went back on his prom
ise when he saw he had good safe ma
iority without the members to keep the
party in power, and true to the princi-
Piles of his party he again put the Irish
on the rack. Though times have been
worse in ireland during the past six
years than at any time since the famine,
still landlords were inexorable. They
demanded the pound of flesh" just the
same, and whenever it was refused they
called on Balfour and his police, and
assistance was Immediately furnished.
But it is now near general election time,
and of course Balfor being shrswd pol
itician, and knowing what a forgiving
people the Irish are, throws out bait to
them IN the shape of a semi-home rule
measure. Will they bite? We hope
they will not. We have but to refer to
a speech delivered few days ago by
Mr.. Balfour at Plymouth, to see what a
farce his home rule measure is. Here
is what he says about the police: ''The
police question has caused alarm. but /
would never consent to the decentral,za-
ton of the force by handing over the
local police, either to the councils or to
the councils in ASSOCIATION with the
grand jury" Now what kind Of a coun-
try will Ireland be with the police under
the magistrates as now? Just as un-
happy as 1t is to-day, and more so. A
land purchase bill that does not wipe
out the present police system as we'll as
landlordism, will not do. The greatest
enemies OF the country outside the land
lords are the police. 1t is entirely
wrong that Ireland must support Il, 900
police and have nothing to say about
who shall be members of that force.
How long::would Minnesota, for instance
permit the government at Washington
to name the police for the different cities
in the state, and make the state DAY the
bills? Well that is what Balfour says
he will insist On so far as the Irish COLI
stabulary is concerned. He will not
hand this body OF loafers over to the
local government. Why? Because he
knows we'll that every one of the present
force would "walk the plank and men
true to Ireland and her interests, ap-
pointed to their places. Unless Balfour
includes Che police in his home rule
measure he might as we'll fold up the
bill and throw it into his waste basket,
for Ireland will not be satisfied with
such measure. If Ireland is going
TO get home rule by the piece, then let
the Liberals have the credit Of giving
the first installment. Were it not for
them Ba]four would to-day be evicting
the people by the hundreds, as he was
last winter. It is fear and not love that
prompts him to talk home rule now.
We warn our people at home to be Care
full about accepting this measure as a
final settlement of the Irish question.
Self government in all that the term APP
plies, will alone satisfy Ireland. If Bal
four and Salisbury will not consent to
that, Gladstone will when he gets back
at the head of affairs.