The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-08-08
LIBERAL VICTORIES.

Scarcely day passes that we 90 not
hear of parliamentary election some
where in England, and in every case the
Liberals are successful. It was only q
few days ago that we learned Of a splen-
did Liberal victory in the Cambridge
division where the home rule cause
triumphed beyond all expectations. II
was one of the greatest Tory strongholds
in England, and what must have been
the dismay that struck the opponents OF
coercion when they learned that their
candidate was defeated? The Liberals
fought hard. and were almost ready at
the close Of the campaign to concede
the election of the Tory candidate. But
when the votes were counted the result
was sickening to the Tories. They all
began to explain how it happened, but
that could not alter the situation any.
When compared with the result of the
election in 1885 the recent Cambridge
shire election is very encouraging. In
1886 Capt. selwyn, Tory, received 4,169
votes; while J. Rigby, Liberal, got but
1882, thus giving the Tory candidate e.
majority of 1,087 votes. At the election
held last week there were 1858 votes
polled, Of this number Sir Arthur
Brand, Gladstonian, received s ,979 votes;
while the Tory candidate got but 3,719,
majority of 260 votes for Brand. This
is very significant vote indeed The
Tories lost $50 votes, while the Glad
stonians gained 1877, which Of. course
represents gain of /, 347 votes for the
Liberals in five years, The Tories claim
that they did not make any fight and
that the defeat of their candidate was
due to apathy and Indifference on their
part. This of course sounds explanatory
to those unacquainted with the situation,
but glance at the above figures will
satisfy us that such excuses only add to
the importance of the victory from a
Liberal standpoint How the Tories
can claim that the result was due to
apathy in the face of the fact that there
we're 6l7 more votes cast at the recent
election than there was in 1886, is as
tonishing. It certainly looks as if every
voter in the division was there on cleo
tion day. There is one good explana-
ton for this wonderful change in the
Cambridgeshire division, and that is,
that the people of that division are in
accord with the home rule idea, and sick
of coercion. There is no denying the
fact that the fair minded people OF Eng
land are with Ireland in her struggle
for home rule, and though England In
the past did very little for Ireland, in
fact nothing. we must not turn our back
upon her now when she is ready to
recognize Ireland's demand for self
government. Ireland cannot expect
anything from a Tory government ex-
cept coercion, and she should not fail to
grasp the situation. England will send
back to parliament at the next election a
strong Liberal representation; Scotland
will do likewise, and 1t remains for Ire
land to follow. This can only be ac-
complished by union, hard work. and a
realization by all of the Importance of
the coming election. Ireland cannot
expect and must not expect home rule
after the next general election if she fails
to return united body of representa-
tives. The men who are using their
political positions to further their own
ends are not fit to legislate for Ireland.
A self-sacrifcing body Of men must be
selected next time, who will go to West
minister for Ireland's good, and not try
to raise themselves into social and poll
tlcal positions at their country expense.