The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-03-25
THE IRISH PARTY.
It Has Retained It's Seats in the
British Comm Ons Since Its
Organization.

British Common ons Since It's
Organization.
PARLIAMENTARY CUSTOMS,
A Vivid Description of Them Given
by T. P. O'Connor, the Noted
-.. Journalist.
This question of seats in the House of
Commons is one of the most burning Of
topics. Several times in the course Of
Parliament there have been occas ons
when an actual ph! sical encounter seem-
ed possible between the leaders of the
Liberal party and of the Liberal Union
lists and the whole dispute was ques-
tion of seats, writes T. p. O'Connor, M
P. in the Million. have already given
instances Of very exciting and pathetic
scenes which have taken place in the
past all over the occupation of particu-
lar seat. And, finally, the Irish party
broke into two hostile sections over the
point where the Irish members should
sit in the House of Commons. There is
reas,n for all this. The particular
spot where member sits proclajms to
all the world his political opinions, and
also his personal and official position.
The party in power always sits on the
right hand side of the speaker; the party
in opposition always occupies the left
hand benches. When you read that
cheers came from the right of the speak
er's chair, that means they have come
from the supporters of the government
in power at that particular moment; and
similarly if the report states that the
cheers have proceeded from the minis
terial benches, it means that they have
proceeded from the right of the speakers
chair. If you had been for some years
on desert island, and were suddenly to
be transported to the House of Commons
without any previous information, you
would only require TO look a. the benches
to learn whether the Liberal or Conser-
vative party was still in power. I have
seen the same party occupy different
sides of the Heuse in the same Parlja-
ment. In July, 1885, Mr. Gladstone was
expelled from office There was an inter
regnum of a few days, for nobody knew
whether the Queen would accept the re-
signation of Mr.. Gladstone, and whether
the Conservative party leader would ac..
cept Office. During this interregnum the
Liberals still remained on the right hand
side; but when, after the lapse of few
days it began to be certain that the
Conservative leaders were going to ac-
cept the Liberals passed over to the left
or opposition side of the house, and then
every body knew that the change of gov
ernment was going to take place. There
is one party, however, which has never
changed it's seats since it's formation,
that is the Irish party of which the late
Mr.. Parnell was the leader, and which at
present is led by Justin Mccarthy. In
1889 it was that the fierce conflict broke
out on this question of seats to which I
have already alluded. The Liberal party
had come into power and the moderate
section of the Irish members, led by MIR.
Shaw, were of opinion that the wiseet
thing for Irish members to do was to form
an alliance with the Liberal party, and
fight together. But the followers of Mr..
Parnell thought that this would make a
dangerous surrender Of independence,
might lead to the acceptance of Office by
Icish members, and in that way, remove
the pressure on the Liberal party which
tho Parnellites thought necessary to
wiring from the Liberal government all
the reforms they demanded. The Irish
party is sometimes called the party of
independent opposition. Much of the fu-
rious fight going on in Ireland between
the two sections of Nationalists depends
on the point which of the two Is the bet
ter entitled to this appellation. By in
dependent opposition is meant that the
Irish party remains in opposition to every
government un il Ireland receives back
her own parliament. 1t is held that
this attitude should be proclaimed and
emphasized by the seats which the party
occupies in the House OF Commons. It
they always sit on the opposition side Of
the House, then everybody knows that
they have not departed from their atti-
tude of permanent opposition aud per
manent independence. So strong is the
feeling on this point that it is embodied
In what is known as the pledge = Every
member Of the Irish party, or rather of
the anti Parnellite section, before being
selected as candidate signs a pledged
the first words Of which are, ''I pledge
myself to sit, act aud vote with the ma
iority of the Irish Parliamentary party.
It viii be seen that the place where the
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