The Irish standard., 1894-07-14

selves He would have politicians
both parties alay aside their poIi tics for5
this purpose for the present, and loyallly
take up the tasks and problems Of local g e
life, and Tin such combined Efforts at
local government he discerns "the best
hope OF a peaceable solution Of the polit-
ical difficulties of the country. nma ~
ing this proposal Lord Monteagle does
not, 90 far as can follow his argument,
suggest that we should seek light or
leading from English politicians, Liberal
or Conservative. He advises that We
SHOULD take up the tasks and problems
OF local lite' ourselves. He evidently
means, not that we should petition Eng
lish statesmen to solve our difficulties Tor
us. but that we should solve them our
selves. And among the difficulties to be
solved he places in the forefront that
aroot OF Irish discomfort land
question.
Now let me- ask plain question. Ii
the best way for Irishmen to solve their
social difficulties, and 90 compose their
political differences, is to take these mat
ters III hand and deal with them apart
from English interference, is not this
only another way of saying that tbs best
government for Irishmen in local matters
ia self.government? And it we say this,
are We not saying that Home Rule is the
best.form of rule for Ireland? IT We are
ourselves most competent to settle our
land question, the most thorny OF all our
social troubles, what, in the whole range
of our local public life, are we not COM
petent to deal with? What question is
there, within that compass, which would
be more satisfactorily settled by being
referred to the decision of the represent
atives of English and Scotch constltu-
encies?
IfLord Monteagle will join Us in sett-
ling our land question, without guidance
or dictation from English statesmen, he
may surely continue his alliance with us
Tor the settlement of minor issues, which
demand infinitely less political wisdom,
and do not call for such 9 nice discern
ment of social equities. If he will thus
far act out his own principles he will find
himself as good Home Ruler as any OF
US, and may safely count upon posi-
ton Of public influence and useful
sphere Of political action worthy OF his
abilities and his patriotism.
But Lord Monteagle is not my only
critic. The leading organ OF Irish Con-
servatism has this further objection to
urge. THE strongest objection to Home
Rule" according to the Irish Times, is
':that it would not solve Irish questions"
This is clearly not Lord Monteagle's pos.
ition. Are Irish questions then lneoluble
any more than the political questions of
other nations? I readily admit that Eng-
lish legislation has proved itself incap-
able OF solving them; that on the whole
English attempts in that direction have
mainly made confusion worse con-
founded. But Irish questions, difficult
and thorny as they may b., are surely
capable OF solution, If knowledge OF the
circumstances of the country directed
with sympathy can only ba brought to
bear upon them. And, Judging from the
failure of past experiments conducted
under English auspices.itis not too much
to believe that the best provision We can
make for the settlement Of our domestic
difficulties is to undertake their settle
ment ourselves.