The Irish standard., 1894-03-31
THE IRISH PARTY.

/ THE IRISH PARTY.
The time when local self government
as Lord Rosebery calls it, will be giver
to Ireland depends more upon the Irisl
party itself than upon the Liberal party
The Irish party occupies an important
place III the makeup OF the House O
Commons. Withoutits aid the Libera
party is powerless, and in fact the Lib
eral party would have enjoyed very LITTLE
power since 1882 If it had not been To-
the Irish and Scotch members.
OF the thirteen parliaments since thu
passage of the Reform bill in 1882 there
have been only three in which the Liber
ais had working majority without the
aid of the Irish members. Those were
the parliaments OF 1885, 1857 and 1880
and in all these parliaments the majority
of the Liberals in England was doubled
by the addition of Irish and Scotch mem
bers. There were five parliaments III
which they had bare majority in Eng
land, but not working majority without
the aid of the Irish members. These
were the pariaments of 1859, 1865, 1863
1885sand 1890. There were two parlia'
ments in which they were actually in q
minority in England but were afforded a
majority with the aid of the Irish and
Scotch members. This happened in the
parliaments of 1887 and 1847. in the lat
ter of which the Irish members for the
first time got together and irrespective OF
former political affiliations formed what
has since been called the Irish party.
And indeed it was time to get together
for the united strength Of this new party
gave the Liberals only majority OF two
in the whole kingdom. In the remaining
three parliamsnts the Conservatives had
the majority in 1841, 1852 and 1874, but
in all these parliaments the majority OF
the Conservatives in England was greatly
reduced by taking into account the Irish
and Scotch. 1t must be remembered
that we have considered the Liberal
Unionists above as Liberals. 1t Will be
seen, therefore, that the Liberal party
cannot afford tx, lose the support Of the
Irish party. The Irish can throw the
Liberals out Of power at any time and
this fact is the surest guarantee that
Ireland could have, since Gladstone has
retired. Undoubtedly Rosebery is a
Liberal Of q very distinct type, but a
Liberal does not mean an ardent Home
Ruler. Lord Rosebery will be much
more disposed to hurry Home Rule for
Ireland because there is an Irish party
in the Commons than he would be other
wise, but in order that Home Rule may
obtain there is a condition precedent,
and for the performance of that prece-
dent condition there exists no better man
in all England than the young and ag-
gressive Rosebery. Not even Gladstone
himself could lead a fight against the
House Of Lords with such force as the
new Premier.
Lord Rosebery is young, a member of
the House of Lords and man OF extra
ordinary ability. The fact that he is a
member of the House OF Lords will add
strength to whatever he may say or do
in opposition to that body. He we'll
knows that the Lords have existed only
as an adjunct to the Tory party and as
an obstacle to all progressive legislation.
That the Irish party will aid him in
modifying or destroying this anomaly of
self-government goes without saying.
The Irish party has become body OF
trained organizers and shrewd politicians
and it can be depended upon to bear
patiently all delay necessary before
pressing Home Rule to the front again.
Lord Rosebery, in his late speeches, has
explicitly declared that Home Rule 10
not shelved and that, if his speech in the
House of Lords last year left any doubt
about his views, he desired to remove it..
His speech in Edinburgh on st. Patrick's
night did great deal to define his posi-
ton on the Irish question. With the
necessary change in the Lords, the discs
tablishment in Scotland and Wales,
Rosebery will then be ready to lead the
Home Rule forces. We are especially
glad to know that Rosebery does not
consider it necessary for majority OF
England to decide IN favor of Home
Rule in order to make that q possibility.
In the meantime it is expected and to
be hoped that the Irish party will remain
what that name implies-not q part OF
the Liberal party or any other English
party-not Parnellites or anti arnell
ites-but one indepe ndent and organized
body for, the promotion Of such legisla-
ton as will eventually lead to self-gov-
eminent for ireland. Their action on
Labcuchere's motion, although expected,
shows unanimity not shown since Par
nelrs time.
M'KINLEY AND PROTECTION.
The apostle Of protection, the idol Of
those favored few who have been enabled