The Irish standard., 1895-12-21

I Wnlcn seeks an honest emu VIII SlHSle-
| ness of purpose. It is quite within tire
range Of probabilities that the present re-
gime may find it expedient to look for
Irish help long before its six years lease
of power ends. There is another conting-
ency not much mentioned but which is
anything but improbable. The death or
addiction Of the Sovereign would, accord
ing to usage, entail "a new, election,sa aa.i
Queen Victoria's life is now far beyond
three score and ten. 1t is we'll for the
Irish people to brace, themselves for a
six years struggle, but it by no means
follows that they will have six years to
wait for reversal Of the present condi-
tion Of British politics.
The most important point, after all, IN
counting the chances for Home Rule
within the next few years is the course
of action of the Irish people themselves
and their representatives in Parliament.
Irnpahience and apathy are the chief
dangers to be feared. The former mag
relax the bonds OF discipline, which are
essential to success in politics as in war.
The latter may allow advantages already
won to slip away, Or may keep competent
men from the direction Of the national
politics. That dis5ensions have occurred
in the Natio1.al ranks during the last
four years is unfortunately true. The di-
vision into Parnellites and NatiOnalists
caused the loss OF three seats, and pre-
vented the gain of at least two more in
1893, and has kept the ranks of the Home
Rule representatives five or six lower
than they might be in the present Pa1lia-
mens. The divisions between the friends
of Mr.. Healy and those of Mr.. Dillon have
been also disastrous. though they are q,
good deal exaggerated in the American
and English prsss. Friction between
members of the same party occurs every
where. and there has been no more in
the ranks Of the Irish Nritlonalists than in
those of either English party. Still it is
unfortunate that it should occur at all at
such a crisis of the nations fate. The
fault does not rest wholly with either
side, and the divisions cannot be re-
moved by mutual reerininations. how
ever strongly either side may believe it's
own cause right. Mutual forbearance is
the only remedy, and a vigorous struggle
in Parliament is, humanity speaking, the
best means to that end.
In justice to the Irish members who
have at the present moment charge Of
their country's interests, it should be re-
men1bered that their position is a much
harder one than that of either the aver
age English Member" or American Con-
srassmeGl. The latter are expected to de-
vote their time to legislative work in the
same way as the holder Of any other pub
lie office, and they are paid for that tilne
likewise. A member of the British Par
lament attends it practically at his own
discretion and receives no compensation
directly for whatever attendance he
Ma +1 1>a I1-s >orfx
service in Parliament are indeed both NIL
nlerous and valuable. but they depend on
the Ministry, not the public. a.
It. is & fixed rule or the Home Rn1e
party tlrat none Of It's members shall ac-
cept Office, even from a Home Rule Min
istry, u2,til Irelapd obtains its own gov
ernment This rule has been faithfully
maintained during the last fifteen years
Mr. Gladstone was ready to bestow the
we'll paid offices of the Irish Government
on members OF the Nationalist party, but
their own rule forbade them accepting
such. The landlord class, which fuIn-
ishes so large a contingent Of men Of
leisure for Parliamentary service in Eng
land and Scotland, is generally hostile
directly to Irish nationality There are
not more than three" or four landlords
including Colonel Nolan and Sir Thomas
Esmonde, in the Home Rule ranks. The
cost of attendance in Parliament, then.
is a serious ONE for. the Irish represent
atives. ..>e-. 4
The condition Of affairs. since the pas
sage of the Home Rule bill through the
Commons has made the position of the
Nationalisls a most trying one. Glad
stones efforts had after struggle of
seven years, been rewarded by a remark
able victory. but still an incomplete one.
The British friends of Home Rule had
won control of the administration and the
Commons, the two most important parts
Of the Imperial Government. but they
were blocked in further progress by the
opposition of the Lords.
The history of England shows that in
every case of serious conflict the Lords
have surely to give way to the elected
representatives CT the people, but it re-
auires a certain amount of time to ac-
complish that result. a Ministry sup
ported by the Commons and public opin-
ION could at any time swamp the House
OF Lords by the creation Of an over
whelming number OF Peers, but to take
such step the Ministry must be sure OF
the popular support. as a new election
wo1sld be- una voidabie. Mi. Gladstone
did not feel that he could rely on such
a support in the present temper OF the
English voters, and hence it was neces-
sarv for his party to wait favorable oc-
cflsion for taking the final step TO max
ing Home Rule reality.
We are by no means disposed to under
value the Importance OF complete mar
mony in the Irish party. We are con-
WINGED that the dissensioHs caused by Mi.
Parlle1l's action have been highly lnJur-
ious to the cause. of Home Rule in the
minds of the English people and that
their effacement would he the most effec-
tive measure that could now be taken
for making it successful. But we do not
believe that they have been OF nature
to make us lose faith in the ultimate sue
cess OF Home Rule. 1t may be that the
accession Of a hostile party to power Will
prove the harbinger Oh union to the Irish
Nationalist of all shades Of opinion To
attain that end requinres above all m,1-
tual forbearance and resolute abstenti0n
from bitterness of language towards one
another. To united Irish party Parlta
neus, even with a hostile majority, offers
field OF combat in which the national
enthusiasm may be developed to a higher
point than ever In it the lines of fac
tion should and must be efTaced, and we
have every hope that the present leaders
Of the Irish people will attain that much
desired end ere long.
Have Crooked Legs.
Z -. t - -