The Irish standard., 1895-12-21
MUST SUCCEED OR PERISH | {.
Such IS the Condition Of Ireland
AS Prophesied BY An
Able. Writer.
Either Home Rule Must Be Grant
ed or the Irish Will Be
Extinct in Ireland.
1t is Thought That Justice Will
Finally Prevail Through the
English Themselves.

.trs EHXuSH kH0IlSSkt1Ss
Catholic Quarterly Review for October
Bryan j. Clinche contributed the follow
ing thoughtful article upon the condi
tons prevailing in Ireland:
The late changes in the British Min
istry is an incident in a contest which
can only end with the extinction of the
Of their right to rule themselves. That
the latter will be the solution there is
little room to debut. The very conditions
entailed by the present union make any
migration OF people Of other races into
Ireland impossible Even in this age OF
changes of population there is no current
towards the shores of unprosperous
lands. Elizabeth or James l. might think
seriously that they could replace the irish
Celts by English or Scotch settlers, but
Lord Salisbury can harbor no such
dream. If the union makes Ireland in-
capable Of keeping it's own natives, it still
more surely keeps away all others from
settling in their land. Foreign rule may
keep Ireland wretched, but it is power
less to AngliciZe it's people. Cromwell's
attempt to transplant the Irish race be-
yond the Shannon left Ireland as she is
today, and what Cromwell could not DO
will not be done by the modern Tory
rulers of England.
That the Irish question must continue
to hamper the British Government is
then certain It is morally certain that
it can be removed by the concession of
self-goveTnment to Ireland. Those two
facts are patent to both the friends and
the foes OF Irish nationality. The ques
ton naturally suggests itself. how long
the advent of the Unionjst ministry is
likely to postpone Home Rule? It's an
swel depends on the dispositions OF the
English and the Irish people. The first
have the power to grant it at any NOM
ent if convinced that such is their real
interest. The irish people, like any other
body Of men, may imperi a just cause by
mistakes OF lack of Judgment. The po-
litical leaders OF both nations are in the
same category as the two peoples. The
fate of the ration for the time being rests
in their hands We shall briefly review
the dispositions Of each as Indicated by
the late elections
GREAT BRITAIN'S CHANGE IN tenn
PER.
The change in temper OF the people OF
Great Britain towards the national as
pirafions of ireland has been remarkable
during the past twenty years. When Alr.
BUTT first brought forward Ireland's
claim for Home Rule both English par
ties and all shades of English politicians
united in declaring them impossible OF
concession. Down TO 1888 no English
statesman would give them serious at
tention, and Conservatives and Liberals,
however hostile ON other points, united in
voting down every proposal for letting
Ireland rule herself. -
SIR William Harcou1t in one session
since that date. voted over two hundred
times adversely to Irish proposals Of all
kinds MIR. Gladstone's conversion to the
Irish side in 1885 came like thunder.
clap ON the majority Of Englishmen. In
spite of his wonderful popularity he was
driven from office on that question, and
the powerful party which he led was di-
videh into two factions on the Irish q1les-
tion. The curious spectacle OF a union
between the ultra-radical ex-Mayor OF
Birmingham ami the ra-arisIocratic
Marquis of Salisbury was a sign Of the
strength of anti-Irish prejudice among
the English population ten years ago.
Since thai time the tendency OF public
opinion has grown steadily for justice 70
Ireland.
Two years ago Mr. Gladstone was re
stored to power as the champion Of Home
Rule, and his bill passed successfully the
House of Commons by a fair il not very
large majority. The House of Lords for
the last two years has been the only legal
obstacle to the establishment OF Irish
Home Rule. During the present century
the House of Lords has never yentured to
array itself permanently against the pop
y I, cf T n05c1atJ1rn fnnnn-h IL
might at times delay foe some time pop
ular legislation. If the, English people
should continue to demand Home Rule
for ireland it certainly will not be pre-
vented by the Lords
That Home Rule bill has actually
passed the House Of Commons is evil
dence that the English people is favor
ably disposed towards it, though it may
aalav. according to it's wont, in getting
it's will into law.
1t does not appear that the late Tory
triumph indicates any real revulsion of
English sentiment against Home Rule.
Lord Rosebery's government fell from
ether causes In the first place Glad
stones retirement deprived the Liberals
of by far the most popular leader in the
country and lessenad correspondingly the
prestige of the party with the English
voters, Lord Rosebery, though personal
ly popular and clever, was everywhere
! felt to he "a very Inferior successor to the
veteran statesman who had passed the
Home Rule bill through Parliament IN
spite Of his eighty three years. The
clever young peer. whose horse had won
the Derby and who had obtained share
in the wealth Of the Rothschilds by mar
riage. was far below the standard of Mr..
Gladstone. His position as peer was
Objectionable to many Of the more rad
ical Liberals, including Labolchere.
With the Irish National representative
for nearly twenty years the attainment of
self-governmenk for Ireland has been,
without change the paramount object OF
their Parliamentary WoT h. Captain
O'shea is rhe only instance of an
elected on a Home Rule platform VINO
changed his party allegiance for personal Ia.
grounds. There have been internal dis
sens ions, but there have been no deser-.
Il items among them The power of a min
ority devoted to one object in larger.
Ehody with varied interests is much great
/ Ell ban its mere mum bers ind icate. In
the field of Enperf faI pol ilics there are at;
dimes fauesti IONS " hIch 80 fyide most
80 y le-I s.