The Irish standard., 1895-02-09

longing the judgment OF the House OF
Go nmons upon the question at an inop'
perfume time. The question put to you
is this-whether is amnesty more likely
to be won from the liberal or the Tory
party? (Cries of "The Liberal party. y
From which party is amnesty likely to
be sooner won? (Cries Of "From the
Liberals.'O We remember. the answer OF
the Tory party little before they quilted
Office, when they were questioned upon
the cause of amnesty. Their answer was
short, stern, and an insolent "No. }"
At the worst, the Liberals can but delay
the case of amnesty. they can't delay the
granting Of amnesty beyond the conces
sion OF Home Rule. The Tory party will
never grant it. I hope and I believe
that it may be possible to obtain meas
ure of amnesty without much longer de-
lay.
Mr.. Sexton also expressed his convic-
ton that Chief Secretary Morley would
do justice TO the claims of the Christian
Brothers, and admit their schools to the
benefits of the national system.
AS to the policy of the Government in
not forcing the Home Rule issue, last
year, Mr.. Sexton said:
If the bill had been sent up second
time, of course the Lords would have re-
peated their excuses that it had not been
submitted to the coun try, and they would
have said again that the bill had not
been sufficiently discussed, because the
Tory party would have obstructed it
more successfully in the second session
even than in the first, having the train
ing Of the first session as a matter OF
advantage. The Lords would have re-
peated their former pretexts, the bill
would have been thrown out again, and
the session would have been wasted; no
British reforms would have been carried,
the British electors would have been dis
contented, section of the Liberal party
would have been chilled, the unity Of
that party would have been injured, and
the Home Rule cause to great and in
definite degree would have been weaker
than it is today A wise course was pur-
sued, and I am of opinion that, even if
the Government had simply gone to the
country at the next el ction asking the
people to reaffirm the nome Rule Bill
and not presenting resolution against
the Lords, that would be an unsafe
course; because even it there were at the
next election majority for Home Rule
the Lords, who are never at a loss for
good excuses or bad excuses, as the case
may be, would have said, lit is true this
bill was submitted to the country, it is
true you have majority, but when you
went to the country you submitted to
the people other measures as we'll as this,
but they wanted the other measures;
they did not want this bill, and you are
not entitled to conclude majority on
other measures as being majority on
the Home Rule Bill. No, but clear and
decisive course has been taken, for the
Government have now resolved not only
to go to the country again upon the
Home Rule Bill within very limited
time to ask the people to declare once
more that the principle affirmed in 1893
shall now be carried into effect, but they.
are going to the country with a resolu-
ton of the House of Commons declaring
that the power of the House of Lords
shall not again be used to defeat the
will of the people, neither upon Home
Rule for Ireland or upon any other meas
ure
The question of the House Of Lords,
and I think, fellow -countrymen, you are
very Indifferent " neither there is House
of Lords or not so long as the power to
do wrong to Ireland is taken away from
them, but there may be many English
mon who would not be ready to abolish
the House of Lords, the English having
g taste for ancient law makers, but would
yet be willing to curb their power to de-
feat the will of the people, and, therefore,
I think from the practical point Of view
that in order to obtain a majority suf1i-
cient TO teach the House OF Lords that
the will of the people must prevail, the
Government have adopted the most ju-
dlcious course in resolving to go to the
country upon the question that whom the
Commons, the representative Chamber,
pass any bill, and adhere to the bill, that
though the Lords may suggest amend
ments that that bill shall pass INTO law
Continued on Eighth Page.