The Irish standard., 1895-04-27
He Prociaims Himself an indie.
pendent Nationalist, But Offers
to Become a Candidate
Upon Other Grounds More Strictly
in Keeping with a Policy
Marked Out i'm His Letter.

support OF the Government, mas severed
his connection with that Party. Mr..
Eweetman has forwarded his application
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for
the Chiltren Hundreds, and seeks re-
election as member Of the Independent
Party.
The following is the address which he
has issued to the electors:-
TO THE ELECTORS OF EAST WICK
LOW.
Drumbaragh, kells, April 9th, 1895.
Standardization accepted the offer
to be candidate at the last General
Election, pledged to .sit, act, and vote
with the Irish Parliamentary Party I
believed that that Party would act inde:-
pendently of all English Parties when
11ss..ish interests were at stake; and i
ne is confidence, not only in MIR. Glad
N2-Ca~,s marvellous ability, but in his sim
l., W ~ esire to obtain Home Rule for Ire
Ian IS it was a cause to which his rep
utation as statesman was pledged.
When he retired last year from the
leadership of the Liberal Party, for
causes that we cannot at present fully
know, had little confidence in either the
ability or the sincerity as Home Ruler
Of his successor, Lord Roseberry.
More than year ago wrote to Mr..
Justin Mccarthy that I thought it was
most necessary for the Home Rule cause
that there should he General Election
as soon as possible. Mr.. Mccarthy re-
piled he did not think that time, or any
time very near, would be opportune for
a General Election. I was also told that
the Liberals we're not then ready with
their candidates. therefore remained on
last year voting with the Irish Party
for British measures. Before the end Of
the session, when it was clear that the
Government were determined to stick
to office as long as they could, although
able to do nothing for Ireland, although
Irish member and tried to get the Irish
Party to request the Government to dis
solve Parliament before beginning the
present session, which it was plain to
everyone must prove barren as far as
Irish legislation YVES concerned. The
majority of the Irish Party were horri-
fled at the idea Of Dissolution, and our
resolution was outvoted by twenty-nine
to two, forty-one members not being
present when the vote took place. Last
year we we're told that we must not ask
for Dissolution, as an Evicted Tenants
Bill was about to be introduced; this
year we are told that q great Land Bill
Commons. This Land Bill may ap
hojrr fho 10 of ha 1o 11H
as did the Evicted Tenants Bill last
year, but it can approach no nearer, as
1t will be surely either thrown out by the
House of Lords Or else completely
changed by them.
I think the practical effect Of this pol
icy to be that of merely humbugging the
electors-throwing dust in their eyes
and I will be no party to 1t.
We must remember. most mem
bers Of Parliament are satisfied to let
matters 'ssltde" for the sake Of putting
of as long as possible a General Election,
which Is hated more than anything else
by the average member. If the major
ity Of the House of Commons meant
busines, it would never allow its time to
be wasted by bores pressing on hour
after hour. This monetcny is occas-
fonally enlivened by some genteel COM
edy between the Leaders OF the different
parties, sometimes by a screening farce,
and, once at least last year, by mag
niflcent display of mock heroics in the
shape of an all night sitting meanwhile
onthing is done for Ireland. The Tories,
who are satisfied with things as they are
and Cd not wish for legislation, are
honest in their support Of he present
system of doing business in the House of
Commons. hut one cannot believe that
the majority, consisting Of the Liberals
and Irish members who maintain that
legislation is required, are honest, if they
are satisfied with it. II the Irish Party
was actuated by the old spirit Of Mr..
Parnell we should not see Government
in favor of Home Rule discrediting itself
in the country by a policy of merely stv-
ing off General Election, when it ac-
knowledges that it has no power to legis-
late; and If the next General Election is
not take non Home Rule, the fault will
be with a majority Of the Irish Party.
AS that majority seems content With
Lord Rosebery's policy Of inaction, and
lis acting as if it was sacrificing the cause
OF Home Rule to keeping Government
In Office for the sake Of obtaining some
crumbs of Government patronage for.
its supporters and the subscribers to its
Parliamentary Fund; and as the Party
pledge ut the last election }compels me to
vote with them until resign my seat, I
have on couse to take but to restore
your trust back into your hands. This
/ have done by applying to the Chancel-.
ler of the Exchequer for the Chiltern
Hundreds. IA 5.s Is
You will, therefore, now have an OPP
nOrtunity Of electing q member In my.