The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-03-07
IRISH rlErlBERs SHOULD QUIT.

Of this issue Of the Irish Standard from the
Liverpool Cotholic Times in regard to
the best means to be adopted for Ireland S
welfare, attention lis drawn to the posi-
b:lity Of Lord Salisbury reducing the
number of Irish members in parliament
to SO or 60. This the paper in question
points out as in the nature of something
to be deplored 1t should not be forgot
ten, however, that Irishnen themselves
are seriously contemplating going much
farther IN that direction than Salisbury
would ever be likely to think OF. They
believe that the whole parliamentary rep
resentation should walk out in body
and remain out, thus permitting England
to govern Ireland for the time being in
any manner she saw fit. Some there are
who might look upon such a course as
fatal to Ireland's interests but it would
be nothing of the kind. AS it is the Irish
party is doing nottingham do nothing
and yet they are saddled with the respon-
s:bility OF Representations Were they alb
sent from parliament this responsibility
would not attach.
Such an action would be we'll worth the
experiment. When things are at the worst
a change is acceptable. England would
then be left to her own free will and she
could legislate for Ireland without hind
rance. She herself would be responsible.
-del qs!1I 1InI qlEM 'Mou ara s1sllem sv
resentation she can, in case of pernicious
legislation, point to the IRISH membership
and, right or wrong, certain amount Of
blame attaches to them for failure in Just
legislation.
Timothy Healy, in addressing the Irish
National Federation in Dublin recently,
said he would rather see Ireland governed
as a crown colony than as it is now gov
erned He also said: IF when the Lib
erals are returned to power nothing is
done for home rule, the Irish members
should provoke our expulsion from parlia-
ment. After few years of governing
Ireland withouS representatives at West
minister fear would probably induce En-
gland to grant some kind CT national coun-
Gil, which would eventually broaden into
an Irish parliament"
And besides, apart from very few
the Irish representation is n1.srepre:en-
tat.On. There is no parliamentary ability
among the membership and too often
there is no ability of any other kind. They
are mere voting machines-usefui at the
call of the roll, but of no use otherwise
These men go up from the rural districts
Of Ireland or from country towns and are
either lost or bewildered IN London. Be
ing unused to such life they plunge
into all manner OF carelessness if nothing
worse. Often when a vote is needed they
are absent from their posts. A search
would find them enjoying the various dis
s:pations of the city. Their pretence Of
representation is far worse than if, they
had remained at home.
!. Further than that the people Of Ireland
are obliged to support these men in Lon
don, or at least the great majority Of
them. They are penniless at home, and, as
is generally known, members Of parlia-
ment in England do not receive pay, as
our legislators do, whether in the state
or national governments. There 1O2
members, with few exceptions, draw from
the impoverished people of Ireland from
81 900 to 81, 500 year each. and perhaps
in some cases more Formerly the liberal
contributions from America kept those
men in London when we were told here
that the agitation must be continued
And who was keeping 1rsland's wrongs
before the people? Two or three repre-
sentatives. while the rest sat idly look
ing on or else were disportfng themselves
as pleased their fancy. Here was some
thing like $15O,O0O annually extorted
from the people Of Ireland when it didn't
come from America) for the purpose Of
helping men to make a spectacular play.
The money was sadly needed in the pock-
cts Of those from whom It was extorted.
And il agitation was needed and that
Isl all that was accompl ished could that
not be kept up as effectually by the few
at their homes in Ireland as in the halls
of Westminster? The money would be
saved 70 the people and the agitation
would proceed. sss.s:s
s. - ~ ~