The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-14
rHp NEW 1R1su DEPARTURES


interesting in their references to the
progress of Anglo-Irish politics. From
his earliest appearance in Irish politics,
T. NJ. Bealy has remained one OF the
| most interesting and ablest of the irish
representation in parliament, as he is
one of the most acrimonious. He mas
at least reached the unique position OF
having a party of his own, confined III
it's membership to himself.
There is a strong element of political
society behind Mr.. Healy notwithstand-
ing his present alienation from his former
associates. It may be regarded as de-
cidedly poor politics to have adopted the
resolution excluding him from the Irish
parliamentary party. His conduct mas
not been such as to endear him to other
representatives of Irish constituencies;
but neither has it been characterized by
any cessation from the position of vote
ing the wishes of the Irish people, so
far as those wishes might be said to have
found expression at all during the past
few years through Irish parliamentary
representatives. Indeed it will be quite
surprising if Mr.. Healy does not before
the present session Of parliament ends
show his ability on the floor of the COM
mons, even along the lines of action de-
cided upon through the recent conven-
ton, in such a manner as to render his
continued exclusion from Irish political
councils very uncertain prospect.
The return of the Irish people to what
may be regarded as a purely agrarian
policy is the most important feature of
the recent convention. 1t is true that
never since the failure of the '4S move
ment has it been feasible to secure the
cooperation of the Irish masses in any
programme of political action which did
not find its basis in questions of land
tenure. The Fenian movement was con-
fined, in q, great measure, if not wholly,
to the urban population, and was effect
i've in securing great improvement in the
social and political conditions; but the
bulk of the Irish people never were
aroused either through that or any other
movement within the century just COM
ing to close as, they were by the agra
rian policy of the land league
The prospective cooperation of the Ma
tionalist forces in parliament and out
with those who are represented by Mr..
T. A Russell, and who may be said to
represent British ascendancy on the ISL
and, may be the precursor of a great
movement, such as prevailed at the close
of the eighteenth century when the
North of Ireland Protestant fought side
by side with his Catholic countrymen in
the effort to secure a general ameliora-
ton of the condition of the Irish people
1t is too early to offer predictions on
this score as the London press now
show a disposition to do But if the
event should prove to be that such
coalition as they outline is realized, it
will be but a comparatively short time
before the Irish landlords will find it to
their interest to relinqush their hold
ings and submit to the result of the
movement which seeks to plant the
people on the soil out of which they
have been almost entirely rooted. Peas
ant proprietorshlp has been brought
nearer to a realization under the present
land act than even the most sanguina
ever looked forward to seeing realized
during this generation. With the addi
uonal step represented by the success
of the convention programme, with or
without the cooperation of the Ulster
Protestants, the great problem of the
land in ireland will have been forced to
settlement on the basis contended for
by every Irish statesman during hun
dred years and over.
Unless the dangers which have baset
the Irish people in their political move
ments during the entire history of the
race-the dangers of fractional division
and disulion--show themselves early in
the present movement, it is not unrea-
sonable TO expect that Irish politics NAV
soon be regarded with some of the in
terest which attached to them for many
years under Mr.. ParnelPs leadership
Ihere is no man among the leaders TO-
day who has shown any great fitness
Tor playing the role of head of great
national movement. Yet the earnestpess
OF the masses of the people in every line
of public conduct which looks directly
TO their reinstatement as owners of +ba
SOIL of their country offers of itself
strong assurance that the occasion will
produce man capable of meeting its
| requirements