New-York tribune., 1901-12-13
THE MEMBER FOR GALWAY"

The recent arrival of Mr. Horace Plunkett in
this country is a reminder OF the contest which
the venerable Mother of Parlaments' has to
determine in relation 10 the seat for the Irish
Borough of Galway. The constituency is one of
the rotten boroughs" which should and under
proper redistribution of seats would, be abol-
ished. containing only some twenty two hundred
voters. Normally it is overwhelmingly National
ist, but the last general election the Conserva-
tive candidate was elected by a small majority,
a result entirely due to the personal influence of
his father, Lord Morris, who had lived there all
his life of seventy years and more and was ac-
quainted probably with every person in the bor-
0ugh. Upon Lord Morris's death short time
ago, his son succeeded to the peerage, and, OF
course, vacated his seat in the Commons. 1t
was a foregone conclusion that whoever should
be chosen to fill the vacancy must be man ac-
ceptabe to the Home Rulers
Thereupon Mr. Horace Plunkett was put for
ward a candidate. From one point of view
he Unionist government, candidate,
since he is vicepresident of the Department of
Agriculture and Technical instruction under
Lord Salisbury's administration, and has always
been classed among the Unionists. Yet he calls
himself Nationalist, and has permitted avowed
Home Rulers TO manage his campaign. In his
letter of acceptance at Galway he refraned
from saying anything TO which the most pro-
nounced Home Ruler or the most ardent pro-
Boer could take exception. He has not hesi-
tated TO condemn some parts of the Irish policy
of the present government, and he was recent
ly rejected by Unionists in a bye-election in
the strongly Unionist constituency of South
Dublin. In addition it is to be said that he is
man of high ability and character and that
he has done more than almost any other man
of the age to restore industrial and commercial
prosperity to Ireland in these circumstances
his candidacy in Galway seemed hopeful of sue
cess.
The Home Rulers and pro Boers-the two are
one-nominated against him, however, Mr. Ar
thur Lynch, who was commended to the voters
on the sole ground that he had, ii was said
been colonel of Irish troops in the Boer army
and had fought effectively against the British
Such candidacy seemed farce since it was
quite patent that if Mr.. Lynch had really done
what his supporters said he had been guilty of
treason and could not take his seat in the Com
mons but would be arrested the moment he
came within reach of the British police. Never
theless Mr. Lynch was elected and Mr. Plunkett
vas defeated. And so the question arises, What
will Parliament do about 1t? 1t is commonly
believed that Mr.. Lynch did fight for the Beers
but there is no legal evidence to that effect. No
Englshma1, so far as is known can testify to
having seen him in the Boer ranks. The Irish
men of Galway say he there, but that is
mere hearsay, for they did not him there
And Mr. Lynch himself carefully refrans from
committing himself upon the subject, and can
not Of course. be required TO testify against
himself The onus of proving him a traitor will
rest with the government and it does not ap-
pear that the government has can secure the
technical legal proof which is necessary. Like
Postmaster Droaet of Sante Menehould, it sis
not sure. only morally certain"
Thus there is much perplexity concerning the
course TO be pursued toward Mr.. Arthur Lynch,
member-elect for Galway. Nor does it stop
with him. Suppose he is declared ineligible?
Then the seat goes to Mr.. Plunkett by default.
But Mr. Plunkett is understood to have declared
that he would not take it in such circumstances.
But if he does not, then he is out of Parla-
ment with two defeats charged against him. 1t
is not certain that it is necessary for him, as it
would be for Cabinet Minister, to get himself