The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-06
Are Ireland's Prospects Brl ghter?

The Irish Nationalist cause had never
seemed more hopeless than when, at the
beginning Of the present session Of Par
lament Mr.. 4. j. BALFoUR refused to
allot so much as Il single day to the dis
cussion of Irish affairs. unless the request
should emanate from the British Liberal
party. The extraordinary position taken
blythe Prime Minister seemed 10 be based
on the assumption that tho Irish members
had no rights in the House Of Commons
that the Government was bound 10 re-
spect Naturally indignant at this as
sumption, large ma orty of tho Nation-
allsts, who hitherto had supported the
Ministerial Education bin, determined
not to remain in a place where they were
not wanted, and withdrew in body to
Ireland. Mr. BALFOCR soon found, how
ever, that he could not well do without
them and, doubtless at his request, the
Irish-Catholc hierarchy. which Is deeply
interested in placing tho support of De-
nominational schools upon the rates.
urged the Nationalist to return to West
minister, and their leader, Mr.. JONI
+. REDMOND. has called upon them to
do so.
There are signs that, outside Of his do
sire to please the representatives Of the
Catholic Church in ireland, the Nation-
alist leader had strong political motives
for his change of programme, In the
first place, the post Of Permanent Under
Secretary for Ireland had been con-
fcrred upon Sir ANTONY M'DoNNELL,
who is incomparably more acceptable To
the Nationalist than was his predcceS-
sor, Sir DAVID HAIRED, Soon after
ward, Mr.. FULLY, one Of the few Nation
alists who had remained at Westminster.
asked Mr. WYNDHAM, the Chief Secretary
to the Lord-Lieutenant Of Ireland, if he
was in a position TO define the change
Of Irish policy involved in Sir ANTONY
MDoNNELL'S appointment. Mr.. WYND-
HAM replied that the lrish policy Of the
Government might be gathered from his
own recent speeches presumably also
from those Of Earl DUDLEY, the Lord
Lieutenant and from the fact that a
Land Purchase bill would be the princi-
pal measure Of tho next session, Now
Mr.. WYNDHAMs recent speeches indl-
cate that he cordially approves Of the
attempt made by the moro moderate
section Of the Irish landlords t. come TO
an agreement with their tenants as TO the
conditions Of purchase and that the pros
pectivc Government bill is moro likely 10
conform the views of Mr.. r W. RUssrLL
and the United Irish League than to those
of the Duke of AEERCoRN and the stifr-
necked faction Of the landlord party.
If the deductions generally drawn
from Mr.. WYNDHAM's speeches are well
founded, the Agrarian question, which
lies at the root of lreland's troubles, is
approaching an equitable settlement.
1t is not only the fundamental problem
concerned with the restoration Of the
Irish land to the Irish people that seems
to have some chance Of solution. Earl
DUDLEY, the Lord-Licut enant, has been
making some speeches in Ireland which
have given offence to the more incor-
rigible ion of the Irish landlords,
for which he has been taken 10 task bv
the London Times, He has intimated
that, in his opinion. tho system of cast |,
government ought to be superseded by
some method Of administration more
fairly representative Of Irish aims and
wishes, and more directly accountable
to the Irish people. What he seems 10
have in view is species of national coun-
Gil which should exercise supervision
and control of interest, exclusively Irish
and thus relieve the Imperial Parliament
at Westminster from the necessity oI
managing the local affairs of Ireland
Although the phrase Irish Parliament
or" Dublin Legislature has not yet beer
mentioned by any spokesman of the
Balfour Government. il is obvious that
any devolution Of authority from the
Imperial Parliament at Westminster 10
body of Irshmen sitting in Dublin
would amount to n concession Of the
Home Rule principle, for which Mr.
GLADSTONE contendcd. Now it is mani,
fest that if lrishmen can only secure g
concession of the principle, the exten,
to which ,ybe principle shall be applied
ia merely n question Of time and orpor-