New-York tribune., 1902-01-20
THE CASE OE IRELAND-

With the opening of Parliament it is to be ex.
pected that the perennial Irish question Will
again appear, under somewhat the same au-
spices as those Of last year. In spite Of the
efforts Of Lord Rosebery and others, which may
succeed in more sharply dvorcng the Liberals
from the Irish Nationalists than ever and In
bringing over to new standard of imperial
policy some Of the more moderate Conserva-
tives, 1t is not likely that the recent status of
purely Irish problems will be Immediately and
greatly changed. The programme Of Irish lead
ers like Mr.. Redmond seems to have become
pretty well developed, while on the other hand
the counter agitation represented by those who
like Mr.. Chamberlain, aim at reducing Irish OBJ
structionism by reducing Irish representation in
Parliament will probably be continued.
The supreme and most remarkable fact how
ever, in connection with recent or pending Par
liamentary issues concerning Ireland is that to-
day, at the dawn Of the twentieth century, home
rule for Ireland is still so much of living issue
is still far from being an academic question for
British statesmen. A full century has elapsed
since Ireland became fairly incorporated into
the British Empire and began to share in the
imperial government At the time Of the Amer
lean revolution Ireland was still, to ell intents
and purposes, British colony; and with her, as
with the American colonies the question then
was whether TO exercise representative rights
by means Of home rule or by participating in
the functions Of the Imperial Parliament Amer
lea, perforce, chose the former course, with the
added results of national independence and fed
eral union. But the case OF Ireland was differ
ent. Imperial representation was at least prac-
ticable for her. while 1t would not have been
practicable for America. And IN 1901. for veal
or woe, she entered into the Treaty of Union.
She gave up as Scotland had already DONE her
experiment of an Independent parliament and
entered upon a new political career. Has that
career been a failure? Without reviewing In
detail those changes in British policy such as
the Reform acts of 1882 and 1867 and the act
removing the legal advantages of the Church of
England over other religious bodies In Ireland
which have deeply affected both English and
Irish civic welfare, 1t is generally agreed that
the course of British imperial government dur
ing the last hundred years has upon the whole
been favorable to the increased political infIu-
enee of Ireland So far, indeed, as the matter
of representation is concerned, It exceeds, ac-
cording to Mr.. Chamberlain, by thirty members
It's due proportion upon the basis Of population.
het meantime, owing chiefly to intense racial
ieeIhg and to the ever present land question,
the people of Ireland have not ceased to camor
Tor home rule and to play the part OF obstruc-
uonists IN Parliament And whatever NAV be
the promise of the future, the fact remains that
the political condition of Ireland is still unsatis
Factory. both TO ireland and to the imperiaI
government So that it Is not SURPRISING that
a doubt has arisen In some minds as to xvbatber
nome rule or any other radical measure of polity
or policy can ever really make ireland a con-
tented and harmonious member of the empire