The Irish standard., 1902-05-17

once nave counted. LOfu hOSeUefy
has declared against home rule, and
some few of the English Liberals have
obeyed his whistle and followed in his
footsteps. This fact, however, deplor-
able as it may seem to all true-hearted
English Liberals, has only tended to
strengthen the position of the Irish
party, for it helps still further to teach
Irishmen that they must depend upon
themselves alone. The grotesque mis-
government of Ireland lately by the
officials of Dublin Castle has been of
incaluculable advantage to John Red
mond and to his followers. Ireland
has been put absolutely under the con-
troll of policemen, so far as the right
of public meeting and public speech
is concerned. and this ut time when
the island is free from crime of any
kind to a degree absolutely unknown
in England. The manner in which
public meetings are now suppressed
and dispersed in Ireland at the mere
command of police official who un-
dertakcs to say before meeting has
begun that the speakers are certain to
utter unlawful sentiments, and must
something only worthy of place in
one of w. S. Gilberts delightful comic
fantasies One is inclined to wonder
whether in the Irish department of the
present administration there is no man
with brains enough or with enough
sense of humOr to recognize the hope
less absurdity of such attempts to deal
with the Irish National movement.
In the meantime all this tells i'm
menscly for the advantage of the Irish
Parliamentary party, united, disci-
plined and nationally supported as it
now is. The Irish party makes itself
conspicuous in every great debate 1t
always stands by the cause of the
working classes. the poor and the op-
pressed whenever such Il cause is
brought by any member of any party
under the consideration of the House
of Commons. Only the other day the
Irish vote enabled the Labor party in
the house to obtain Il victory over the
government on an important question
concerning THE hours Of work imposed
on one class of operatives in England.
1t is now beginning to be thoroughly
understood among the working popu-
lation Of Great Britain that the Irish
National party may always ie counted
upon to help in every parliamentary
effort made for the tightening of the
conditions under which they have to
toll. There is always Il large body of
Irish National members in attendance
during the slttings of the house ready
to take advantage of any opportunity
that may arise for the support of their
friends and the confusion of their
enemies. The representatives of other
political sections may often fall away
from their attention to parliamentary
duties, may he drawn Off by affairs of
business or the temptations of social
enjoyment; but there is never an hour
of parliamentary sitting without the
presence of IL large number of the Irish
National members ready to take part
in any debate that may arise. John
Redmond is splendilly supported in
debate by many of his followers.
There are no nObler, more ready and
more impressive speakers in the house
than such men as John Dillon. r. p.
O'COnnOr. Edward Blake and others
whom l could name. men who could
not but he recognized as power and
an influence in any parliamentary as
sembly. THE lntc general election has
brought into the Irish party several
younger men. who. although new to
parliamentary life, have already won
for themselves honorable distinction
in the debates of the House of Com
mons.
must not omit to add that the ut
ter failure OF the governments recent
endeavnrS to deal with the land u,lcs-
tion in Ireland has converted the u
ster constituencies into sincere and
active opponents of that system of All
ministration which until thus lately
they alone had been willing to sup
port. The peaceful revolution which
is accomplishing itself among the VI
stcr constituencies under the leader
ship of that remarkable man. Mr. II.
w. Russell. is one of the most instruc-
tive political events of the time. Mr.
Russell is or WAS IL Conservative. and
a strong opponent of homo rule. Tic
was Il member of the present Tory ad
miniStrAtor, his place i'm which hr re
signed only Il short time ago because
Lord Salisbury and his colleagues
could not be prevailed upon to dra
boldly and justly with the Irish nn
question. Mr.. Russell is one of tn,
readieSt and most effective lrhatrrS il
the House of Commons. and II may bl
taken for granted that the moment II.
sees. as he soon must sec that n fu|
settlement Of the land uuestiolOis not t,
be obtained without home rule. he will
become one of the most earnest nnt
resolutc of home rulers. Even the in
tense hostility which has been aroused
! nuainct tIn Iricll NntiDnnl Mnnlllnr