The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-19
Irish Members Ag lin Conspicuous at
Westminster.


There is reason to believe that in the
session of Parliament which began on
/ Thursday the Irish Nationalist mem
bers will play o more conspicuous part
than they have played at any time
since the general election or 1895, when
the Rosebery Government was defeated.
Not only are the Irish people eSasperated
by what they deem the unprovoked APP
plication of the Crimes act in parts OF
Ireland and by the iniexible opposition
OF the Bilfour Cabinet 10 the proposed
compulsory appropriation of Irish land
lords, but they are Justly indignant at
I the Premier's refusal to give even a day
TO the discussion OF Irish affairs in a
session during which he has promised
To consider the interests Of far-of ganda.
II i by no means impossible that indig-
nation will lead then t. withdraw the
support which many Of them influenced
by the Irish-Catholic hierarchy, have
hitherto given II the Education bill,
and not merely to abstain from voting
in critical divisions, but even TO cooperate
with the Liberals in an endeavor to
defeat that measure.
II will he remembered that the Crimes
, act. unlike other coercion acts framed for
Ireland was not 20 expire bv limitation
/ but wa, to remain upon the statute book
until il should be repealed. Unlike
. other legislation. moreover, il may be
! applied by the British Government for
! the time being, not only TO Ireland,
( taken as a whole, but to any part of that
country which the Government may
choose to discipline. In order to COM
/ prehend what this astounding law means
F, TO the people of Ireland. we have but to
imagine our own national Chief Magis-
trate clothed with the power of pro-
claiming at his discretion or caprice,
| in any part OF the United States. a sus-
pension of the right Of hdbeds corpus and
the right Of trial by jury. with the result
that any American citizen in a pro-
claimed district could be arrested by
Federal officer and tried before a Federal
Judge, his life, liberty and property
being thus placed in jeopardy. Not for
moment would the American people
tolerate such state Of things. How
can we wonder then, that in Ireland,
subjected TO such oppression, We should
hear threats of instruction and perceive
signs Of a revival Of the physical force
party:
! Heretofore the upholders OF tho Crimes
act have insisted that, however unwel-
come the law might be 10 Irishmen, they
could not dispute its constitutionality,
mas much as it was passed in the Parlia-
ment of Great Britain aud Ireland,
wherein the last-named country pos
sesses representation out Of proportion
to her population. 1t is true that the
Irish Nationalist in the House Of Com
mons, though they constitute less than
an eighth of the whole number of mem
bers, are more numerous than they
would be if Ireland's representation
were strictly proportioned TO popula-
ton; but it is also evident that their pres
ence at Westminster is an empty form if
they are to be prevented from giving
expression 10 their countrys wishes.
This Is Just what Mr.. BALFoUR announced
his intention OF doing on the reassembling
of the House Of Commons by moving
that the whole Of the present session
should be devoted to Government bust
ness, which, he said, would consist of
the discussion of the Educat ion and
London Water bills, the supply vote
and sugar bounties, the Indian budget
the Uganda Railroad and the situation
in the Transvaal. An inquiry into the
condition Of large and integral part of
the United Kingdom--a condition so
grave that the guarantees of individual
, liberty have been there sus pended did
not enter at all into Mr.. BALFouR's pro-
grammc. Naturally, an Irish National
list leader protested against total ex-
clusion Of his co,mtry's urgent and vital
interests from the forum of Parliament
tarv debate, and he earnestly requested
that al least one day between now and
Christmas should be devoted to an ex-
animation Of the serious state Of affairs
, in Ireland. That was little. indeed
To aek, unless lrcands representation
at ST. Stephens is to be mockcry.
Thereupon Mr. BALFOrR proceeded to
, add Insult TO injury, by replying that, if
p the request for such an opportunity
came from the British Liberals, the
Government would grant it, but they
/ could not and would not notice the re-
quest if ii emana,ed from the Irish
: party. That is to say. lreland's spokes-
men are TO be gagged ard treated with
; contempt in the only Parliament which
4 since the Act Of Union they possess Mr..
t BALFouR's reply sounds like deliberate
provocation to acts of violence, and We