The Irish standard., 1903-06-20

The last issue of the Independent I
contains the following letter from the
pen of Justin Mccarthy:
We are approaching the Whitsuntide
recess, and the coming of Whitsuntide
always marks an epoch in the work of
the Parliamentary session. Those ac-
tually engaged in Parliamentary life
or concerned in watching it's progress
take it for granted that the Govern
ment will have unfolded their program
before the arrival of Easter; that they
will have accomplished the best part
Of its work by the time the Whitsun-
tide holidays have set in, and that
they will then have left themselves
time enough to complete the business
before the session reaches it's close.
There is a sort of theory that the work
which is not fairly on it's way before
Whitsuntide is not likely to be got
through during the remainder of the
session, and that the ministerial plans
are therefore for the time doomed to
failure. Now the Conservative govern
ment have thus far got fairly on with
their work. The financial measures
for the year as disclosed in the budget
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Mr.. Ritchie, may be regarded for the
most part as practically accomplished.
The Irish Land Tenure bill, the great
measure of the session, has passed its
second reading by an immense and
almost unparalleled majority. All
this, of course, looks most promising
for the results of the sessions work.
But then there are some other con-
siderations to be taken into account
The committee stage of the Irish Land
bill opens up the most difficult part Of
the task which the Government have
undertaken for the pacifcation and
reconciliation of Ireland. The House
Of Commons has approved by its over
whelming majority the main principles
of the measure, but then there are GER
tain amendments in the working out
Of the scheme which the Irish National
party have prepared, and without
which it is doubtful whether the Irish
Nationalists can see their way to any
further support of the measure. These
amendments are believed by all the
friends of ireland to be absolutely
necessary for the efficient working of
the new legislative scheme, and if the
Conservative statesmen in Office do not
see their way to accept some at least
of these amendments, then chaos has
come again. The Government have
already got so far and been so we'll
received with their measure for the
settlement of the Irish Land question
that it seems impossible to believe
them capable of spelling the whole
splendid enterprise rather than con-
sent to acknowledge that their work is
susceptible of improvement. The mere
possibility, however, that they may be
unwise enough to adopt such course
of action is an element of the utmost
importance when we consider at this
period of the year the chances Of
session of Parliamentary work. The
Government have it now actually in
their power to carry out to complete
fulflllment the splendid undertaking
for the settlement of the Irish Land
question, which was begun by legis-
lation more than thirty years ago un-
der the leadership of William Ewart
Gladstone. If they fail in their work
it will be their own fault, and even
though that work should be accomp-
lished later on by other hands, they
will at least have spoiled session.
But then the Irish Land measure is
not the only heavy responsibility un-
dertaken by Arthur Balfour's Govern
ment. There is an Education bill for
London which is the outcome Of the
Education act passed last year. Now
that Education act has had as one of
its results the arousing of spirit Of
bitter and determined antagonism
among the Dissenting and Noncon-
formist denominations Of Great Brit
ain. shall not enter here into any
consideration of the main principles IN.