Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-22
IRISH RULE IN PARLIAMENT
Nationalist Have Balfour at Their Mercy
Now War is Over.
ALL PARTIES WAIT FOR LAND BILL
Measure is to he introduced
on Wednesday which VIII Either
secure Government New
Lease or Overthrow IL.

Copyright, 1903. by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON, March 21.-(New York World
Cablegram-Speoial Telegram.)-The date
for the introduction Of the long-heralded
Irish land purchase bill was announced to-
day. 1t will be presented in the House Of
Commons next Wednesday, March 20, by
Mr.. Wyndham. The most intense interest
is expressed in its terms, which have been
guarded with extreme care.
AS soon as the provisions are made public
a call will be issued for a convention, to be
held in Dublin. to discuss the bill.
The dangerous reef that now menaces
plain sailing is the difference between the
terms sought by the landlords and those
offered by the tenants. The landlords are
practically demanding a purchase price
equivalent to twenty-seven and a half years
rental. or course this price is not salts
factory to the tenants, and 1t is to adjust
this difference that the good Offices of the
British government are expected to be
called into play.
BaIfOur in PerIIous Plight.
The parliamentary situation is peculiarly
complicated, and the pressing demands OF
the Irish members are making the con-
dttiohsli still more interesting. Bslfour's
administration 10 passing through. a grave
crisis. The wave of jingoism that swept
the country during and Immediately after
the Boer war has been succeeded by a
feeling OF disgust, owing to the heavy taxa
ton consequent on that expensive struggle.
Recent by-elections nave reflected this re-
dictionary feeling in a most alarming way
from the ministerial standpoint. Several
Of the ministerial candidates have been
numerically %trounced, and constituencies
that have hitherto been ~stanchly tory, show
by the decreased support hat there IL a
grave menace to the stability of the govern
ment.
The ministerialists in the house realize
the situation fully and they know that it was
only by the absention Of the Irish mem
bers from voting against the English edu-
cation bill and other measures that the
government was saved from defeat. Hence
II is that the government is anxious to
give next Wednesday a land bill that Will
please the Irish members. OF course united
Irish support can be counted on so long
as the measure comes within reasonable
distance of their demands, but there will
be a bolt to the opposition otherwise, and
tina will mean an end to the conservative
majority.
The announcement that the government
contemplates a bill providing a modified
form of home rule for Ireland complexities
the present situation, which already pre-
sents an extraordinary muddle.
No measure of HON rule can be brought
before Parliament this year, and the Irish
secretary, Mr.. Wyndham, is quite likely to
deny the serious existence OF such a plan.
ANY denial, however, can be regarded as
mere political evasion due to the govern
ment's desire not to raise further oppo-
sition to the land purchase bill, which
is not expected to pass for several months.
The nationalist leaders refrain from
making any comment and publicly make
little of their continuous support OF Pre-
mier BalfouT. The rank and file, how
ever, do not hesitate to point out that the
government is now at their mercy and the
ministry would twice have been defeated
this session had they voted, as they have
done for years, with the opposition.