New-York tribune., 1903-01-20
AN IRISH SETTLEMENT

II seems almost too good TO be true, that
after all these weary years the seemingly per-
petual Irish question is at last to be satisfac
torily and finally settled Yet for such optimis-
tic prospect we have the authority of Mr.. John
Redmond, probably the most authoritative and
certainly the most aggressive and indomitable
of the Irish leaders, He declares that he eX-
poets soon 10 see measure enacted which will
heal the wounds of centuries, give the Irish
people a chance of living in peace and pros
perity on their own soil, and in brief settle
the Irish question. simultaneously with this
Irish utteranee there appears as our London
correspondent reports, notable article TO very
much the same effect in that ultra Conservative
organ. The Quarterly Review" Evidently
there is. in current phrase, something doing"
For innumerable reasons the world will hope it
will be successfully and completely and last
ingly done.
Curiosity, however, keeps pace with gratihca-
ton. What are the expected terms of settle"
ment neither Mr.. Redmond nor THE Quar-
terly' discloses. There is. however, hint of
it in Mr.. Redmond's speech. 10 wit that the
basis of settlement is TO be found in the volun-
tary purchase scheme formulated by Lord Dun
ravens Commission, of which Mr.. Redmond
himself is a member The British Government
is to enable the Irish tenantpeasantry to be-
come landed proprietors. That will, of course,
settle the land question. II will not, says Mr..
Redmond end the Home Rule question. but it
will remove the last obstacle ia settlement
of il. If that means anything, taken in con-
nection with the rest of Mr.. Redmond's thought
full and temperate speech, it means that the
Irish people are TO be content with getting rid
of landlordism and with securing complete local
autonomy and are to relinqush their dreams
of separation from the empire and of setting
up an independent nationality. The latter may
seem startling 10 those who remember how
strenuously Mr. Parnell insisted upon complete
secession, declaring that land reform, Home
Rule and all else were nothing but stepping
stones 10 the real goal, which must never be
lost sight of nor abandoned-namely. the sever
ing of the last link that bound Ireland to the
British Empire and to the British Crown.
Beyond doubt ii was that bold declaration of
secession which intensified British opposition
to Irish demands. even at times to demands for
reasonable reforms. Englishmen realized that
II would be suicidal TO permit the establishment
Of an independent nation at the other side of
st. Georges Channel. which might ally itself
with Continental foes and thus compel Eng
land 10 guard her shores at the west as well as
at the south and east and they naturally set
their faces as flint against everything which
was intended-as Mr.. Parnell declared-to make
toward that end With that end abandoned
and with ireland willing TO remain a loyal
member of the empire Engishmen will doubt
less be ready to grant every jrst REFORM and to
make. so far as they can make it, the condition
of ireland as prosperous, as independent and
as happy that of any other part OF the United
Kingdom The question is. Will Ireland be con
tent 10 forsweaF secessionE That is. we think,
TO be answered in the affirmative Just as soon