The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-03-19

MI. Redmond With VoluminOuS notes
rose to speak. The whips of the Irish
party We're on hand and had the Irish
members i'll their seats. a few Lib
erals We're present, enough to give Il
majority, together with the Irish, over
the government members present. Mr..
Redmond spoke but q few minutes
Mr. Wyndham replied with equal brev-
ity; he was evidently waiting to reply
to the protests which he expected
other members of the Irish party to
make. But the Irish party had been
Informed by Mr.. Redmond that no
speeches We're to be made and they
sat still i'll their seats. The Liberals
also obeyed orders and made no reply.
There was nothing left but to take Il
vote. Mr.. Wyndham and the govern
ment whips then realized how deliber-
ately they had been outwitted by the
irrepressible Irish. The bells for a
division of the house rang out with
only Il few government supporters in
their seats. Messengers were sent in
every direction to summon absent
members in the hope that the govern
ment might be saved. but although
many returned in time to vote the
Balfour government was defeated by
eleven votes. Then followed an in
describable scene in the house. The
Irish and Liberal members yelled
themselves hoarse. In fact. had it
not been for the prolonged cheering
Mr.. Balfour and his cabinet would
have been forced to resign. The time
consumed in cheering gave the gov
eminent whips time enough to bring
into the house enough government SIP
porterS, so that when Mr.. Redmond
proposed Il vote of lack of confidence
in the government, the Unionists were
able to show Il majority of Twenty-Five.
1t was one of the most interesting
days in parliamentary history and re-
calls the days of Parnell and Glad
stone. The Irish party showed SPLEEN
did discipline and leadership. 1t has
demonstrated that the day is at hand
when it will hold the balance of power
in the House of Commons. The wis
dom of the Irish leaders in maintain
ing Il political independence of either
of the English parties is now apparent
even to the opponents of the policy of
the Irish parliamentary party. The
victory of last Tuesday was won from
the cross benches to which Purnell led
the party. The time is at hand when
no English party can hope to retain
power without yielding to the fair de-
mants of the Irish party. The COM
plete success Of the Irish cause de-
ponds upon the discipline and tact 0f
the Irish in Parliament. 1t is time,
for every we'll wisler for Ireland to
give his support to the party. There
have been differences of opinion
among the Irish in this country as
well as in Ireland as to the best means
~ ellplOv " secure lflSIl Sell-SONefll-
ment. We assume that there never
has been any difference in opinion
among true Irishmen as to the desir.
ability of home rule for Ireland. 1t
must be apparent now to everybody
that great opportunity is before the
Irish people. One thing is certain, the
present British ministry cannot long
remain in power without Irish sup
port. Everybody knows what price
the Irish members will demand for
that support. Very few imagine that
the Unionists will grant those de-
nands The result will be dissOu-
ton of Parliament. a new election,
and return of solid Irish party.
which will in all probability have the
balance of power Whichever Eng
fish party is invited by the king to
form ministry will then have to
come to an agreement with the Irish