The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-10-15

| leLteC 10 Tie Times, IN winch III
comes out fatty against "the multipli
cation of legislative bodies within the
United Kingdom, whether in pursu
ance of the policy generally known as
Home Rule for Ireland or in pur
suance of the policy generally known
as Home Rule all round';;' and he ex.
pressly says that in this matter he
speaks without reserve or qualifica.
tion" on behalf of the Unionist gov
ernment.
In other words, "Take you due heed,
you wavering Balfourites and Union
lists generally. you who value your
Unionist principles and your heroic
past, that for you there is no safety
from the Nationalist peril except with
in the true Balfour fold. Home rule is
still of the devil; and those other fel-
ows are horribly tarred."
But Mr.. Wyndham and his pretty
tale are not enough. The Times is
still ureasy and Irish Unionists still
cry out. They see joints in Mr.. Wynd-
ham's armor. He is not exact and
thorough enough in his disavowal of
the Dunraven deyolution campaign
the proposals Of the Irish Reform as
sociation. For instance, it is still open
for the home rule press to deduce
from Mr.. Wyndham's letter that he
approves Of modifying the procedure
of private bill legislation for Ireland,
giving 1rishmen more control over
Irish affairs in Ireland. and that he
believes changes in financial admin
istration to be coming, though the time
may not yet be ripe; moreover is he
not ominously silent in regard to the
proposed inclusion Of Roman Catholic
colleges in the University of Dublin,
| and may lie not therefore be deemed
a supporter of this terrible sugges-
ton? In word. Mr.. Wyndham's let
ter leaves unanswered the suggestion
that Sir Antony, the Home Ruler, has
won over the chief secretary to an ac-
ceptance Of the general idea Of ad-
ministrative and financial devolution
and decentralization for Ireland.
Forthwith the Times and the Union
| lists who are pushing the Times from
behind demand Sir Antony's dismissal
he is technically "lent" by the Sec
retary of state for India to the Irish
government and can at any moment be
invited to resume his duties as men,
Der of the India council; and they de-
mand also from Mr.. Wyndham and
the Balfour ministry an explicit dis
avowal Of all decentralizing intentions
in regard to Irish affairs. Moreover
they call for a government bill next
session to deprive Ireland of a good
half of her eighty members of the
imperial parliament. Mr.. Dowden is
more than brilliant man Of letters
he is an ardent Irish Unionist, and he
writes in the Times: "With view to
the maintenance of the Union, it is
important that the people Of England
should know and feel that the Union
does not permanently infiict upon
them real and serious injustice. The
proportion of Irish Unionist opinion in
parliament would also rise to its true
level, and an injustice to Ireland, as
well as an injustice to England, would
be righted."
Here, then, is the prediction Irish
policy set before the ministry by it's
stalwarts. 1t is skilfully devised to
stir up Nationalist hostility and heat
ed language; to provoke also Nation
alist champions within the Liberal
ranks. such as Mr.. Morley, to come out
boldly again for Irish home rule, and
so drive doubling Unionists back into
the Balfour- Chamberlain camp. and
obliterate the fiscal schisms of the
hour in a grand attack in the good old
style. 1t is game of politics, and
for the moment may succeed. But
meanwhile Ireland is slowly but sure.
ly working out her own industrial SAL
vation, and the home rule problem
will soon be beyond the reach of the
mere politician.