The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-01-09
lRELAND's NEW YEAR.

ASooOiA " AOoN AOA Wd1u W dl least d
partial fruition OF its hopes in the
coming twelvemonth than has Ire
land, says the New York Sun.
1t is true that Mr.. William O'Brien,
notwithstanding protests from both
sides Of the Atlantic, has insisted up
on carrying out his determination to
retire from public life. So long as he
lives, however, his advice will continue
to be sought and priced by his fellow
countrymen, and we understand that
his influence will no longer be resisted
by other Irish leaders. The concord
of the Nationalist members of Par
lament, which lately was threatened
with disruption, seems to have been
entirely restored. Since Mr.. Parnel
was deposed from the leadership Of
his party, the spokesman of Ireland in
Parliament have never, to all appear
ances, been more united. If they de-
sire the enthusiastic and substantial
support OF friends in the United States,
l1lCy VIII SIC W ~ llldI luC Hdl lllOlly
is not only ostensible, but sincere and
permanent. We do not hesitate to
say that the opportunity now offered
them is decidedly more promising than
that which they would have gained
had Mr.. Gladstone at the general cleo
ton held in the summer of 1886 sue
ceeded in carrying majority of the
constituencies. For, even could the
first home rule bill have been driven
through the House of Commons, it
would have encountered strenuous if
not insurmountable resistance on the
part OF the overwhelming Unionist
majority in the House OF Lords.
The situation now confronting. the
Irish Nationalist at Westminster is
essentially different. Their support is
now imperatively needed, not only by
the Liberals, but by the Unionist
government itself, dangerously weak
ened by the secession Of the free food
ers. Premier Balfours political FIJI
ture depends on his ability to postpone
a dissolution of Parliament until he is
reasonably assured of the triumph of
his new protectionist policy at the bal
lot box. To that end he must have
the assistance of the Irish National
lists, and there is scarcely any price
that he might not be induced to pay
for it. Already through his colleague,
the chief secretary to the lord lieuten-
ant OF ireland, he has promised that
bill for the relief OF agricultural
laborers shall be introduced and pass
ed at the next session Of Parliament.
Neither is there any doubt that he will
yield to the demand for an Irish Cath
Ole university thoroughly equipped for
teaching, as we'll as qualified to confer
degrees. He has repeatedly declared
himself in favor OF such measure,
and his views are known to be shared
by the Irish secretary. Hitherto he
has shrunlS from making a grant for
the purpose named cabinet question,
lest he should provoke the anger OF
the rabid anti Catholics within the
Unionist ranks. Mr.. Balfour is now
called upon to make his choice, and
we have little doubt that he will risk
their enmity, for at present his per-
sonal wishes coincide with his political
interests.
Should Mr.. Balfour deem it indis-
pensable for the success of his fiscal
programme that the life of the pres
ent Parliament should be prolonged
beyond the present year, it is not only
possible, but probable, that he would
seriously entertain Nationalist pro-
posal for some form of home rule.
For two reasons: One effect of the
last land purchase act has been to
abate materially, if not to extinguish
the OPPOSITION formerly offered by
Irish landlords to restoration of the
local autonomy which Irishmen for
merly enjoyed. They we're afraid that
their lands would be confscated; this
they fear no longer. In the second
place, Dublin parliament, having no
longer an .agrarian question to deal
witf-for almost all the arabic soil of
Ireland will have passed into the hands
of those that till it-would be almost
certain to display more conservative
and conciliatory spirit toward the rest
OF the United Kingdom than probably
would have been exhibited had Dub
lin parliament been created in 1886 or
1906. The concession, therefore, of a
large installment of self-government
to Ireland would be far less danger
Gus experiment than it was when orig
inally mooted. By qualified conces-
sion, therefore, to the wishes of the
home rulers, Mr.. Balfour would not
necessarily expose himself to the
charge of inconsistency.
These are some of the reasons for
thinking that the new year will offer
Irishmen chance of fulfilling their
patriotic hopes such as was never yet
within their grasp. We add that any
concession which Mr.. Balfour may be
prevailed upon to make is almost GER
tain to be sanctioned by the House Of
Lords, for in that body, notwithstand-
ing the detection of the Duke of Dew
onslire and Lord Goschen, the pre-
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