The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-07
ANOTHER IRISH OPPORTUNITY

ANOTHER IRISH OPPORTUNITY.
Whatever others may gain or lose
by the fluctuations of English poll
tics, the Irish party is winner every
time. 1t is but year ago that 1T Sc
cured from the Conservative govern
ment the greatest concession made to
tual wiping out of the system of land
lordism, and the establishment of the
people of Ireland as owners of their
own soil: the financial resources of thu
imperial government being used, as far
as credit must be employed, to carry
the plan through OF the two great
questions that have agitated Ireland
during many desperate and turbulent
years, the land question may be con-
sidered settled. The home rule ques-
ton was for the future.
The home rule question is likely to be
for the present in very short time,
and is the greatest obstacle in the path
Of Mr.. Balfour and Mr.. Chamberlain.
1t is quite out of question that they
should grant any measure Of home
rule which the Irish representatives
would accept. 1t cannot be forgotten
that Mr.. Chamberlain himself seeded
from Mr.. Gladstone's party and be-
came the head of the Unionist move
ment because he would not support the
very restricted and limited measure of
home rule that the great Liberal lead
er proposed. On that occasion at least
We believe that he was sincere Most
of his associates certainly are. How
diced they may appear to us to be, they
will stand at any cost against any ap-
pearance of separate political exist
ence for Ireland. They could not carry
their own followers, We think, on this
point on any other line if they would.
Now nothing less than this will be
be accepted by the Irish party. Having
obtained concessions of practically all
that it demanded in other directions,
it will combine and concentrate upoa
this. Moreover, the government Is go
ing to need Irish help very soon. 1t
has sustained important losses by the
detection of Conservatives who will not
give in to the new fiscal policy pro-
posed by Mr.. Chamberlain. These have
so lessened a majority which was orce
sufficient for all practical purposes of
government that the solid opposition
of the Irish members might at any mo-
ment throw the ministry into a mi
nority.
1t Is this they have been struggling
to avoid. They do not wish to &c to
the country until there has been time
to discuss thoroughly and propagate
everywhere their new idea. They be-
lieve that 1t would be beaten if re-
ferred to the people now, and that it
will win if such references can be de-
ferred for brief period. Thus the
Irish vote comes to have for them
great Importance and great signifi-
canoe. They can neither hold it with
out paying the price, nor pay the price
demanded
Yet ten years, or even five years
ago, the concession by a conservative
government Of such terms as were
made by the land bill would have been
hooted at as impossible. The English
are really more scared than hurt.
They are repealed by the name, rather
than the thing. They are swayed by
prejudice. rather than reason, when
they set their faces against every
form of home rule. Just as an Irish
peasantry, pacif1ed by reasonable land
conditions, is less a burden and more
an Industrial support than one racked-
rented into rebellion, so Ireland would
be content with a reasonable autono-
my, and would be an ally, rather than
a secret foe always to be feared. The
idea of actual separation and the es-
Enlistment Of Ireland as a separata
state is so impossible that it need not
enter into the question.
We expect to see the home rule prin-
ciple admitted within the next few
years just as suddenly, with just as
little English protest and with Just as
good results as the principle that the
people Of Ireland should own the soil
OF Ireland has been. All things come
to those who are steadfast and can
biGe their time.