The Irish standard., 1905-05-13

81 STANDARD, SATURDAY, NJ
In speaking of the attitude that he
wished his friends to assume in refer.
ence to the coming election. Mr.,
Davitt expressed some hesitancy
about giving the advice. I'm one
sense" he said, this is more mat.
ter for Mr.. Redmond and his col
leagues to decide upon than for
friendly outsiders. We know and be-
.ieve that the course which, in their
judgment, will seem the wisest and
best under the circumstances, will be
followed, but we can express opinions
in advance just for what they are
worth. One of four possible courses
will in all probability be adopted.
First, to oppose the Liberals so as to
obtain the balance of power for che
irish force in the House of Commons.
Second, to support the Unionists in
this sense also and on account of the
conflict in England on the schools
question. Third, to remain neutral,
or, fourth, to support the British Lib
eral party. Speaking for myself only,
] am strongly in favor of the last of
these four alternatives. The labor
leaders are Home Rulers by convic.
ton. They are not trimmers on an
issue so vital to the future of Ireland.
Moreover, the Labor Party of the
future, with payment of members as
a certain result of the next Liberal
House Of Commons, will be a party
of power and influence in British leg
islation, and am anxious that this
party should be won even more
strongly than ever to the side of Ire
lands claim for national self-govern-
ment by the help Of Irish votes in
British constituencies at the next
elections. To oppose the Liberals with
the double object of reducing possi-
BILE large majority, or to support the
Unionists on the question of schools,
will have one or two equally in
furious effects, in my humble opin-
ion, on the fortunes of the Home
Rule question in the new Par
lament. Such opposition would OBJ
viously be more welcome than
otherwise to that section of the Liber-
al Party which is now unfriendly to
Home Rule, as it would relieve the
whole party of at least a party obli-
cation to deal with a question on
which the party would be divided
after being opposed at the polls by
the Irish vote. We ought also to bear
in mind the probability that even if
opposed by Irish voters the Liberals
might still have majority over the
Irish Party and Unionists combined
in the new House of Commons. What
lish party rather than another popular
in some quarters is the notion that in
this way the balance of power would
be held by Mr.. Redmond and his
friends. This idea looks very tempt
ing. 1t sounds we'll. But it demands
most careful thought and considera-
ton. Suppose, for instance, the Lib
erals come back to power with a ma
jority made up of Nationalists only.
Do you imagine that all would be we'll
with the fate of the new Administra-
tion in the hands of the Irish party?
| do not. First, don't believe the
Liberals will take Office under con-
ditions such as these, and, secondly,
if they did and passed a measure of
local government for Ireland the
Lords would throw it out without
mercy But, it would be Lord Rose
berry and his friends in the Liberal
party, and not Mr.. Redmond and our
friends, who would under these cir
cumstances be the masters of the ac-
tion of the Liberal party on all Irish
issues in the House of Commons, and
we know now what that would mean.
On the other hand, by supporting the
Labor party, of course where there
would be reasonable chance of sue
cess for such candidates, no party
offence would be given to the Lib
erals, and no reproaches could be
made after the elections by Liberal
leaders against what would be a per-
lectly legitimate party policy on the
part of the leaders of the Irish forces
|, of course, advocate in this connec-
tion what desire, as we'll as what
1 think is polite and wise from the
point of view of the permanent in
terests of Home Rule. l wish to see
a powerful Labor party in the House
of Commons, because hat will be for
the good of the masses with whom l
sympathize in any country, and, Sec
ondly, because it will stand for pro-
gress and democracy as against the
continued domination of class inter-
ests and influences in England. And,
after all, in the last report, we must
obtain Home Rule through the British
masses, if we are ever to get it by
constitutional means, and this being
ca for ono am strongly in favor