The Irish standard., 1905-05-13
BANNERMAN
Liberal Leader Answers Pointed
Questions Frankly.
Question of Home Rule Will Be
Uppermost.

House of Commons on the question of
Home Rule for Ireland John Redmond
took occasion to give expression in
very plain language to the Irish Ma
tional sentiment on the subject, says
the Irish World. The discussion was
of motion by Tory member setting
forth: THAT in view of the conflict
ing statements which have been made
by the various leaders of the Opposi-
tiou (the Liberal party) on the subject
of Home Rule, it is eXpedient that the
right honorable gentleman, the men,
ber for the Stirling Burghs (Sir Henry
Campbell Zimmerman, Liberal leader
in the House) should explicitly de-
clare weather or not it is his intention
to recommend to the electors of the
United Kingdom the policy of estab-
ishing Parliament in Ireland"
OF course, the pupose of this mo-
ton was to embarress the Liberal
leader by placing him in position
in which he would be compelled to
answer, yes or no, whether he and
his party were or were not for Home
Rule in the full Irish sense, the Tory
idea being that either answer would
involve the liberals in a situation of
a ,,1 Inn 1,n
we're yes, it would afford ground for
an immediate anti-Liberal agitation
among the British electorate, if it
were no, it would forfeit to the Liber
ais the support of the Irish party. But
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, to
his credit be it said, did not show him.
self in the least afraid to face the
issue. While repudiatng the claim
or as he properly described it, "the
preposterous demand" of his oppon-
ents that he should state to them
tfor their party advantage) what poll
cy he should ''in certain future con-
tingencies" recommend to his col
leagues, hem ade ma hesitation inre-
iterating his well-known views as to
government in Ireland. He did this
by recalling his and his party's sup
port of the Irish amendment to the
ministerial address in reply to the
Kings speech" at the opening of the
Session That amendment, moved by
Mr Redmond, declared that:
"The present system of govern
nIent in Ireland is in opposition to
the will of the Irish people, and gives
them no voice in the management of
their own affairs; that the system is
consequently ineffective and extrava-
Santly costly, does not enjoy the con-
tidencc of any section of the popula-
ton and is productive of universal
discomfort and unrest, and has proved
TO be incapable of Satisfactorily pro-
noting the material and intellectual
progress of the people
The Liberal leader, in reply to the
Tory challenge. recalled and repeated
his approval and adoption of this
amendment, the clauses of which he
singled out us follows. as assertions
that could not be refuted or denied:
Does any ont say that this system
of government in Ireland is not in
opposition to the will of the Irish
people? Who can say that in the
presence of this huge majority of
Irish members against it? Does any
one deny that the Irish people have
not full voice in the management of
their own affairs? Does any one say
that the system is effective and that
it is not extravagantly costly? Who
is there who says that the system en-.
Joys the confidence of every section
of the population, or that there is any
section whose confidence it does en-.
joy? Is there discomfort and unrest in
Ireland 1t is not disputed that the ma
terial and intellectual progress of the
people is not satisfactorily promoted
Taking them one by one-eaca oi
these clauses venture to say that
not one man out of ten. be he Unionist
or Home Ruler. or whatever he may be
can deny this tissue of charges
brought by Mr.. Redmond"
Then Sir Henry, referring to the
policy of Mrs Gladstone for remedyins
those admitted evils of Government
sn Ireland, thcs described and av,wat
his adherence to it:
What was the principle aud roo
OF that policy? 1t was the right =
the Irish people to the management
of their own domestic affairs. Sue
cessive plans by which this was to bt
given to them failed to satisfy The
country (England). But the principle
Of self-government, the principle of al
erning element in Ireland. remains
m our view, the only principle con
sonant with our constitutional habit
and practice. and, what is more, til,
only principle that will ever work"
It will thus be seen that the officia
leader of the British Liberal part,
may be regarded as sound and homes
on the Irish question. He recognize
the right of the Irish to the manage