The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-09-16
Position Taken by the English Government
In the Boer War an Important Fac
tor in the Fight.
National Sentiment in Ireland at Commence
ment Of Twentieth Century is
Stronger than Ever.

Ihere can be no doubt that when
the election does come-and it must
come soon-the present ministers. re-
sponsible for the failures and disas.
ters and vast expenditures involved in
the Boer war, will be defeated.
"Mr. Balfour's excuse for not re-
signing has been that only his govern.
ment could conduct negotiations with
Japan for a renewal of the treaty be.
tween that country and England. This,
of course, is a mere pretext and an at.
tempt to have the blunders of the
Boer war forgotten in the glamour of
what is regarded as the great achieve.
ment Of an alliance with victorious
Japan.
"'The British people, however, have
not forgotten how their fingers were
burned in South Africa, and a great
many of them also are doubtful as to
the policy of strengthening and en-.
couraging an Asiatic power which may
ut any time swoop down on the com.
monwealth of Australia"
Regarding his reference to the
blunders of the Boer war, Mr.. Red.
mond said that the mismanagement Of
affairs that caused the British forces
to suffer many defeats in the early
campaigns and the piling up of tax
of $3.50 100000 was not the only rea.
son for lingering resentment among
the people, but that South Africa since
the war has been disappointment.
1t was thought, he said, that immigra.
tion to South Africa would be stimu.
lated. Such, however, has not been
| the case. The condition of labor In
South Africa, he said, is worse off
than 1t ever was, wages being lower
and the importation of tens of thou.
sands Of Chinese coolies driving the
white laborers away. The only ones
who have benefited from the war, Mr..
Redmond said, are the mine owners,
many of whom are foreigners. In
other respects, he declared, South
Africa was better off under President
Kruger.
"Mr. Chamberlain's scheme of pro-
tection." continued Mr.. Redmond, "in.
| volving, as it would, undoubtedly, the
taxation of the foodstuffs Of the peo.
pie, also has helped to bring the pres.
ent government into deep discredit.
"The septennial act prevails in Eng.
land, and this government is five years
In existence. 1t might by law live for
two years more, but when Parliament
is dissolved and an election comes. as
1t may this fall, in all probability it
will see a liberal administration in.
stalled in Office. This, of course, will
be much to the advantage of the Irish
Nationalist party, for the official Lib.
eral leaders are pledged to deal with
the questions of Irish self-government
on the lines OF the late Mr.. Gladstone.
1T is true Lord Rosebery and some
other Liberals have forsaken home
rule, but they are without much in.
fluence in their party Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman, the Liberal
leader in the Commons, and Lord
Spencer, the Liberal leader in the
Lords, are both pledged to deal with
home rule, and one of these, in all
probability, will be the next prime
minister.
1.-THE Irish party has contributed
greatly to the overthrow of the pres.
ent government. 1t is it's duty to op.
pose all governments that will not
deal with the supreme question for
lreland-national self-government. We
have won important reforms for Ire
land from both Liberals and Conserva.
tives, but we are attached to neither
of these parties and are acting upon
the Independent lines laid down by
Charles Stuart Parnell. "a,
1T will be seen what great force
the Independent Irish party is in Par.
lament when l say that our number is
eighty, and that we are ready, on crit
ical occasions, to throw the full
weight of our vote upon whichever