Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1905-12-16
Glance Backward at Liberal
Governments Which
Failed.
Many ThOrns Among the Roses
Into Which New Premier
Has Fallen.
IRISH PARTY THB ONLY ONE UNITED

AAAHASHohcn' ANU 10 uOW iSduluB
question with Irish patriots in Ireland,
In America and wherever there are any
sons of the Gael. Sir Henry Cambell-
Bannerman, the Liberal leader, has
formed his new Cabinet and it is pre-
sumed that they are all in favor of home
rule for Ireland. Yet there may be many
difficulties and obstacles in the way.
In the first place there is to be a new
general election and there is no telling
how that will result. Even should the
Home Rulers elect majority in the
House of Commons, the House of Lords
is still to be dealt with, and the history
Of that body does not indicate that Eng
lish Peers will favor the home rule move
ment.
Take a retrospective view of the atti-
tude of the British Parliament on the
home rule question. From 1874 to 1880
the Tory Cabinet under the Premiership
of Disraeli was in power. Then came
into power the Liberals, with Gladstone
as Prime Minister. During that period
the Liberals with few exceptions opposed
not only home rule, but almost every
measure of relief for Ireland. In less
than six years the Liberal Government
was in such straits that Gladstone and
his Cabinet resigned, and we're succeeded
by Tory Cabinet with Lord Salisbury
at its head. Late in that year, 1885, a
general election was held, with the result
that the members of the Irish Par
liamentary party held the balance of
power. Gladstone, who still continued
to be the Liberal leader, made overtures
to the Irish party or Parnellites, as they
were then called. The overtures were
accepted and Liberals and Parnellites
together hedged the Tories about with
so many difficulties that Salisbury and his
Cabinet were overthrown in 1886. Once
more Gladstone became Prime Minister,
and he did make an effort to force the
passage of home rule bill. The meas
ure was not acceptable to all of the Irish
members, yet they determined to aid
Gladstone in its passage as a stepping
stone to something else. But the Lib
erals to the number of ninety-three re-
volted from Gladstone's rule. Joseph
Chamberlain, Goschen and Lord Hart
ington, now the Duke of Devonshire, led
the fight against the home rule measure
and caused its defeat in FIVE months after
the new Cabinet was formed. Gladstone
went out and Salisbury once more came
into power. OF course there was no
chance for home rule during his regime.
AS before things did not 60 we'll with the
Tory Cabinet and it was forced to resign
in 1892, when a new election was held
and the home rule party had a majority
of forty in the House of Commons.
Gladstone was Premier again and his
home rule bill went through the lower
house only to be defeated in the House
Of Lords. Once more Gladstone re-
signed. That time he was succeeded as
Premier by Lord Rosebery, whose reign |
was exceedingly brief. In less than
year Lord Salisbury was returned to the
head of the Government, where he re-
NAMED until three years ago, when his
1ephew, Arthur ]. Balfour, succeeded |
him.
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman is
seventy years of age. Twenty years ago
lie was Chief Secretary for Ireland and
etained the position under two Cabinets,
'r until his political associates were de-
'osed. During the past six years Sir
Henry has been the Liberal leader. He
las a record for hard and aggressive
york rather than for brilliancy of design
II execution. Some of his old confreres
Ike Asquith and Lord Rosebery are
lready in revolt against his home rule
'olicy. 1t can not even be estimated
that force they have until the new gen.
raj election is held.
Meanwhile John Redmond, leader of
be Irish Parliamentary party, has issued
office on the Liberals that the Irish
iembers will not support them until
1ey favor home rule. One thing is GER
lin, the Irish people will send able rep
to the next Parliament, and
class of men who are pledged to stick {
'gether. In this way, and in this way
nly, can any measure Of home rule be {
.tained.
Balfour. in his recent speech at Man
hester, tainted the new Prime Minister S
it'll lack of power and predicted his
,eedy downfall. Things are not so easy :
r Sir Henry as they might be and he
i'll undoubtedly have hard row to hoe
.tween now and the general election at
asst.
The official announcement of the new
,binet was made on Monday. Banner
an Is Prime Minister and First Lord of
e Treasury. Herbert Henry Asquith
comes Chancellor of the Exchequer.
erbert ]. Gladstone. son of the former
emier. the late William E. Gladstone,
IS the portfolio of State for Home Af- a.
Ire. Sir Edward Grey gets the foreign ri
rtfoiio and John Morley gets the In 10
an affairs to look after, while James -
yce becomes Chief Secretary for Ire a
I'd. Even the Conservative papers say o,
1t the new Cabinet Ia strong, while the
bral journals are enthusiastic. The o
Ijority of the new Cabinet officers are M
/ and out Home Rulers. IL