Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-24
A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Rosebery,s will affect the position of the
government. The unonists are claiming
that the differences between Mr. Balfour's
declaration at Newcastle and Mr.. Cham
berlains at Bristol, though serious, is a
difference of degree, not Of kind. But as
between Lord Rosebery and his adherents
and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and
his adherents the difference Is a difference
of degree as well as Of kind. The liberal
league will accept no policy that leads up
to the larger policy of home rule. Sir
Henry Campbell advises the
nationalists to accept no policy that does
not lead thither.
The most interesting political problem in
Great Britain and Ireland today Is what
will happen in case home rule becomes the
issue and Lord Rosebery finds it necessary
to get out and fight, not only the conserva-
tives. but the liberals-the party which
made him the prime minister az the sue
cessor of Mr.. Gladstone-the party which
has honored him in so many ways-at
times honoring him even to the extent of
making him not merely it's leader but it's
idol.
Newspaper Comment.
Not even the tone and tenor of the Eng
lish press helps to clarity and define the
muddle. The newspapers appear as badly
mixed as the campaign orators on both
sides. OF course conservative papers like
the London Times can hardly conceal their
elation. The Daily News affects delight at
the prospect Of a liberal home rule min
istry in which Lord Rosebery will not fig
ure. holding him mot an easy man to work
with The Westminster Gazette for once
has stiff back. but its back is stiffened in
the sacred cause of the disintegration of
the united kingdom. 1t is sorry that Lord
Rosebery will not fight on the official lib
eral platform, and 1t is very angry with
him into the bargain for daring to utter
these recriminations." A half dozen Of
the liberal journals, led by the Daily Chron-
| ice and the Leeds Mercury. assert that If
home rule is introduced into the liberal
program 1t will be fragrant breach Of
faith with the nation" and that 1t will not
rank and file But far from turning back
| indeed the liberals appear to be more in a
| mood to excommunicate Lord Rosebery.
AS for the Irish papers themselves-they
| are genuinely and sincerely furious with
| Lord Rosebery. The Freeman's journal of
| Dublin calls Lord Rosebery rat" and
| says that If the Boduin speech means any
| thing, 1t means that the liberal party s
| Irish policy ought to be dictated by the
rats of 1856. The Irish Independent pro-
fesses to be glad because Lord Rosebery
| has no doubt that Sir Henrys speech
| means home rule bin next parliament
Another thorn in the nationalist side is
Mr. John Motley, who recently stated that
was In 1885, because of the Improvement In
| the condition of Ireland. The Freeman's
| Journal ventures to assert that from the
imperialist standpoint Ireland is In a less
| satisfactory condition than it was In 1880.
Disaffection is not less deeply rooted, and
| If the liberal party were to play false with
Irish hopes they would realize how erron-
eous was the diagnosis that regarded the
mere absence of agrarian disturbance as
evidence that the home rule question was
no longer urgent.