New-York tribune., 1905-02-21
HOME RULE DEMANDED.
Irish Party Turns on Government =
Dir. Wyndham's Explanation.

Tondon Feb 2O-In moving as an amendment to
the Address in reply the Speech from the Throne
the declaration that the present system of gov
ernment (of IreIandD is opposed the Will Of the
Irish people," John E. Redmond led the Irish party
in the House of Commons to-day in an attack that
contained for the Conservative Ministry more or
menace than lay the fiscal debate precipitated by
Mr. Asquith's amendment last week. The Red
roond amendment was carefully calculated in fact.
10 undermine the governments majority Interest
in the debate was intensified by a well defined re-
port the lobbies and which quickly spread else
where that the Earl Of Dudley had resigned the
Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland This report, 10
which wide credence was given, put heart IN the
Nationalsts who made the attack on the Earl Of
Dudley one of the features of their speeches
The debate drew crowded galleries, and peers
especially were noticeable. among them being the
Duke of Abercorn the Marquis Of Londonderry. the
Earl of Aberdeen the Earl of CadOgan, the Earl of
Westmeath, the Earl of Ashburnham and others.
1t was generally believed that the debate would
bring out a sensation. but while anything OF this
character was lacking, through the afternoon ana
night session. the critical situation coupled with
the clever tactics of the Irish Nationalists kept
the galleries interested and alert until midnight
Mr.. Redrnond's speech uncompromising
demand for home rule He directly and unsparing-
Iy charged individual members of the Irish admin
istration with incompetency Both Mr.. Redmond
and Mr. Moore Qrish Unionist) who followed, made
a special point of what they termed the shameful
treatment of Sir Antony MacDonneH. Under sec
nection with the internal differences in the Minis
try over the devolution scheme.
Mr. Wyndham, Chief Secretary for Ireland, de-
liyered straightforward explanation OF how these
unisllnd understandings arose. In doing so he paid a
snlendid tribute to Sir Antony Macdonald who, he
said was asked TO accept the post Of Under Secre-
tary not in the capacity OF an underling' but as
wise and able colleague Mr- Wyndham said ne
had given Sir Antony a free hand TO deal with the
situation They had discussed the situation to-
gether He knew that Sir Antony and Lord Dun
raven had been considering reform scheme. but
he did not know all the terms of their plan. Mr..
Wyndham said:
had often discussed reforms with MacDonnel.
who with his Indian experiences found analogies
Ala Here came the first source Of serious msun-
derstandfng l. with a colossal ignorance Of Indian
exists in India and therefore. ii never occurred
10 me In my conversations with MacDonnell that
OF the reforms OF which approved II hSd
thought he had any such idea would have told
him that IL in my Judgment, quite impractical
bic.
when the devoution scheme published and
that when ne returned. without consulting Sir
Antony, he wrote to the papers denOuncing the
elective councils feature. Mr.. Wyndham said the
Cabinet never had doubted Sir Antony's loyalty
but simply had recorded itself approving the
action OF under secretary who had approved OF a
scheme without first submitting IL to his chief
Mr. Wyndham admitted that Sir Antony perhaps
was justified in taking his approval for granted
The night session was taken up by I. W Russell
Winston Churchill and others. who bitterly assailed
the governments management OF Irish Affairs and
the Earl of Dudley's administration
The rumOr OF the resignation OF the Earl OF Dud-
ley quickly spread through the House of Com
mons but late tonight the Lord Ieutenants secre:
A special Cabinet meeting has been summoned
for tomorrow TO discuss the situation