The Irish standard., 1905-03-25
1t is Believed That the Circumstances At
tending the Downfall Of Wyndham
Will Hasten the Day.
A Government that Can Sacrifice Wyndham
For Few "Kickers'' From Ulster
Deserves Contempt.

That home rule for Ireland, in one
form or another. is only delayed by the
recent furry in British politics and the
resignation Of Mr.. Wyndham, the chief
secretary for Ireland, is the opinion
of well-informed men who have just
come from London, and Dublin, says
Walter Wellman in The Chicago
Record-Herald. In fact, it is believed
the downfall of Mr.. Wyndham, and
the circumstances attending his retire
ment, may hasten the coming Of the
day when the English parliament con-
fers upon the people of Ireland the
simple justice and decency involved
in an extension Of government
among them.
A gentleman now in Washington
and familiar with all that is going on
behind the scenes in London, predicts
that the forthcoming general elections
in the United Kingdom, which cannot
now be long deferred, are likely to
hinge more upon the question Of Irish
home rule than upon Mr.. Chamber
lain's fiscal policy. There are indica-
tions that the Balfour government can
not hold out much longer, and when
dissolution Of parliament comes the
clever Irish Nationalists are sure to
get another opportunity to play good
politics and advance the home rule
cause.
According to this authority, Mr..
Chamberlain now has it within his
power to force the Balfour government
to the wall, but that he is for the pres
ent disinclined to do SO on account Of
his fear that if the ministry falls, home
rule and not his protection ideas will
form the chief issue before the elector-
ate. The Irish party now holds coign
of advantage of which it may be ex-
pected under the brilliant leadership
of John Redmond to make the most as
events develop.
1t is not at all improbable that
after the government has ''gone to the
country and the smoke Of battle has
cleared away, it will be found that the
Irish Nationalists hold the balance Of
power in the commons. They come
very near it now; and when they have
actually arrived at position in which
they have power to dictate one may be
sure that home rule will be the price
Of their support. Until recently their
strongest hope of securing genuine re-
form in Ireland has been through the
unionist party. Now, it seems, they
are free lances, ready to cast in their
lot with the organization which will
assure them the most for their votes
The Irish representatives and the
Irish people are good deal out of pa
thence with Mr.. Balfour and his asso-
ciates, who threw over Mr.. Wyndham
and tried to discredit Sir Anthony
MacDonnell, the under secretary, at
the behest of q small number Of
1'kickers" from Ulster. One does not
need to be an Irishman, nor Catholic,
but needs merely to have sympathy
with the Irish people as whole and
with their aspirations to better gov
ernment Of their own making, to feel
the utmost contempt for government
that would sacrifice a minister like Mr..
Wyndham and aim to make scape-
goat of an official like mcdonnell in
order to retain a few votes and to
stave off for few more weeks or
months the inevitable downfall.
1t is fair and pertinent for the writer
to disclose here some facts having an
important bearing upon the situation
and which are within his personal
knowledge. A little more than two
years ago Sir Anthony MacDonnell
accepted the under secretaryship of
Ireland at the urgent solicitation of
Mr.. Balfour and Mr.. Wyndham, sup
plemented by the urgings of King Ed
ward and of Lord Lansdowne. The
last named had known Sir Anthony in
India, and had been familiar with the
great work the really great Irishman
had done there. Before accepting Office
and incurring all the risks that pro-