The Irish standard., 1905-12-16
NEW BRITISH CABINET.

The composition of the new British
Cabinet which was announced the first
of the week leaves its future attitude
toward Home Rule still in doubt.
Recent announcements of Sir Henry
Campbell I3annerman which have been
in keeping with his whole political
record ought to leave little room foi
doubt as to his personal attitude. He
apparently is as much of a Home Ruler
today as he was in the time of Glad
stone. \ larg" majority of the new
Cabinet are supposed to hold his views
upon this question. There are three
| influential members of the Cabinet
| opposed to Home Rule. They are Earl
Grey, Secretary of State for the Colo
MES; Herbert Fl. Asquith. Chancellor
of the EXchcuuer; and Richard b. Hal
Herbert ]. Gladstone Il son of the late
great Liberal, Secretary of State for
Home Affairs, and John Morley, Secre-
tary of State for India, are known to be
ardent Home Rulers. Other members
Of the Cabinet such as David Lloyd
George the Representative of Wales,
and John Burns. president of the local
government Board. labors representa-
tive In the Cabinet. are also Home
Rulers.
Lord Rosebery has been given no
position in the new Cabinet. Earl Grey
his firm supporter. however. has been
given an important portfolio and his
on-in-law, the Earl of Crewe has been
appointed Lord President of the Coun-
Gil. There Is an apparent attempt in
the makeup of the new Cabinet to
unite all sections in the Liberal Party.
James Bryce. the distinguished
Scotch statesman, writer and eccno-
MIST has been appointed Chief Secre-
tary for Ireland. Mr.. Bryce has for many
years been regarded the world over as
a staunch supporter of true democracy.
The Unionist newspapers point to the
fact that John Morley the most ardent
Home Ruler in the Liberal Party. has
been placed in Il position as Secretary
Of State for India where he will have
little or no influence upon the internal
affairs of Great Britain. They further
point to the fact that there can be no
danger for a Home Rule bill as long as
such men as Grey, Asquith and Hal
dene are in the Cabinet On the o.her
hand 1t must be remembered that it
will be impossible for a Liberal Cabinet
to remain in power without having to
deal with the Irish question. 1t will be
| impossible even for a new election to
| take place without the Irish question
being forced to the front as a leading
issue. If the Liberals themselves de-
sire to keep this question in the back
ground the Unionists would not allow
and Scotland are still opposed to Home
Rule and they will. therefore, do every
| thing in their power to force Sir Henry
Campbell Zimmerman and his govern
| ment to define their attitude before the
electors in the coming election. Camp
| bell Zimmerman can do nothing except
| to abide by what he has said in recent
speeches and any attempt on the part
of his followers to deviate from that
attitude will promptly be corrected by
John Redmond and his followers.
\ striking personality in the new
Cabinet is that of John Burns, the Eng
lish Labor Leader. He is the first
representative of labor ever called to a
British Cabinet. His success shows
what can be accomplished by COM
moner in England. In few short years