The Irish standard., 1905-05-06
HOME RULE TO THE FRONT.

No better test of the righteousness
Of an issue exists than that the issue
persist. The vitality of the Irish
question in English politics affords the
best evidence of the fact that it 's d
serious question. In the face of re-
Ireland is we'll ruled and that the dis
content, wherever there is any, is due
to professional agitators and the
changeableness of the Irish character
the fact remains that the Irish ques-
! tion is today, as it was one hundred
years ago, the foremost issue in Eng
evasion has accomplished nothing eX-
cept solidifying the opposition on the
Home Rule question. A few months
ago leading Liberals were insisting
that the Home Rule question was not
an issue. Before today all these lead
ers have been forced to take positions
upon one side or the other. The lead
er of the Liberal Party in the House
of Commons recently took a stand
J squarely upon the side of Home Rule
| He referred with pride to the fact
that the whole Liberal Party had voted
for Mr. Redmonds Home Rule Amend
ment. He said that twenty years eX-
perience had confirmed in him the be-
lief that Mr.. Gladstone was right in
his Irish policy. He referred to the
! fact that even members of the Union
lists government had begun to see the
light Lord Lansdowne had confessed
that Mr.. Wyndham's policy was step
in the right direction. The Unionists
have paved the way for Home Rule.
1t remains for the Liberal party to re-
turn to the principles enunciated by
the last great Liberal leader, Mr.. Glad
stone All that is needed to bring
happiness to Ireland and peace to
England is a little of the leadership
displayed by that great statesman.
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
statement in the House of Commons
is reassuring. He is today the accept
ed leader of the Liberal party. 1t was
a direct and positive statement of
what ought to be and what Is, as ne
understands 1t, the Liberal policy. the
attitude of the Irish party toward the
present situation in British politics is
we'll pointed out by the Dublin Free
man, ireland stands where she has
stood for the past twenty-five years.
The policy of 1886 and 1893 was &C.
cepted as the basis of a reconciliation
between ireland and the Empire. Any
policy based on the same principle will
have the same acceptance, but the
policy Is one that cannot brook delay.
The evils that the act of union brought
in its train are every day inficting
more and more injury on Ireland. To
Irishmen the question Of national self
government is the first of questions,
No matter what government exists and
no matter what its majority, the Irish
claim will be persistently and inces
sanity pressed upon the parliament
Mr.. Redmond rightly emphasized that
aspect Of the Irish question. Sir
Henry Campbell-Bannerman's declara
tion of principle is, as we have said
eminently satisfactory, but principle
needs a plan and a plan needs execu
tion. Mr.. Balfour suggests that the
attitude of the Liberal party upon the
Irish question depends upon the size
of its majority. If those suggestions
were directed at certain factions oi
the Liberal party it is to be feared thai
it could not be denied and the ques
tion of the size of the next Liberia
majority, a considerable fraction o1
which may be unmade by the Irish vot
ers of Great Britain, is one that de
serves the serious consideration of the
Irish leaders. Viewed in the light o.
recent bye-elections 1t would seem al
il the Tory position and the libera
position were likely to be reversed
u and q Tory government completely in
dependent Of Irish votes replaced. b,
= Liberal government Independent o.
Irish votes. ID the statement Of Sil
J Henry Campbell.Bannerman sum