Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-10-02
BRITISH POLITICS
REDMOND TELLS OF The BALFOUR
MINISTRY.
The English LabOrer and Mechanic
Want Free Trade. Chamberlain'S
Protective Measures Are Not Pop
ular. Redmond Predicts Defeat
for Present Ministry at Polls.

for Present Ministry at Polls.
The present position of political affairs
in England is very unusual, and in the
languageo of Mr.. Redmond, "almost uni
que" Mr.. Redmond says: "rhe gov.
ernment OF Mr.. Balfour stands practic-
ally condeinned in pa liament as well as
in the countsy, and yet it adopts the un-
usual course of c.ingng to Office,
although it is perfectly clear to the
electors. A short time ago the govern
ment actually was beaten on matter OF
considerable importance in the house of
commons. The vote was taken on the
initiative of the Irish party. 1t was a
clear defeat, and everybody expected the
government would take the usual cour. e
of resgning. Instead OF this, however,
it announced the intention OF holding on
to Office. This attitude, strictly speak
ing, is unconstitutional. and has aroused
very bitter feeling among the electors.
Again, the gdfernment proposed a
most important aud far reaching change
in the representation of the people-a
change which involved the reduction OF
the Irish members in the British parlia-
'nent by no less than twenty-five. This
i'm mportant matter was ruled out of order
on the suggestion OF the Irish party, and
again the government suffered severe
defeat and was obliged to abandon the
scheme. In addition to these defeats
and humiliations in parliament the Bal
four government has been defeated in
almost every by.election elections to fill
vacances) which has taken place during
the last few years. Even great conser-
vatye stronghods like Brighton and
portions OF the city of London have been
captured by the liberal opponents. In the
face of all these facts, Mr. Balfour clings
to power, and in doing SO presents a
most humiliating spectacle"
Chamberlain's scheme of protection,
according to Mr.. Redmond, has helped
TO bring the present government into
deep discredit, because it is understood
that that scheme involves the taxation
Of the food stutfs OF the people. Mr..
Redmond says: 1.-The septennial act
prevails in England, and this govern.
ment is five years in existence. 1t might
by law live two years more, but when
parliament is dissolved and an election
comes, as il may this fall, in all proba-
bility it will see liberal administration
installed in office. This, OF course, will
be much to the advantage of the Irish
nationalist party, for the official liberal
leaders are pledged to deal with the ques-
tons of Irish government on the
lines OF the late Mr.. Gladstone. 1t is
Lord Rosebery and some other liberals
have iorsaken home rule, but they are
without much influence in their party.
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, the
liberal leader in the commons, and Lord
Spencer, the liberal leader in the lords,
are both pledged to deal with home rule,
and one OF these, in all probability, will
be the next prime minister. The Irish
party has contributed greatly to the over.
throw of the present government. 1t is
its duty to oppose all governments that
will not deal with the supreme question
for Ireland-national self government.
We have won important reforms for
Ireland from both liberals and conserva-
tives, but we are attached to neither of
these parties and are acting upon the
independent lines laid down by Charles
Stuart Parnell. 1t will be seen what a
great force the independent Irish party
is in parliament when say that our
number is eighty. and that we are ready,
on critical occasions, to throw the full
weight Of our vote upon whichever side
seems most to the advantage Of Ireland"
Evidently the British government dis
likes the power OF the Irish vote in par.
lament, and according to Mr.. Redmond
this fact is shown by the anxiety to re-
duce the Irish numbers. He says, how
ever, that hey are not anxious TO remain
in the British parliament provided they
are allowed to have parliament and a
government OF their own, but until that
day comes they will protest against any
interference with their numbers. On this
point Mr.. Redmond says: "The pretext
on which the attempt is made to reduce
our numbers is that the population of
Ireland has fallen to low ebb, but the
population basis never was introduced
until our population had fallen low. At
the time Of the union. on the population
basis, we would haye been entitled to
considerably more than 200 members,
but we got lO3 only. The English always
have answered our demand for home rule
by declaring that the union was sacred