The Irish standard., 1906-11-03

The opposition was cOllllned to q. smAll
and ever dwindljng minority in Ire-
land and in England WHO were ever
active in their efforts to prevent tho.
reconciliation OF two countries which
should live together in amity.
Several Under Secretaries for Ire
land had succeeded one another since
tho speaker had taken part in public
affairs. Sir Edward Hamilton, Sir
West Ridgeway, Sir Redvers Butler,
and now Sir Anthony Macdonnell. ALL
OF these hut The last named were Eng
lishmen. Yet all, without exception.
wcro convinced that a. change in the
system al Dublin custlc was neccs-
sary ~ was not necessary to- argu9
the right of self government ipMon-
trcaI. He would not attempt ITO prove
the axiom that the.lneasure Of success
OF IL government is the assent of tho
governed. Tho governed in Ireland
emphatically did not assent to the
form or government. livery one who
has read the history of Ireland knows
that from tho fatal hour one hundred
and six years ago, when the Union was
consummatcd Ireland has not ceased
to protest.
Tho Parliament which voted away
The Parliament on College Green did
not represent the people Of Ireland
Four-fifshs, ut least, of the people Of
Ireland wero Catholics, and not u sim
gle Catholic sat in that Parliament,
Ho used the words Protestant and
Catholic in connection with this subs
ject, merely to show a state Of affairs.
but he wished to supplement his use
or the words with an explanation. The
Irish Nationalist Party has been ac-
cused OF many mistakes. Probably
they had made many, but one mistake
they never had made. They had al-
ways stood for the broadcast liberation.
They had never asked a man on the
political platform what his religious
convictit ns were. All the great lead-
ers of Ireland. with the exception of
O'ConnelI, had been Protestants, and
they haL found faithful followers all
through Ireland.
The words Of Grattan in tho day OF
disaster and defeat had been the
watchwcrd of the Irish people ever
since, and the speaker was present to
say that Grattans prophecy was about
to be fulfilled. The protest had never
ceased in one way or another. The
ink OH the Infamous act Of Union was
not dry when Robert Emmet, another,
Protestant and patriot, had sacrificed;
his life. Soon after the execution Dan.
lei O'Connell had arisen, and later the
struggle had been kept up. In 1885.
Ireland got the franchise which al
lowed her people to express its will,
Since that date tho overwhelming ma
jority OF Irish representatives in the
House Of Commons has been pledged
to Home Rule. English parties have
changed, but the eighty-two Irish
members below the gangway have re-
manned the same.
But ;.le question is, what are the
chances for Ireland getting self f-gov-
ernment at the present time. AS to
this he took a very hopeful view,
There were two methods of governing
people against their will-by force,
and by the creation of a debauched
governing class, and both systems had
been tried in Ireland; but the latter
had turned, and now many Of the om-
cial class was finding that self gov.
ernment was not only not disreputable
but fashionable. and they were GET
ting ready TO turn their coats. .ss
1t was said they had the same laws:
and constitutions as in England. True
they had trial by Jury, but it was IS sls
/ farce on account OF Jury pscklnxs I'M