Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-10
SENSATION FOR IRISH PUBLIC.
Plan to Make Use Of Former Parlia-
ment House.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
DUBLIN. October 1G.-Astounding and al
most incredible as the sensational news
may seem, it is learned that it is within
the contemplation of the government in the
arrangement of the details of their forth
coming home rule measure to be shortly
laid before the country to- obtain possession
of the Bank of Ireland. formerly the Irish
parliament house and hand it over to the
new powers to be called into existence as
the assembly house of the Irish council.
which it IS one Of the proposals of the bill
to establish.
The statement may well be regarded as
one of the most sensational pieces of news
given to the Irish public for long time.
The ever-recurring theme of all the speeches
delivered from the home rule platform since
the days of OConneN was the assertion of
the demand for the restoration of the Irish
parliament to the old house in College
Green" 1t was the chief shrine in the
Mecca of patriotic aspiration, and the gov
eminent is evidently determined. in order
to make up for whatever shortcomings their
projected measure may present, to play
down to popular sentiment in this step.
The publication few days ago of the
report of the estates commissioners under
the land purchase act OF 1893 Tor the year
ending March 81 has given rise to much
important document discloses grave differ
ences of opinion on questions both OF piln-
ciple and of fact between the commission
ers Mr. Bailey and Mr.. Finucane, and
their senior colleague, Mr.. Wrench. The
existence of the division of views among
the estates commissioners which has now
been publicly revealed has long Deen the
subject of suspicion and rumofs, causing
much anxiety among the owners of irish
land and increasing the difficulties In the
way of agrarian settlement upon the
basis of state-aided purchase for the bene-
fit of the tenant occuplers. Inc report.
in fact gives the impression that the two
junior estates commissioners are pursuing
a policy the effect of which must be 10
revolutionize. root and branch. the sys-
tenn of purchase established by the act
OF 1903. and eulogized as triumph of
craftsmanship for Mr.. Wyndham.
The following views of Cardinal Gibbons
upon the subject of emigration have just
been published here:
The great curse to the irish people IN
this country is the fact that they have
been dumped upon our towns and cities and
have remained there. small proportion
of the Irish people. especially those of the
more comfortable sort. had the good for
tune to escape from New York and the
other great cities of the coast. and to
pursue their way to Iowa, Indiana, Illinois
and other western states. where they en-
gagged In agricultural pursuits; and now
they are steady and comfortable, and an
honor to the land of their fathers. There
is a very large percentage of descendants
of Irish emgrants settled in Iowa espe-
cially, and also in Illinois.
IF some organization could be eStab-
lished in Ireland to effect the purchase
of tracts of land in our western country,
and even in our eastern-Maryland, for ex-
ample-and bring thrifty Irish emlgrants to
settle there it would be the greatest bless
ing that could accrue to the children of
Ireland. But it should be done systemat-
ically. Purchase the handmade good
purchase of land-have discreet and honest
agents for the purpose. and the settlers
would become useful and honorable citi-
zens Of this country. They might not at
tain colossal wealth. but they would
achieve a competency. or course, 1 would
prefer to see them remain where they are,
but IL they are to come to this country, let
them come in this manner. The towns
are to be avoided. Politics and drink are
great temptations to people In the
towns"