Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-18
7ODISCUSS HOME RULE.
Irish viii Not Allow Liberals to
Escape.
,ecial Cahlegram to The Star.


Special Cahlegram to The Star.
DUBLIN, February 1.-THE Irish evil
IDENTIFY do not intend to allow Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman and the liberals to
escape from consideration of home rule
the moment parliament is fairly in session.
y pamphlet has just been printed, showing
the speeches of the prime minister upon
this important proposition, This pamphlet
recites that while still leader of the opposi-
ton, at Stirling. November 3D. he dealt
very fully with the Irish question, saying:
My opinion has long been known to you.
1t is that the only way of healing the evils
of Ireland-removing the difficulties of her
administration. of giving contentment and
prosperity to her people. and of making her
a strength instead of a weakness to the en-
pire. is that the Irish people should have
the management of their own domestic af-
Iafrs, and so far from this opinion fading
or dwfndling as the years pass, 1t is beconl-
ing stronger, and. what is more L have con-
ndence In It's realization.
II l were asked for advice by an ardent
nationalist | would say my desire is to see
the effective management of Irish affairs In
the hands or a representative Irish parlia-
ment III L were nationalist l would take
II any way could get it, providing 1t was
consistent with and led up to their larger
policy. Undoubtedly, it will take time. But
trust That the opportunity of making a.
great advance on this question of Irish gov
eminent will not be long delayed and when
TINS opportunity comes my firm belief Is
tiIat a greater measure of agreement than
hitherto as to the ultimate solution will be
found possible and that keeuer apprccia-
ton VIII be felt of the benefits that will
now to the Irish communities and British
people throughout the world. and that Ire
land from becoming disaffected, impover-
pQd u-tll n To q mic q
a strong. harmonious and contented por-
ton of the empire"
Leader Of the Opposition.
Such was the position of Sir Henry Camp
bell Bannerman leader of the opposition.
The position is apparently that of the home
ruler. The only question left open is the
question of time. Before he spoke upon this
question again he had become prime minis
ter and formed his liberal cabinet. In the
process of It's formation, Notwithstanding
the detection of Lord Rosebery. he told the
public that he had received no request for
compromise. or no suggestion of a COM
promise, upon any political question at all.
On december 81 the collective opinion of
the cabinet on the whole field of liberal
policy was declared in the Albert Hall
speech This was the passage in which the
prime minister dealt with Ireland:
This is the foundation of our educational
policy-that the people of the district should
control and manage the schools 1t is, the
foundation of our licensing policy. But if I
seek for illustra tons why do l not take the
greatest, the most conspicuous Instances
what other than this is the foundation of
our Irish policy?-that those domestic affairs
which concern the Irish people only and not
ourselves, should as and when opportunity
affords, be placed in their hands?"
challenged at Inyerkeithing, the premier
replied:
II believe that the proper solution of the
ctlN ar11i11 ap,t in Tho
reference to an Irish body of all Irish ques-
tons with which England and Scotland
have no immediate concern; and / should
propose to myself to support a scheme of
that sort as time and opportunity may offer.
But L do not think that in the immediate
future there is any chance of such an OPP
portunity occurring
Compact With Irish Party.
On January IS. when the borough cleo
tions were practically all over, and more
than one-half of the new house of commons
had been elected, the prime minister, at In
verness, dealt with the story of the compact
with the Irish party:
Il stand here and say in reply that there
Is no mystery; there secrets; there
are solid grounds of agreement between the
liberals and the Irish nationalists. I can
name three of them. The first is, or was,
the earnest desire to get rid of Mr.. Balfour
and his government. The next is the equally
earnest desire to improve the admnistra-
ton of Ireland, and the third is the belief
that In Ireland, as in every other country
throughout the kings doninions, self-gov-
eminent is the best and safest and the
healthiest basis upon which a community
can rest.
The Freeman's Journal, commenting upon
the liberal manner in which Americans in
terested in home rule have aided in the re-
cent general elections, makes the following
interesting statements:
Unity was always the simple demand
which the generous friends of Ireland IN
America made on the Irish people and the
party the condition of their support 1t
was only when dissensfon prevailed that
the stream of Irish-American generosity
ran dry. When America pledged itself at
the last convention to supply $4,000 1t was
limited by the enemy that pledges and prom
ises were something very different from
cash. The pledge has been more than re-
deemed The last thousand pounds cabled
brings the total close up to $50 600 Most
noteworthy in this connection are the con-
tributions of the eminent Catholic prelates
on the other side of the Atlantic