The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-11
Campbell -bANAERMAN
. DOUBTED BY IRIsHMEN
Bishop Thomas Warns His Coun-
trymen of the Premier S
Platitudes.
BY Timothy J. o'connor.


Dublin, Feb. 10.-Bishop Edward
Thomas Of Limerick, while admitting
that political conditions have been com
plicated in the recent general elections,
warns his Irish friends and admirers not
to become mere tail to an English
party kite. He says:
think Z. p. O'Connor has led the
Irish party into position which may
end most disastrously for them and for
the cause Of home rule. If we had a
cabinet such as that of 1886 or 1892,
with man like Gladstone at its head
that took it's heart in it's hand and
staked its existence on doing justice to
Ireland and recognizing our right to
manage our own affairs in an Irish par
lament, could understand how Irish
men on that issue should sink every
other consideration. But you have not
a Gladstone prime minister nor cabinet.
Read "o.-B. So Speech.
You are perfectly justified in in
sisting on every line Of Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman g speech at Stirl-
ing, and in the next parliament it will
be the duty of the Irish party. to keep
his words before him. But looking at
that speech carefully and cautiously
as we must when treating with any
English politician, no matter who he is
or to what party he belongs-what
words in it can you quote that amount
to any pledge or understanding under
taking to deal with the home rule ques-
ton in the coming parliament? There
is the declaration Of his own personal
belief in home rule as the true solution
and that before long something will
have to be done. These are only plati-
tudes, generalities, that may mean
everything or nothing; but it would be
simply a gross attempt to deceive the
Irish people to make believe that they
contained a tangible promise which
would justify us in giving them unlim.
tied power.
''Home Rule No Issue''
"Since that speech was made the chan
cellor of the exchequer Mr.. Asquith),
the foreign secretary (Sir E. Cray, the
minister Of war Mr.. Haldane), the
minister Of education (Mr. Briefly the
president Of the board of trade (Mr.
Lloyd George), in fact practically every
member Of the cabinet, has formally
and expressly stated that home rule is
not an issue in this election; that it
would be immoral and unjustifable to
use majority gained on another ques-
ton to deal with such measure, and
that the policy Of the government in
the coming parliament cannot 90 be-
yond the further development of Mr..
Wyndham's plans. And what is more
important, Campbell has
!! formally stated that there is no differ
ence whatever between him and his col
leagues.
"This is the anti-home rule policy.
But are we fools9 Can we not read
the newspapers Is the cabinet a home
rule cabinetP Are Mr.. Asquith, Sir E.
Grey and the rest Of them, in spite of
their most explicit statements to the
contrary, going to carry home rules
The School Question.
And there is another issue on which
there is no ambiguity. That is the
school question. Complete popular con-
troll is the watchword Of the liberals.
They make no secret about it, Every
one Of them is pledged to it. That
means complete Protestant control Of
Catholic schools.
ct. P. O'Connor says that the power
and prestige of the Irish party will save
them. How9 Has he got any assur-
ancesf He is intimate with English lib
erals. Let him tell us plainly on what
we have to count.
/ IT think T. P. O'Connor Is playing q
dangerous game. Politics are devious.
It may be that Mr.. o 'Connor is in the
inner circles Of the liberals and feels
sure Of his ground. I sincerely hope
I may prove wrong in these apprehen-
sions, but I feel them deeply, oppres-
sively. desire to see an Irish party
strong and united, standing on true
principles, even at the cost of some
temporary sacrifice. But I am old
enough to remember the days when ma
tional politics sank into the contempt
Of all true Irishmen when they were
made an appendage Of an English par
tyv