Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-12
BISHOP OF LIMERICK
WARNS FRIENDS NOT TO BE TAIL
OF ENGLISH KITE.
Special cablegram to The star.

Special Csblegram to The Star.
DUBLIN, February 12.-Bishep Edward
Thomas of Limerick. while admitting that
political conditions have been complicated
In the recent general elections. warns his
Irish friends and admirers not to become
mere tail to an English party kite. He
says:
II think Mr.. T. p. O'Connor has led the
Irish party into a position which may end
most dlsastrously for them and for the
cause OF home rule. If we had cabinet
such as that of 1856 1892. with man
like Gladstone at It's head. that took ITS
heart in it's hand and staked its existence
on doing Justice to Ireland. and recognize
Ing our right to manage our own AFFAIRS
in an Irish parliament. / could understand
how Irtshmen should sink every other con-
sideration. But you have not GLADSTONE
prime minister nor cabinet.
You are perfectly justified In insisting
on every line of Sir Henry Campbell-Ban-
nermans speech at Stirling. 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 be,ongs-what words
In It can you quote that amount to any
pledge understanding undertaking to
deal with the home rule question In the
ton 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 platftudes 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 con-
tanned tangible promise which would
justify US in giving them unlimited power
Home Rule Not an Issue.
'Snce that speech was made the chan
cellor of the exchequer, Mr.. Asquith; the
foreign secretary. Sir E. Grey; the minister
of war; Mr. Haldane; the minister of edu-
cation, Mr.. Birrell: 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 1t would be immoral and unjustifable
to use majority gained on another ques-
ton to deal with such a measure, and that
the policy Of the government In the COM
Ing parliament cannot go beyond the fur-
Their development of Mr.. Wyndhan1s plans
And what Is more important, Sir IL. Camp
bell-Bannerman has formally stated that
| there is no difference whatsoever between
him and his colleagues
This Is an antf-home rule policy.
But are we fools? Can we not read the
newspapers? Is the cabinet a home-rule
cabinet? Are Mr. Asquith, Sir +. Grey and
the rest of them, In spite of their most
explicit statements to the contrary, going
to carry home rule?
"And there is another issue on which
there is ambiguity That is the school
question. Complete popular control Is the
watchword of the liberals. They make no
secret about It. Every one of them Is
pledged to 1t. That means complete Prot
estant control of Catholic schools.
Mr.. T. P. OConnor says that the power
and prestige OF the Irish party will save
them How? Has he got any assurances?
He Is intimate with English liberals. Let
him tell US plainly on what we have to
count.
II think Mr.. T. p O'Connor Is playing
dangerous game. Politics are devious. 1t
may be that Mr.. OConnor is in the inner
circles of the liberals and feels sure of
his ground I sincerely hope / may prove
wrong in these apprehensions. but / feel
them deeply. oppressively. / desire to see
an Irish party strong and united, stand
ing on true principles, even at the cost of
some temporary sacrifice. But am old
enough to remember the days when ma
tionaI politics sank into the contempt Of
all true Irshmen when they were made
an appendage of an English party