The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-02-10

\ writer in the Irish World has this
to say about the efforts Of some Lib
erals to now find an excuse for delaying
Home Rule:
venture to differ from the opinions
land who have expressed themselves
regarding the meaning of the present
Parliamentary contest. hold strongly
that England Scotland and Wales have
pronounced favornbly on Irelnnd's
hopes and have given the government
an unqualified and unmistallable man.
date for Home Rule. We know that
there is no such thing as IL referendum
yet adopted in the United Kingdom.
But the expression of popular opinion
is distinctly made by giving II large
majority of the party that processes
certain principles and defeating the
party that is opposed to them.
The Liberal leaders all, more or less
plainly, profcsscd themselves friends
of Irish government and con-
dcmncd the present alien. autOcratic
bureaucracy OF tho Castle. Even If
they had wished to Shirk the question
and minimize 1t, the UnionistS strcnu-
ousy forced IL TO the front, made it
their chief battle cry. and made the
election turn on Home Rule or no
regret their tactics now; but, whether
these were wise or foolish, the result
is that the whole kingdom was forced
to express it's opinion and It's WIFI.
and the government cannot fail to take
notice OF them.
The Liberal majority is SO over
whelminy as to render the party in
dependent Of the three other parties.
This will prevent any allegations be-
ing made about trading or trlfficking.
for the Liberals can. for Il time at
least, carry on the government without
nav I'IS " S'A''Iu'I dIy fol'up Nb>i1
holds the balance Of power. Because
they are thus free, the party in power
will not turn round and abandon all
their professions and principles ana
act as if they were Tory Unionists.
Being Liberals they will proceed to
carry out Il Liberal policy and strive
.ssx
party that they have been denouncing
for nearly twenty years.
It is q noticeable matter that the
Premier and most Of the members OF
the Liberal ministry are Scotchmcn or
Commons of Scotland. think this a
fact frAught with hopcfuiness for Ire
land. The Scottish people have al
ways enjoyed IL moGicum of Home
Rule, and much of their prosperity and
cOntcntnent depends on the circum-
stance that they have not been ex-
plotted for the benefit of a predominant
partner. But still Scotland thinks she
is entitled to Il fuller measure of Home
Rule than she now possesses, and she
has already pronounced for Home
Rule all around"
We find that Wales is also asking for
self government, and the metropolis
is anxious to have a large autonomy
for London, These influences are
favorable to Ireland's claims and are
in line with them, but the case OF
Ireland is far stronger and more urgent
than those other demands. Through
the efforts and speeches Of Ire]and's
representatives, Catholic and Jewish
emancipation, the reform of the fran
chise and local government were
secured. But the English legislators
always satisfied Ireland's claims last.
and postponed local government re-
form in Ireland for nine years. 1t is
possible that Home Rule may be Of
fered to England and Scotland before
being conceded to Ireland if her rep
resentatives are not insistent and alert
Such result would be calamitous,
but similar things have happened be-
fore and may again.
The question of redistribution may