The Irish standard., 1906-09-01
IRISH REFORM.

| If recent reports with reference to
/ English politics are true King Edward
the best friend of Ireland in all Eng
land The King has always been
liberal in his views and while he was
Prince of Wales he was much more
popular in Ireland than his mother
ever was Edward seems sincerely
anxious to frame some measure of
government that will meet the de-
mands of the Irish people. His name
is constantly linked with that of
Campbell Bannerman and John f.
Redmond in all discussions about the
proposed measure that the Liberal
government is expected to introduce in
the next session of Parliament King
Edward has much more to do with
he framing of English policies than
/ he world generally supposas. He
i axes an active interest in the work of
lis ministers and is far from being a
1 ncr" hgurc-hcad. 1t is not known
what the character of the measure for
Irish reform will be but ii seems to
be conceded on all sides that the next
session of Parliament will he largely
devoted to the Irish question. Recent
reports from London state that the
government proposes to establish am
lective legislative council in Ireland
to have charge of local affairs. The
heads of executive departments in the
Irish government are to be elected bv
vote of the council 1t is said that
the council is not to possess any legis-
lative power but is merely to frame
bills and send them to the parliament
of the United Kingdom Such Il meas
ure would be an improvement upon
the present system for it would do
government. But it can be accepted
as certain that the Irish leople will
never rest satisfied until they possess
"a Parliament to which is given full
power to lesislate for Ireland and its
people. Tho Irish members of Parlia-
lncnt will, undoubtedly, fight for the
very best measure that they can OBJ
tain and accept it for the present. 1t
must be remembered that the present
British government has MANY diff.
culties to meet 1t must try to satisfy
In part at least Irish demands without
alternating its supporters in England
who are opposed to Home Rule. The
land legislation adopted Ey the last
ministry is now working well and sub
stantial benefits have already accrued.
something also has been done for
Irish agricultural laborers. These
measures have relieved but not solved
the Irish problem. 1t is not to be
expected that the measure to be in
troduted in the next session will so,vc
the problem but ii is hoped that i.
Will be long step in the right dircc.
ton. 1t will help to destroy the bit
terness that has existed in some
quarters of England toward Ireland.
1t will teach Englishmen that the only
way that the Irish can cvar be made
loyal supporters of the government is
by acceding to Irish demands
The splendid support which the
Irish Nationalists in Parliament ac-
corded the English Catholics in their
fight against the new education bill
has made many friends for Ireland
in quarters where before it had but
few. The Duke of Norfolk. the leader
of the English Catholic party. has
been bitter opponent of Irish Home
Rule. English Catholics in general
have accorded little aid or sympathy
their co-religionists in Ireland.
Under the circumstances the manner
in which the Irish Nationalists de-
erted the Liberal Party on the edu-
cation question is a striking proof of