The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-03-24
The Spirit Of Contempt With Which Ireland
\ and Her Representatives Were
Treated by the Tories
Has Given Away to Policy Under Which
Irish Demands VIII BeaAccorded
Respectful Attention.

The following review Of the political
situation in England from the pen of
Robert Ellis Thompson appeared on
the editorial page of the last issue Of
the New York World:
Even the election returns fail to in
dicate TO tho world the change which
haa come over the mind Of Great Brit
ain withln the last few years. The
disgust and contempt of the decent
part of the old world for the Khaki
policy in South Africa seem to have
peryaded the mind of the British voter,
which takes Impressions slowly but
retains them long. The spirit Of con-
tempt for Democracy. or worship for
accomplished facts. Of scorn Of ethical
Maxins .applied to government, and
of honor for privilege, which the Tories
difflsed through the people. has given
way TO one of greater sanity. The
Tories tried to down many candidates
m IN csy that they were pro-Boers,
but sint every case have observed the
accusation seemed to help their
chaaces. The nation evidently begins
to wish 1t had been pro-Boer in 1900,
ana to realize that that iniquity, like
our conquest of the Philippines, has
brought nothing but disappointment
and contempt. 1t has cost her the
isadetship of the smaller nationalities
pf Nrope, and it has contributed a
!. .laStsng element to the antagonism Of
Germany.
Equally unavailing was the cry Of
Home Ruler" against those who had
stood by Gladstone. The Gladstonians
had no difnculty in securing seats.
when ti,ey declared that they had not
changed their minds about the best
policy towards Ireland. The system
atic effort to decry and belittle that
statesman. were thrust aside by the
votsss. and nothing would have added
% much to the extent and the eclat
OF thu victory as having the Old Man
himself alive to conduct the struggle.
sAs 10 is. the new Premier lost no op-
portunity Of declaring himself an un-
repsnaaat Home Ruler. although he
could give no promise Of reviving that
tissue u the present Parliament. The
spirit Of coatsmptSwith witch ireland
and her representatives were treated
by the Tories has been changed for
one Of decent respect, at least. The
Orange assumption that nobody in Ire
land is entitled. to human rights ex-
cept the "loyal'' minority has given
place to one more sane and practical.
Ireland will be heard and her reasons
considered, as not under any previous
administration, except the two Of which
Mr.. Gladstone was the head.
Tho presence Of some sixty Labor
members in the new Parliament is a
fact OF prophetic significance. It took
the middle classes years to profit fully
BY the reform Of 1882. by which power
passed to them from the aristocracy
BY that act. It has taken the working
classes still longer to realize that the
reform Of 1868 effected similar trans
fer OF power from the middle classes
to themselves. They have gone on
I electing to Parliament members Of that
class. even where the voting majority
belonged to themselves. They reached
D the conclusion before the last election
. that the time had come to speak for
themselves in Parliament, instead Of
eiecting members who gave them moth
ing but vague professions Of sympathy,
which did not always materialize in
active support Of the measures the
working men needed to have passed.
The Liberals saw this, and they made
concessions to them in many con-
Z stituencies. II the strength of the
: working men as voters had been FORE
sesn the number returned would have
been much greater. In coming Parlia-
ments It win be 80.
Two measures demanded by them
have already received the sanction Of
the House Of Commons. The first is
one which win help them to secure a
larger representation in the next
h House. It 10 the proposal to pay mem
bars Of Parliament 800 pounds a year
.fof tsir services. At present the La
n ssaesAbers are Obliged to depend
upe yolsntary subscriptions from