Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-08

sion of self government and autonomy
to the Irish people, but what the pres
ent government offered was NOT nome
rule nor a substitute for 1T. The lrish
still demanded home rule and rested
their claim on their historic rights
and the admitted failure of century
of British government of Ireland
AS home rulers Mr.. Redmond thought
they were justified in regarding the
scheme as consistent with the MAIN
tainance of their aspirations and he
proceeded to apply certain tests to the
scheme regarding giving general and
effective control to Irish public opinion
over the matters which the bin dealt
with. He said he did not like the
nominated element. Mr.. Redmond
agreed with Mr.. Belfour that it was
not Democratic, but if he was told
that the governments object was to
give a large representation to the
minority who We're suspicious regard
ing the action of the ma jority then he
would be perfectly willing TO accept
this undemocratic principle. He be-
lieved that the minority's fears were
honest but grOundleSS. There We're
no limitations to which he would not
go to meet these fears.
Continuing Mr.. Redmond said the
power given to the lord lieutenant APP
peared to go far beyond the ordinary
veto limits. If that was so the pro-
vision did away with the genuine char
acter of the power given 10 the coun-
ell. Apart from that he thought that
he
After expressing doubt regarding the
workability of some of the minor fea-
lures of the bill Mr. Edmond took up
what he termed the most serious of all
tests. the financial features. He said
he was strongly of the opinion that
the fund of $3.50, 900 was most made
quatc. The whole amount would be
mortgaged at once, leaving nothing for
the development of Ireland. There
fore it would be impossible to success
fully work the scheme The police de-
partment was the only ono in which 4
real saving could be effected and that
| was withheld from them.
Incidentally Mr.. Redmond confessed
that although he viewed the question
from n pole opposite to that Of Mr. Bal
| four, he felt the force of some of the
| latter'S arguments. IT. conclusion Mr.
Redmond said that if the measure show
| ed itself workable, even with moGerat e
success. his party would gladly accept it.
Mr.. R-rrell spoke for nearly one hour
and three-luarters. Among his hearers
were W. Bouri;e Cochran Of New York,
Alfred Deakin. the Australian premier;
Sir Frederick w. BORDEN, Canadian min
| ~ IF fai
Of Irish clergy, headed by the bishop Of
Sligo.
The Nationalist have called a great
| convention to be held in Dublin May 81
and May % to consider the government
! bill. All the Irish city corporations and
| the borough and city rural councils have
| been invited to send delegates irrespec-
tive of politics. The branches of the
United Irish League in Ireland and Eng
land, irrespective of denomination, will be
| eX-officic delegates. 1t is expected that
more than 1000 persons will attend the
| convention.
| John z. Redmond rs leader of the Ma
tionalists will set forth Mr.. Birrcll's pro-
posed bill and ask the convention tc pass
| its opinion thereupon for the guidance OF
| the Irish members of Parliament.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Redmond's
speech in the House today, 9nterest in the
debate dwindied. Thomas w. Russell,
Liberal member for the southern division
of Tyrone, expressed. the conviction that
there had been a change of opinion and
that the mass Of the population of Ulster
would be found supporting the measure
which, he said, had excited the opposf-
ton of the Ulster Unionists because they
feared it would put an end to their reign
of patronage.
r. Barry. solicitor general fer Ireland
|repudiated the suggestion that there had
been a private treaty with the National
lists in respect to this BILL