The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-06-01

Like a huge, top-heavy unwieldy
ship. crippled in the middle of a stormy
ocean, the British government, with
its immense majority, of which so much
was expected by the masses, which
promised so much, which was to mend
or to end the House of Lords, which
was to reform the educational system
Of the country, which was to give
home rule to Ireland, and which has as
yet accomplished nothing, has threat
ening rocks ahead.
The radical travesty Of the measure
of home rule-for it is nothing else
known as the Irish Council bill, was re-
garded as constitutional cripple when
Parliament rose for the Whitsuntide
holidays. The Brrellian baby has
NOW -haen cast on one side as nobody's
child.
Ulster unionists have said 1--WE will
not have it, At full meeting of the
Dublin Corporation the bill has been
condemned root and branch. The ma
tional hierarchy has criticised it with
scorn, and the extreme nationalists
have regarded it from the first as a
gratuitous insult to the Irish race.
Last, but not least, the National
Convention has with contempt reject
ed it unanimously This is the un-
kindest cut of all. for it means that the
British government will drop the bill.
The alternative of "Birrelrs Mouse
as the measure has been designated.
is the maintenance in Ireland for an
indefinite number Of years of the
status quo.
This bill has aroused no enthusiasm
or excitement in England, the great
mass of the people treating it with
absolute indifference. From the first
1T was regarded as sop which would
be distasteful to the Irish palate. 1t
lists agreed to swallow it the House Of
Lords would ruthlessly reject it.
That gilded chamber will be saved
the trouble, because the government
will not proceed with the bill against
the desires of the nationalist members
of the House of Commons. So far
ha hoc I'm of
the agitation against the Lords, but it
is believed Sir Henry Campbell Ban
herman will find some other reason for
renewing his attack
1t is agreed on all sides that the
Birrell bill bristled with such difficult
ties, contradictions and absurdities
that it could not be regarded as with
in the range of practical politics.
There are many influential unionists
who say that it would be not an un-
mixed evil to see &C. B." and his hench-
men struggling with the insuperable
difficulties.
But they confess that the intereMs
Of a great nation and the government
Of a great empire are much too seri-
Gus to be subordinated to the desire,
otherwise legitimate enough. to see
what the unionists describe as a CON
elusive exhibition Of c. BIS incapacity
as a constructive statesman"
The Prime Minister assured the ma
tionalists that the Irish policy of the
government was to be consistent with
and lead up to a larger policy" The
Irish Council bill unquestionably full
fills this condition, although all parties
are of opinion that in operation it
would prove entirely unworkable.
1t shows again quite clearly what
a thoroughly hopeless policy home rule
for Ireland is whenever it is taken in
hand seriously and attempted to be
fashioned in a. practical way. The ma
tionalists are blaming Mr.. Asquith.
Mr.. Haldane and Sir Edward Gray for
the anaemic. misshaped bantling,