The Irish standard., 1907-01-26
What the Government Bill Will Be No One
Outside the British Cabinet Can at
This Time Answer.
A Few Weeks Will Bring the Answer,
Meanwhile Ireland Places It's Reliance
Upon the Irish Party.

As the time approaches. and it is
fast approaching, when the promised
measure OF instalment OF Home Rule
for Ireland is expected to bo made
known to the world, strong interest, If
not anxiety, is naturally felt among
lrishmen everywhere as to what may
bo it's character and extent. says tho
Irish World Parliament will reas-
scmble early next month, and accord
ing to the usual course, the question
or subject will be mentioned in tho
kings speech. assuming that legisla-
ton upon it is to form part of the
government program for the session.
On this point, that is, to to whether
present year, there is apparently no
room for doubt. At the opening OF
last years session, the kings speech
announced that: "Alinisters have un-
der confederation plans for improving
and efrecting economies in the system
Of government in Ireland ana for in
PRODUCING into it means for associating
the people with the conduct of Irish
affairs" and later in the year. in Il
speech in Dublin, Sir Antony Mac
Donnell, under secretary for Ireland.
gave distinct assurance that in 1907
the plans referred to might be
looked for in practical shape. my
firm belief" said l1c "is that the COM
ing year Of 1907 will see the fruition
OF many Of the hopes which the best
Irshmen have for many years enter
tanned. It may not be the full fruition
Of all that many Irlshmcn have hoped
for. but it Will mean, l believe, the
fruition Of so mu1ll that 1rishmen, II
they are true to themselves, will make
the fountain and tho source from
which the whole or their hopes may
be fulfilled
1t may therefore be taken as tolcr-
ably certain that Il Home Rule bin OF
some kind will be presented during tho
coming session Of parliament. What
kind will it be? That is a question
which nobody outside the British cab
) met can at this time answer But the
man at the head Of that cabinet IS
/ universally regarded as All honest man
and n genuine Home Ruler. On tho
eve Of the elections, and while tho
elections We're in progress last year,
he declared in plain words for Home
Rule as the only settlement Of the
Irish question. MY opinion" said he,
only way of healing tho evils of Ire
1and--renOving the difficulties Of her
administration, and giving her con-.
tentncnt and prospcrity--is that tho
/ Irish people should have the manage :
nent Of their own domestic affairs"
/ The speaker nr these words. th"
Sir Henry Campbcl-E -Eannernlan, is,
as VIC have said. universally regarded
as an honest man. And the Irish
party regard him as thoroughly hon
est on the Home Rule question. II. r.
O'Connor, in his speech at the recent
Philadelphia. convention. expressed the
Irish party estimate of him as fol-
lows:
we have at the head Of the govern
ment one Of the bravest and one Of
the most upright and one Of the most
consistent politicians that ever ruled
in England, Sir Henry Campbell Ban
herman. Tn the middle OF the election,
when perhaps the interest Of his party
and some Of mis- colleagues counselled
silence on this question, he nailed the
Home Rule colors to the mast and de.
clared that he stood III 1906 where he
stood in 1856, when he was one Of the
cabinet of Gladstone that proposed the
great Home &ule bill Of that time"
From such man it is reasonable to
expect an honest bill. whether it be for
Home Rule out and out at once, or only
an insta1ment leading up to the larger
policy" as he himself phrased it in hi.