The Irish standard., 1907-05-25
IRELAND UNITED.

IRELAND UNITED.
The Irish national convention called
by the Parliamentary party to pass
upon the acceptance or rejection of
the Birrell Bill, has rejected the mea-
sure without a dissenting voice. The
resolution rejecting the bill was in
troduced by John Redmond the leader
of the Parliamentary party If the
enemies of Ireland hoped that this
measure would be the cause of Great
ing a division in the ranks of the
Irish people. they have been disap-
pointed. If the liberal ministry hoped
TO keep the support of the Irish men,
bers and also the support Of the Anti
Home Rule Liberals by introducing a
compromise measure, they also have
been disappointed. The convention of
Dublin was the best evidence that has
been given in recent years of the SOL
,darity Of the Irish nation. The efforts
OF the enemies of Ireland to create a
division In the ranks of the people in
the Parliamentary party have failed.
Inc parliamentary party remains a
united force, fighting for Home Rule.
From this time on the liberal ministry
must maintain itself in power in on
position to the Irish members. Indeed,
it is probable that the action of the
Dublin convention will be more far
reaching to the Liberal party than the
loss of the support of the Irish Ma
flonallst party. 1t is probable that
there will result a reorganization of
the party. 1t is reported that the Lib
eral party will drop the Irish question
for the present, but the Irish question
cannot be dropped. The Irish Nation
alists, over eighty strong. will be pres
ent in the British parliament. insisting
daily that the demands of ireland be
granted. The Liberal ministers will
find it impossible to carry any of their
measures in opposition to the able and
we'll organized Irish members. There
is now no doubt that the Birrell bill
was introduced,fas compromise mea-
sure. If Sir Henry Banner
man had his way the pledges of the
Liberal leaders to the Irish people
would be carried out. but there is in
the Liberal ministry number Of An
u-Home Rule members. among whom
are Grey, Asquith and Haldan. Their
opposition to the granting of Home
Rule resulted in, the measure which
has just been rejected by the Irish peo-
pie.
No doubt, Ireland has acted wisely
The measure proposed was so made
quate and so impracticable that it was
bound to work in an unsatisfactory
way. It's adoption would give the en-
emies of Ireland some opportunity for
saying that Irish local government was
a failure. Such result instead of
working in favor of ultimate Home
Rule would be an obstacle. II the
measure had been accepted by Ireland
as a step in the direction of Home Rule
there would almost certainly have re-
suited a division in the ranks of the
Irish people. 1t would give the enemies
of the Irish parliamentary party oppor-
tunity to say that that party had sur
rendered the interests of the Irish peo-
pie in order to continue in support of
the Liberal party. The action of Mr.
Redmond in Introducing the resolution
rejecting the bill and of his followers
in acquiescing in the action of the con-
vention disarms the factional leaders
of Ireland. The hest feature connect
ed with the convention is the quiet
deliberate way in which the Irish peo-
pie took the matter up for consideration
and the decisive way in which they
disposed of it. Can there be any pos
sble doubt left in the minds of Eng
fish statesmen that the Irish people
know what they want and are united
in demanding it? Is there longer any
possible reason for temporizing and
compromising with the Irish question?
There is much ground for hopeful
81 t.