The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-27
DARK DAYS ARE
AHEAD OF ERIN;
REDMOND TALKS

london. May 27.-Dark days and
troublesome times for Ireland, after
several years of unwonted quiet, are
tion is forcing itself into a command
ing position in the politics OF the en-
pire and sidetracking. for the time
being. all other issues
When parliament meets today Sir
Henry Campbell -Bannerman. the prem
Ter. will tell the country what the
cabinet purposes to do with the Irish
council bill. Everyone expects it will
be dropped with as little ceremony as
possible. But Mr.. Balfour. leader Of
the opposition. is not likely to let pass
so fine chance to remind the country
how the Liberals. in his opinion,
muddled the matter.
The chances that the government
will do anything for Ireland at this
session are small, since the members
of the cabinet resent bitterly the re-
pudiation by their Irish allies OF the
Irish council bill. Mr.. Birrell. chief
secretary for ireland, betook himself
TO the country before the Dublin con-
vention. and his secretary refuses
point blank to give any information as
TO his whereabouts.
The society called "Sinn Fein," mean
ing, literally. For Ourselves" com
posed OF the hottest Of the anti Britons,
a majority of them young men, has
gained considerably in Importance late
ly. Its program is for the complete
boycott of England. for the Irish mem
bers to decline to attend parliament,
for lrishmen TO refuse to enter into
business or social relations with the
English in Ireland, and, as far as pos
sible. for Irishmen TO abstain from
enlisting in the army and from buying
English goods.
Edward Martin, it's leader. is
wealthy land owner and l!tterateur.
Recently he was expelled from the
aristocratic Kildare club, the Dublin
landlords rallying place. This incl
dent caused a great futter in Dublin.
The next move by the Irish members
OF parliament probably will be a united
attempt 10 induce the government to
remove Sir Antony Patrick Mcdonnell,
under secretary TO the lord lieutenant
or Ireland. When he was appointed in
1902 the Conservatives considered MIN
too friendly with the Irish. but he
failed to satisfy them. Sir Antony has
mad many years service in India, where
among other posts he held was the
lieutenant governorship of the north
west provinces and the chief COM
missionership OF Oudh. and some OF the
prominent 1rishmen say he treats the
Irish as he did the Indians.
REDMoND's VIEW.
Dublin, May 27.--John Redmond
holds that the Irish conventions de-
cision in rejecting the Irish council
bill had three weighty effects The
devolution idea, he says, has gone by
the board; the influence of the Rose
beryite group in the cabinet has been
killed, and the strength and cohesion
or the Irish party has been obtained
1ntervfewe1 on the future of the home
rule movement. Mr., Redmond declared
II as his conviction that the convention's s
action would not delay home rule single
hour. He said powerful and friendly
government had endeavored to embody
the devolution idea in the bill and had
failed, ana that no future government
would renew the attempt. Mr.. Redmond
said he anticipated the present parlia-
nlent would be dissolved close to 1908 10