The Irish standard., 1907-01-26

and significant statement
on the subject, addressing his own
in Scotland. IT were a
Nationalist (said he) I would take it
in any way could get it, provided it
was consistent with and led UP to the
larger policy. think that would be
good advice: but lay stress on the
proviso that it must be consistent with
and lead up TO tho larger policy. Good
government could never be a substi-
tutc for government by tho people
themselves"
Tho meaning OF this last observa-
ton VIC take to be that government in
Ireland, even with the Dublin castle
System NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. even
With all abuses in administration re-
formed in accord with Irish sentiment
government that might be fair and
square in all it's details-govssnnent
that would bold the balance even
as to all cyeeds and classee-even s,uh
government in Ireland could never bs
satisfactory without the controlling
power being in tho people-without
tho people being tho source and domi-
mating factor Of all legislative and ex-
ccutivc authority. That is what Sir
Henry Campbell ll-Bannerman meant
when he said that good government
could nevcr be substitute for gov
crnment by the people themselves"
He meant that government in Ireland.
no matter how good" it might be
made in u general way by various
measure of reform" could never be
really good or satisfactory until 1t was
government by Iris!1men from top to
bottom--govcrnmeI4e under law made
in Ireland by Iris!.mcn and admins
tered by Irisl,nlen.
This, wy take it. is the platform Of
Prime Minister Campbell. ll.Bannerr1an
as to the government III ireland. It is
the plnin ard fair inferenee-in fact,
tho only possible infcrcncc-from his
oft-rcpeated declarations on the sub
jcct. Can it DO, then, that he would
offer a. bill in parliament that would
not be in limo with that policy and
platform! We do not think SO, but
whether it can or not will very soon
be known. A few weeks will bring
the answer to that momentous dues-
ton. Meanwhile. as i'll any and every
event, tho reliance Of Ireland Is upon
the honesty am! unity If its own party.
and the strength o: It's National or
Yanization, ana as 70 this we ere in no
doubt. We do not know what the
Forthcoming: government bdl may be,
but VIC do know what the policy and
purpose of the irish party are and
will continne to- be. AS to that, no
There will be- 10 hauling down Of the
nng. 10 compromise Of the National
demand, no iota Of departure from the
platform Of Home Rule full and COM
pletc as 4. final settlement, and moth
ing that is not in line with II az
partial settlement. If it be an install
mcnt only. it must be an inStalrnent
such as will surely lead to, and in no
respect hinder or prejudice, the larger
and not to be surrendered or mini
mized policy OF complete Home Rule.
That this is the Irish determination,
the Irish leader has put beyond doubt
in numerous declarations on numer
Gus occasions. Here is one Of them IN
his speech last year a. Athlone:
Nothing except a free parliament
with an executive responsible to It can
ever settle the Irish question, or can
ever be accepted by us as a settlement
Of our claim. feel it my duty TO re-
mind the government that their scheme
will be examined by us solely from the
point Of view Of tho advancement Of
the Home Rule cause. and that II that
scheme. when it is produced. proves
to be an abortion, the Irish party and
the Irish people will repudiats It,"
And in a speech in Dublin at the