The Irish standard., 1908-04-18
ENGLISH POLITICS.

1t is useless to deny the fact that
recent developments in English poll
tics are somewhat discouraging to the
friends of Ireland. The vote on Mr..
Redmond's home rulc motion elected
statements from Liberal leaders, which
prove that there must soon be a change
in the attitude of those leaders or a
complete severance Of relations be-
tween the Irish Nationalists and the
Liberal party. No doubt those in Ire
land who have been opposing the pro-
gram Of the Irish Nationalist party take
considerable satisfaction out of the
present situation. Mr.. Asquith, who is
now Premier, stated that he hoped
some day men may recognize the value,
as an imperial asset Of self-govern
ing Ireland, but that the Liberals are
neither going to introduce a home rule
bill in the present Parliament, nor give
a promise that they will make homo
rule Liberal issue in the next elec
tion. In view Of those statements, the
vote on Mr.. Redmond's resolution, COM
mitting the Liberal party to home rule
is nothing more than an expression of
the sympathy and convictions of that
the Irish Nationalists now to force the
Liberal party to put forward home rule
as a political issue. They can do this
in the way Parnell forced Gladstone to
take up the question. They can bring
home to the Liberal party the convic-
ton that there is an immediate neces-
sity for doing something, by advising
Irish Nationalists in English constitu-
encies to vote against Liberal candi-
dates at the collections. A dWin-
ding Liberal majority will convince
the party of the need of Irish support.
In all the large cities Of England there
is a large Irish population, and in very
many Of the constituencies the Irish
Nationalist vote holds the balance of
power. Friends of Ireland should not
desert the Irish Nationalist party, but
it is time for that party to force such
men as Asquith into something bet
ter than mere lip service.
1t is unfortunate inded, that the
leadership of the Liberal party should
at this time fall into the hands Of that
Liberal leader, which Of all others, has
been the most Kifriendly to Irish de-
mands. He has an example in Rose
berry. however, and may possibly profit
by 1t. The Irish people are tired of
sympathy. and sentiment. and convic-
tion. They demand action.
The situation is not without hope,
for there is in the present British min
istry several real home rulers John
Morley is as sincere friend of Irish
demands as WAS the illustrious Glad
stone. Ferbert Gladstone was home
ruler even before his father was con-
verted to that principle. Augustus
Birrell. chief secretary for Ireland, said
with emphasis in a recent debate:
"Thc Liberal party is a Home Rule
party, and there can be no kind of
doubt about that. 1 have never dis
suised from the electors that I am not
penitcnt.'
"A number of other Liberals have
declared that home rule is outside of
practical politics during the present
Parliament. but if the Nationalists
bring their proposition clearly before
the people at the next general election,
l believe the English electorate would
rally to their help in solving the prob
lem" The Irish Nationalists, with Will
liam O'Brien and Timothy Healy back
IN the ranks are in a position to force
Asquith and his faction of the Liberal
party to make home rule a part of
practical politics. not only in this Par
lament, but at the next general elec-
tion. We shalli soon, see whether the