The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-12-11
SELF GOVERNMENT
FOR IRELAND
PROMISED
ASQUlTH DECLARES GREEN ISLE
SHOULD HAVE SYSTEM FOR
REGULATING AFFAIRS.

London. Dec. i0.-At monster
meeting tonight in Albert hall Her
bert Henry Asquith, British prime
minister. laid down the policy on
which liberal govern.a,nt is appealing
to the country. He repeated what
had beer said b. other ministers
that. If it were returned to power.
the government would demand the
limitation of power of the house OF
lords-and then went a step further.
and pledged that the liberal party
would grant self government to Ire
land.
Mr.. Asquith pointed out that just
four years ago Sir Henry Compbell-
Eannerman. the prime minister. had
0ntlined in Albert hail the policy of
a new liberal government which in
ciudcd many reforms. Representatives
of the people in the house of COM
mons had laborcd faithfully tn carry
into law the measures promised. but
their will had been nullffied and. ~
a fitting climax. the supplies which
the house % commons had voted had
been stepped upon by the house Of
lords. Therefore. the house of COM
mons VAS now on the eve of another
dissolution. and it had fallen to his
lot to take up the burden. The last
time. he said. the government had
reckoncd without their host but it
was not going to make that mistake
again.
Il tell you in the name and on be
half Of the liberal party" MIR. AS
quith proceeded. we have at this mo-
ment laid upon us single task-a
task that dominates and transcends.
because IL embraces and involves ev-
cry great and beneficient social and
political change upon which our
hearts are set. That task is to vindi-
cate and establish upon an unshak-
publican government.
Speaking last year. before my ac-
cession to the premiership Mr.. As
quith continued. Il described the Irish
policy as the one undeniable failure of
British craftsmanship. | repeat to-
night what l said then. and on behalf
of my colleagues and, I believe. on
behalf of my party. / reiteratc that
this is a problem to be solved in one
way-by a policy which. while ex-
plicitly safeguarding the supreme. in
divisible authority of the imperial
parliament. can set up Ireland sys-
tenn of full self-government as re-
CARDS purely Irish affairs.
There is not and cannot be any
question of separation. That is the
liberal policy. For reasons which we
believe to have been adequate the
present parliament was disabled in
advance from proposing any such So
luton. but in the house the liberal
government at the head of a liberal
majority will be, in this matter, en-
tirely free"
THE budget he continued. has
been thrown out by the house of
lords after weeks of debate and the
government. as a result, was con-
fronted with three constitutional in
novations. first. the claim of the
house of lords Ia the right to compel
dissolution of the popular chamber.
and third. the assertion of the house
of lords of their power to make and
unmake the executive government of
the crown. what has been done may
be done again.
The premier. said that neither he
nor any other liberal minister sup
ported by a majority in the house
of commons was going to submit
again to the rcbufs and humiliations
of the last four years.