The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-08-28

OAeN W
important events in the history Of the
British empire. He forgot to apply
to the case of Ireland" says O'Con-
nor, the same principles which would
certainly lead to the same results Of
reconciliation between England and
Ireland" and then he adds:
1T is certain that this precedent has
sunk deep in the English mind. Win
| ston Churchill, who, when a Tory.
strongly opposed the Irish home rule,
never fails to tell the English meetings
that the case OF the Transvaal helped
to convert him. Thus by a strange
irony home rule for Ireland seems des-
tined to approach by such circuitous
route as the Transvaal."
In South Africa today the Britons
and the Beers stand on a perfect equal
ity according to the new constitution,
and so do their languages, though a
few years ago they were engaged in
terrific struggle brought on by Brit
ish cupidity to gain possession Of the
gold mines. The war was so disas-
trous to Britain that as soon as the
Liberals came into power they re-
versed the policy Of the Conservatives
by granting the Beers a constitutional
government and thus preventing future
uprisings of gallant people who
knew how to fight for liberty. The
party that turned the enmity of the
Beers into friendship has promised
home rule to Ireland, but the Irish are
accustomed to wait. and they are wait
ing patiently for the fulflllment of the
pledge and giving their support to the
Liberals at the bye elections in Eng
land and voting with them in parlia-
ment
OF all the British possessions, Ire
land is the only one, excepting India,
that is deprived of the rights of SELF
government. 1t depends on the British
themselves how soon it will receive
recognition from the British assembly,
No party in England today refuses
home rule to Ireland on the ground
that the people are not competent to
govern themselves. Ireland is a mere
shuttlecock between Liberals and
Tories. The Liberals offered a sort
of home rule which was Indignantly
rejected about year ago, and they
are expected to offer better one next
time. If they fail to do so, the Irish
can change over to the Tories and Dust
them from office. Had they been as
far away from England as the Boers
are, and had they been trained to
arms and willing to fight for their
freedom, they would have received
self government a long time ago. Blu.
while the English are numerically
stronger than the Irish and have an
army and navy which the Irish have
not, the most the Irish can do is to
demand their rights in parliamentary
manner.
The English are treating the Beers
very handsomely because it is the
best thing for them to do under the
circumstances. When the time comes
that it is necessary for them to con-
ciliate the Irish for the benefit of the
British empire, they will grant the sis
ter isle some form of home rule, but
until that time arrives the Irish must
wait and pay their taxes like loyal
subjects. So long as England is at
peace with the world and can keep
a standing army Of soldiers and COLI
stabulary in Ireland, there is not muct
danger of an insurrection in that coun-
try. The able-bodied Irishmen who
would be expected to fight for mother
land in the day of trouble are leaving
the country by the thousands. and few
of them will ever return. Hence it is
that the Irish must be patient unit,
England gets ready to let them meet
once more in College Green. We don't
see what else they can do.
| A FOOLISH UTTERANCE,