The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-07-24
REDMoNDITEs IN A DILEMMA.

REDMoNDITEs IN A DILEMMA.
Such special correspondents Of
american newspapers as T. P. OCon-
nor and T. D. Sullivan intimate in
their letters that John E. Redmond
end his followers are somewhat afraid
that the Liberal party after passing
the Lloyd budget with their assistance
may not reach the Birrell land bill at
this session of parliament. T. P. o.
Conner says that Redmond has tacit
understanding with Lloyd George
about the tariff on whiskey and that
for the sake of the land bill the Irish
PARTY will support the budget at the
third reading, despite the fact that on
the second reading the party voted with
the opposition and thus reduced the
Liberal majority to 30. or thereabouts.
If the Irish party fails to vote with
the Liberals on the tax bill, the Liber-
ais may be defeated and then good
by to the Birrell land bill which the
Liberals have pledged in their pro-
gram.
The Tories passed the wyndham bill
to enable the Irish tenants to buy the
farms outright from the landlords. but
there is nothing in the act to compel
the landlords to sell. About half the
land has been transferred from land
lord to tenant on satisfactory terms
but some Of the landlords will not sell
Voluntarily and the object OF the Bir-
rell bill, If we understand it properly,
is to make the transfer compulsory
and get rid of landlordism, root and
branch. Birrell. the chief secretary
for Ireland. has given sufficient evil
dcnce Of his sincerity in disposing Of
the vexed question of landlordism in
Ireland and getting rid forever of such
monsters Of eviction as Clanrickarde,
who prefers cattle to men on his vast
estates in the west of Ireland. Under
these circumstances 1t is difficult for
Redmond and his adherents to refuse
support to the Liberals in the mat
ter Of the adjustment of taxes for the
building OF big British navy. not
withstanding the fact that Ireland is
getting overtaxed at present. Better
&c: the land bill amended and land
lordism ended than see the Liberals
defeated even though Ireland has to
pay the British piper to tho tune ne
an increase Of duty on liquor and
licenses. The Irish party has no pledge
at all from the Conservatives. and
though doubtful Of the fulflllment of
the Liberal promises. they deem 1t
more prudent not to antagonist the
Lloyd George budget while the land
bill is in the background.
Timothy NJ. Healy. the recalcitrant
member for North Louth. is natural
~ hostile to Redmond, but neverthe-
less he is good 1rishman and what
he says on this subject is worth quot
ing. In a New York contemporary he
says:
Our parliamentary leaders admire
Mr.. Brrell's Land Bill 1 would 20
almost as far as to say they love 1t.
1t is not quite what it would be If they
had the drafting of the measure, but
taking 1t as it stands If it be passed
into law, it will be productive Of count
less blessings to Ireland. Therefore.
while making great show of hostility tt
those portions Of the bill which, by in
creasing the whiskey and license duties,
impose an additional burden of taxa
ton upon Ireland, they will take care
tkat, If they can prevent it. the pres
ent liberal government shall not be
routed and their places given over to
a combination Of Tories, Unionists,
Orangemen. and 'carrion crows
should like to add that in my opinion
their views as to the Importance Of
Mr.. Birrell's land bill are quite right.
and that Ireland should prefer to bear
the burden Of the increased whiskey