New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-04
TIE IRISH AND THE BUDGET.

M lAfSh AM M d. DJEI.
The attitude OF tbs Irish members Of
Parliament toward the budget. toward
tariff reform and. in fact. toward the two
major parties az Westminster is factor
which is seriously TO be considered in
the impending conflict in the politics Of
the United Kingdom. In the present
Parliament the Liberals have. it is true.
majority so overwhelming as 10 give
them Independence Of the Irish votes.
In the two preceding Parliaments the
Unionists had similar majorities. and
also in that OF 1856. But in that Of 1892
the Liberal majority was dependent upon
the Irish votes, and in 1850 il was prac-
tically in the same plight. having mar
Gin Of only four votes over all. II seems
scarcely likely that either party will at
the coming election secure a sufficient
majority 10 give il independence Of the
Irish contingent.
Now, il is evident that many National
lists are restless under the Liberal ALI
ance, which in nearly a quarter Of 4
century has been chiefly fruitless and
which now does not even promise Home
Rule. and there il danger that this rest
lessness will rise TO revolt AT the prospect
Of a budget greatly increasing Irish taxa
ton without any compenSating advan-
tages. The lowest estimate Of the in
crease OF Irish taxation under NJ.
Lloyd-GeorGe's scheme is S2.JO0.OOO. OF
more than 90 cents a head while others
put il al four times that amount The
former il Mr.. RedmOnd's and the latter
Is Mr. Healy's estimate. Mr.. Redmond
is the official leader OF the Irish Parlia-
mentary party, but there are indications
that Mr.. Healy is commanding more and
more the confidence and support Of the
people.
Mr.. Redmond has not ventured fully
10 commit himself TO the approval Of
Mr.. Lloyd-Georges budget. but ne does
heartily support the campaign against
the House Of Lords As for tariff re-
form. be does not oppose II. but neither
does he advocate it, He persists in re-
Sarding Home Rule as the essential pre-
requisite. If the tariff reformers Will
first grant that. SO that Ireland can
establish a tariff on English and Scotch
goods, then be viii support their pro-
AfrA-hf July AldA AAAllulf M0UlU Ice
more convincing were il not for the fat
that the plan Il Home Rule which was
long ago accepted by Mr. Redmond and
his colleagues a. satisfactory was not
such as 10 invest Ireland with any such
tariff making power
Mr. Healy, on the other hand. displays
the outspoken courage OF his convictions.
even 10 the extent Of repudiatins the
Liberal alliance. He has opposed the
budget as vigorously as anv Unionist
on the ground that il would do ireland
more harm than good. He sees. and
says, too. that Irish industries have
greatly suffered from the British free
trade system. and that a protective tariff
would 20 far toward restoring them and
would do the country much good. And q
significant feature Of the case is thar
Mr.. Healy appears 10 be winning the
sympathy and support OF the Roman
Catholic Church. together with an in
creasing proportion OF the provincial
press. Thus In GALWAY. which is pe--
hans the most intensely Nationalist
county in Ireland, The Western News
speaking - Mr. Redmond and his col
leagues says:
HoH the devil they are o. hold n,
their heads or poke their noses into ~
irish audience and explain their votfne,
for a tWo million robbery OF ireland ls
Hhat N4i puHzie ne quaker. The
alliance with the English Liberals has
made the Irish party the abiect slaves
of the Liberals. There never
was a worse blunder made by anv sci
Of men ia all Irish history than this OF
helping the English 10 rob Ireland
These things suggest that the Liberal
Nationalist alliance may moi be- con
tinued Ia fhe new Parliament. az any
rate not ia III present completeness and
power. Mr. Healy and his brother may