The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-12-25
Asou,TH's PLEDGE TO IRELAND.

AiS IklSl oIdLudEO WOulo De DelLSE
pleased had Premier Asquith in his
pledge on Irish Home Rule spoken
more unequivocally; but in a cam
paign to curb the power of the House
of Lords, what he said may be SUIT
ficient to satisfy the Irish people.
whose leaders may have had an under
standing with him before making his
speech to the citizens of London.
Asquith wants the Irish vote in Brit
ain, vote which he would receive in
any event, for the Irish exiles hate tine
Tories and the House of Lords as
much as do the Radicals of England,
Scotland and Wales. 1t is manfestly
the policy of Asquith and his party to
conf1ne the coming fight to the quss-
ton of the Budget and the Peers and
not to get side on other is
sues, like Free Trade. Home Rule and
Socialism. The pledge to Ireland reads
as follows:
Speaking last year before my access
sion to the Premiership, described the
Irish policy as the one undeniable FAIL
ure Of British craftsmanship 1 repeat
tonight what l said then, and on behalf
OF my colleagues, and, I believe, on
behalf of my party, 1 reiterate that
this is a problem to be solved only liz
one way-by a policy which, while ex-
plicitly safeguarding the supreme, In
Invisible authority of the Imperial Par
lament, can set up in Ireland a sys-
tenn of full government as regards
purely Irish affairs. There is not and
cannot be any question Of separation
There is not and cannot be any ques-
ton of rivalry or competing for supre-
macy subject to these conditions. 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 solu-
ton, but in the new House the Liberal
Government at the head Of a Liberal
majority will be in this matter en-
tirely free"
Now we contend that such pledge
as the above has not the proper ring
to it, and that John E. Redmond
should demand Of Asquth a written
promise to the effect that after the
defeat of the Tories in this election,
the Liberals shall give full measure
of enlightenment to Ireland in the
new parliament. I'm the new House
the Liberal government at the head of
Liberal majority will be in this mat
ter entirely free" is too vague and
too ambiguous from man like
Asquith who has never been enthusiast
tic for Home Rule. A definite promise
should be given by the Scotchman
before Irish members throw off their
coats and take the hastings in Great
Britain to carry the Liberals to VIC
tory.
Let Asquith publicly proclaim that
when the question Of the Lords and the
Budget is disposed OF, the next thint:
in order will be Irish Rome Rule, ard
then he will merit the support of all
Irishmen who believe in parliamentary
methods. If the Liberals are returned
to power by such majority as would
enable them to get along without the
vote Of the Irish members they may
postpone Home Rule indefinitely, and
the Irish party would go to pieces.
OF course. the Irish in Great Britain
will vote for either Liberals or Tories
and, as already said, they will most
probably vote for the former. They
principally belong to the Labor party
and that will ally itself with the
Liberals in close districts to keep the
Tories out. In his long election al
dress, Mr.. Balfour, the Tory leader,
has not made the slightest reference to
Home Rule. Mr.. Asquith has spoken
Of it and, though not enthusiastically,
it is better than no reference at all.
There is no doubt of the Irish part,
losing a single seat In Ireland. 1t may
gain one or two seats In spite of the
opposition of three classes of voters re-
ferred to by Mr. Redmond in, his grent
Dublin speech. The result Of the cleo
ton will mainly depend on the vote
in England, Scotland and Wales. and
though the aristocracy will spend Its
last guinea to maintain its supremacy,
the handwriting on the wall is an in
dication of its downfall at the hands
of the democracy.
The Irish must not rely too much
upon the promises Of British states
men of any party. They have been lie
ceived~too often. Solemn treaties have
no binding effect on the English gov
eminent. Therefore the Irish party
should not enter into any alliance with
Liberal or Tory, but keep separate from