The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-04-23

must ask ourselves what, under present GIRO
stances, was the course most likely to ensure +
attainment of the legislative independence rI;I
Mr. Redmond and the National party are iebtiu,
for Mr. Redmond, ever since he came to the +.-77
as leader of the Irish Nationalist has sbov,n /;
self a strategist of great skill tact and prudana.
Thus far he has, by the exercise Of these ouait;.
achieved success that may be considered INN.
cedented and unparalleled.
To his policy. to his skill in parliamentary MO-.
fare, to his moderation, his tact his COURAGE o.,
indomitable energy, it is due that Irish Homo prI
occupies its present position and that the or, Az
ference among the Liberal leaders now will bo
to the scope and character of the measure p,
conceded 1t must be admitted that for NJ. P.l
mond, the only question he ever considered y,..
"How should the Irish in Ireland and Great Rr;+.;
act in order to achieve our legislative iDdaro,J
ence?" Neither gratitude for past services no.
the personal preference which we are sure he nm.
feel for the Liberal party, could influence the do
cision of man whose chief duty is to Ireland owl
who has always been faithful to duty Home Prr
seems now to be certainty. The Irish people Or.
entitled to it and must obtain it. They will noun
demand it by the unanimous voice of their rar,.
sentatives, and this as Mr. Asquith has said. will
make the demand much stronger and more imnor
tive than when landlord and government Influence
elected one-half the Irish members to resist pvo-
measure proposed in the interest of the Irish M.
ton. Canada and Australia through their nar
liaments, years ago, declared unanimously that
Ireland was entitled to legislative independence
and ought to be free to frame its own laws. From
Canada, which, as the Honorable Edward Blake 90
eloquently stated in great speech at Ednburpb
is far in advance even of the Liberal party in Great
Britain and already has had practical experience f
much that is yet but theoretical in the old com.
try came advice that statesmen in Great Britain
would do well to accept, for it was rendered out Of
regard for the welfare of Ireland and the preserva
ton of the empire. The leading men of both poit-
ical parties in Great Britain have admitted that
Ireland is entitled to Home Rule and that the
concession of Home Rule has become essential to
the well-being of the empire
What measure Mr.. Asquith will propose or Par.
lament accept, it is difficult to say but the Brit
Ssh government VIII make a great mistake fraupht
with incalculable mischief if the act passed be not
conceived in a most generous spirit and be not So
framed as to give to the Irish people the complete
absolute and untrammelled control over their own
affairs If the act does not give them all they are
entitled to have, all that is compatible with the
integrity of the empire, great blunder will have
been made, for only that which is done well is
done right.
To compel the Irish people to accept a half
measure would not allay the feeling that has long
rendered Ireland a cause of weakness to the en-
pire. 1t would prolong and strengthen the agita-
tion for complete Legislative independence. and
might one day lead to that total separation which
the extremists in Ireland desire
If Legislative independence when conceded to
Ireland be as full and as complete as that which
Canada and Australia enjoy, the Irish people may
in time be as much attached to United Empire as
the citizens of Canada and Australia.