The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-08-06
An Election is Likely in the Near
Future Though Undesirable
to Leaders.
Scotland Wants Land Reform and
Wales is Clamoring for
Dismemberment.
Ireland, Wales and Scotland are
More Solid Than Ever
Against Unionists.

. With regard to the future course Of
the struggle from the mists of all the
prophecy and speculation, there emerge
certain facts which seem sufficiently
clear and certain, says a writer in the
Catholic Union and Times.
OF the impending general election we
may use the language heard so often
in sermons on death-all admit that it
is inevitable; that it will come soon at
latest But the precise time and man.
ner of it's coming are hidden from us.
Just like death, if a general election
We're not inevitable, all parties would
at present try to avoid it, and the re-
sponsible leaders Of both parties are
inclined to ward it off. Politicians of
both British parties are seriously con-
cerned lest the next general election
conclusive to settle the constitutional
crisis. This contingency they shirk
from, as it would involve another dis
solution very shortly and possibly yet
another. This fear can be read be-
tween the lines in both Liberal and
Tory papers. The terror which such a
prospect 'unfolds to the average mem
ber5of parliament; not to speak of par
ties at all, is apparent. The Tory
party itself has special reason for
shirking this contingency.
England the predominant Partner"
That there will not be any great
change in favor of either party for
some time believe to be certain. Let
the reader take up or place before his
imagination a map of the British Isles.
Let us say that politically it consists of
Four principal parts-Ireland, Scot
land, Wales and England proper. There
is no need to speak of Irelnad. Her
representation will be practically what
She will send about so members pledg-
ed to carry Home Rule. Scotland
wants land reform and other things,
which she expects only from the Lib
erals. Let 1t be remembered that Scot
land showed herself more liberal in
the last election than she did in the
previous one, when the Liberals came
into power with the enormous majority
of $50. Wales wants disestablishment
and other things to which she is ire
vocably committed, and which she be-
lieves she can obtain only from the
Liberals and by smashing the veto Of
the Lords. 1t would take some new
question, of which there is no shadow
at present on the horizon, to change
the political complexion of any one of
these three parts of the United King
dom.
We now come to England proper.
land as against the other parts of the
kingdom is thing which, believe,
we do not clearly comprehend in Amer
lea. England elects over two-thirds
of the entire parliament She is, in
very deed, the predominant partner
and she knows it. 1t is remarkable
what deep-hidden prejudice exists in
England, not only against Ireland, but
against Scotland and Wales, if they
try to force Englands hand.
ireland, Wales and Scotland Liberal.
But to return to our map. For
special causes Ireland, Wales and Scot
land are more solid than ever in their
Liberalism and against the Unionists
They have now common cause in the
campaign against the House of Lords
To these must be added now the indus
trial North of England, particularly
Yorkshire and Lancashire. AS in Scot
land, there is here large vote. But
that is not the only reason. These in
dustrial centers will be fixedly Liberal
while liberalism spells free trade. The
remainder of England may be divided
into three parts. London is at pres
ent almost evenly divided between two
parties. The other two doubtful dis
tricts are the midlands and the south
ern and western counties. These dis
tricts are we'll under the influence OF
the squire, the parson, fixed tradition
and even ignorance. . Election reforms
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