The Irish standard., 1910-01-08
CHEERFUL NEWS FROM
I. P. 0'C0NN0R N. P.
The Division Prevailing in
the Tory Party Among the
Leaders is a Sign Of Vic
tory for the Liberals in
Their Fight for the Plain
People Against the Nobil-
ity of the Realm.
This is the situation that I find on

This is the situation that find on
my return, says T. P. O'Connor in his
London letter of Jan. to the Chi
cago Tribune, whose proprietor, Medill
Mccormack, contributed $1,000 to the
Home Rule cause.
The Liberals are fighting unitedly
and enthusiastically everywhere, with
all the leaders in the fighting line, ex-
cept Haldane, who is temporarily ill.
The Tories are dispirited. They are
divided, with no leaders and no de-,
cisive leader. Chamberlain can only
issue manifestoes from the sick room.
Balfour has just emerged from the
bed, and the death Of Lord Percy re-
moves a potent young genius.
There is a similar weakness in the
program. Little attempt is made to
justify the rejection of the budget by
the peers, and the experiment of send
ing peers to the popular platforms to
speak for themselves dissolved in n
side splitting and universal roar Of
rough popular laughter. These lordly
but unaccustomed orators were pur-
sued by popular and telling questions,
to which their inept answers added
force.
Tariff reform still waitsSfor a decis-
i've lead from Balfour and Balfour re-
plies with shower baths of the coldest
water. Yesterday, in his first speech
OF the campaign, Balfour expressly
separated himself from thsSS Wild cry
of the orthodox high protectionists.
Balfour denied that the tariff would
bring universal employment.
Divided and discouraged OH the
questions Of the lords and the tariff,
the Tories fall back on the German
navy scare and home rule. The navy
scare has risen from the grave with
more ghastly folly and panic than ever
during the Dreadnought agitation.
George Wyndham, though an able
Tory leader ventures to ask, what is
the good of trade if the Germans are
in possession Of English soil?"
Lord Cawdor, who was head of the
navy during the last Tory ministry,
declares that if home rule is granted
a German fleet will take possession OF
Belfast and can only be dislodged by
war.
1t is astonishing how home rule has
rushed to the front since Asquith's
speech. Everybody, foe and friend
united in regarding Asquith's speech
as bringing back the Liberals to Glad
stones policy of full home rule, and
several Tory journals even say AS
quith's position is more home rule
than Gladstones.
The Irish, on the other hand, inter-
preting Asquith in the same way, enter
this election with more hope, enthusi-
nsm and union than any since 1886
LII IlCy dAC VO1nAAA6 CSSAS
where in cordial alliance with the
Liberals, while the Liberals are every
where speaking out on home rule with
a clearness and courage unknown
since Gladstone's retirement.
In some cases Liberals who had op.
posed home rule for twenty years an6
remained outside the Liberal ranks
are returning and adopting home rule
as the only settlement Of the Irish
question.
can see no signs outside of Lon.
don of any large break in the present
solid Liberal majority. This is es.
pecialy remarkable in Lancashire
Lancashire is usually Tory and al
ways doubtful, going alternately in the
different elections Liberal or Tory, bu
in this election Lancashire still re.
mains frightened by the prospect O.
the destruction of it's gigantic cottor
trade by the tariff and a cordial unior
between the Liberals and Irish great
ly helps, as the Irish voters are NOR
numerous in Lancashire than in an!
other part of England.
The chief danger of the Liberals Il
the three cornered fights with a thirt
candidate the labor party is threaten
ing to give to seat. a Tory. Thes'
fights though too numerous, and few
er than usual, the challenge Of tn
lords proving mighty unifying fore
in all sections of progressive thought