The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-03-12

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ment he and his colleagues left them
selves precluded from dealing with
Home Rule in that Parliament. They
tied their hands by introducing what
was regarded as nalf measure by the
Irish party. The declaration of the
prime minister was to the effect that
he no longer trusted to half measures,
that he and his party and government
believed in granting to Ireland a full
Irish affairs, and that this Parliament
should attempt, as far as he and his
party were concerned, to introduce 4
full measure Of self government for Ire
land. That was most important de-
claration. But that was not the sole
reason why we supported the govern
ment at the last election. We sup
ported them because that pledge of
Home Rule was supplemented by Il
pledge which we regarded as more inn
portant still, namely. the pledge given
with reference to the veto of the House
of Lords (cheers). We regarded the
abolition or limitation of the veto of
the House of Lords as tantamount to
Home Rule for ireland cloud opposition
cheers and counter Ministerial and
cheers). When the prime
pledged himself not to hold
Office unless he could pass a bill deal
ing with the question of the veto, then
we determined to support the govern
ment. I don't question the personal
veracity Of the right honorable gen.
tleman at all, but this is a very serious
matter. In the Albert Hall he said:
I'VE shall not assume office-and we
shall not hold offlce-unless we can
secure safeguards which experience
shows us to be necessary for the legis-
lative utility and honor of the Party
OF Progress"
That pledge was repeated in sub
stance by every other minister as far as
l know on different platforms. We
understood the right honorable
gentleman to mean that he
and his colleagues would not
remain responsible for the govern,
ment of the country unless he had safe
guards, assurances, guarantees-call
them what you will-tnat he might,
if necessary. rely on the royal preroga-
tive to enable him to pass a veto bill
Parliament this year (Nation
alist and Labor chaers). Now he has
told us tonight that he meant by
Safeguards" the passage Of an act Of
Parliament. I saw that explanation
given the other day in the London
"Times" and could not imagine that
that was the meaning of the
right honorable gentleman he
would remain silent in the
face of the universal interpreta-
tion and allow the Times" to enlighten
the world as to his real meaning. l re-
spectfully say that the words I have
quoted are not consistent with that ex-
PLANTATION. He says: II won't assume
office unless I have safeguards" He
is now in office and retaining office.
What I really contend is that my in
depreciation is the general interpreted
ton placed on his words in this coun-
try as we'll as in Ireland (hear. hear).
That Interpretation was expressed In
the entire press of this country, Liberal
and Conservative, and was expressed
on thousands of platforms. In one of
the speeches Of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, made. think. at the Ma
tional Liberal club, he said:
For my part, I would not remain a
member of a Liberal Cabinet for one
had determined not to hold Office after
the next general election unless full
powers We're accorded it which would
enable them to place on the statute
book of the realm measure for the
limitation of the veto"
What are poor simple people like our
selves to understand when we find a
pledge of that sort reflected in still
more implicit terms by the Chancellor
OF the Exchequer, who Is responsible
for the Budget and largely for the ma
jority at the last election. All through
the election, down to this moment, the
universal belief among all parties in
the country was that the government
had given a pledge that they would ask
for guarantees as to the use Of the
royal prerogativc. and if they didn't
receive these guarantees they would de.
cline to hold Office The right honorable
gentleman made one argument which
appealed to me strongly. He seemed
to think that the claim put forward by
someone about these guarantees was
that he should go to the sovereign even
before he had scheme prepared AMI