New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-13
UP BEDuOND-S POLICY.

The Parliamentary policy which Mr..
Redmond. as leader of the majority
faction of the Nationalists, has out
lined for himself and his followers i'll
the session which begins this week IL
perfectly consistent and logical and Is
calculated to command the hearty sup
port of all Home Rulers. Briefly stated
it is identical with that which has been
nut forward by Mr.. O'BriCn, the leader
of the other Nationalist faction, All
for Ireland" Home Rule for Ireland
has precedence over everything dSc.
even over the budget and the question
of the Lords. though the latter Is re
carded as closely connected with Home
Rule. since il was the House OF LORDS
that defeated one Of Mr.. Gladstone's
proposals. Mr.. Redmond, Of course,
takes Mr. Asquith at his word and as
Sumes unheSitatingly that ne VIII fulnl
his campaign pledge of Home Rule. In
that case the seventy-two votes of Mr..
Redmonds party viii be east solidly
for the budget and for the other meas
ures which Mr.. Asquith may desire. But
if Mr.. Asquith should not Introduce
satisfactory Home Rule bill, those votes
would be lacking.
That policy seems, however. 10 mean
some embarrass ment for the Liberal
government. Apparently 1t viii be
called upon 10 commit itself to Home
Rule and to abolition Of the House of
Lords. or ST least of its legislative
power. before il can have the Irish votes
which are necessary to assure the pass
ing OF the budget. Yet if it does so it
will intensity opposition to itself and
may even provoke mutiny in its own
ranks, since there are believed to be
some Liberal members, if not ministers,
who will not support Home Rule. Or.
if Mr.. Redmond. in his reliance on Mr..
AsOuith's word 2ssentS 10 the voting
of the budget first, he certainly will
insist upon the introduction of the Home
Rule bill Immediately thereafter, and
that will bring the crisis on only q lit
tie later The crisis seems bound 10
come. It has been apparently ineVi--
table ever since it was seen that the
Nationalists would have the balance Of
power i'll the House Of Commons
OF course they have that power
even Nj Redmond's seventy-tWo men-
berS. without Mr.. OBren's contingent.
For them 10 cast their votes with the
Opposition would mean the defeat Of
the government. If they simply re-
Trained from voting, the government
might hold its ground with Il small ma
j0rity; but Irish members have no fond
ness for not voting, They like to make
their power felt. But even with Mr..
Redmond's straightforward policy be
fore them they will not be altogether
free from embarrassment in case the
government does not accedc to their de
SlreS. TO support the government if it
should drop its Home Rule promise or
if it should interpret that promise diff
ferently from the Irish, would be self
qualification. Yet 10 vote against the
government would he 10 vote with the
Unionist enemies of Home Rule. To
vote against the government for neglect
ing Home Rule and at the same time
to vote with those who have not only
neglected but have opposed and beaten
Home Rule and who stand pledged to
oppose it TO the end would be an unsat-
isfactOry course For the NatiOnalists
themselves, therefore as well as for the
government, the coming session has
possibilities Of trouble