The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-12-24
Liberal Leaders Believe House of
Lords Will Not Oppose Pop
ular Demand.
Irish Home Rule Bill Will Prob
ably be Passed by the
Present House.
A Laudable Feature of the Election
is the Complete Breakdown
of Factionism.

The tories are taking their tire.
mendous beating in the elections bad
y. They make three impossible
claims: first, that the election was
unnecessary; secondly, that it was fu-
tile, and third, that majority of over
100 must not be counted a majority
ut all. On top Of this they resort to
all kinds of impotent and audacious
threats. They threaten civil war in
Ireland and reckless fllibustering in
parliament, says T. P. O'Connor in
the Sunday Chicago Tribune.
An even more eloquent sign of the
tories rout is the growth in the ve-
hemence of the mutual recriminations
in the campaign.
The Morning Post on behalf of the
genuine protectionists is against A. F.
Balfour's surrender by pledging a ref
erendum before tariff reform has cap.
tured the tory party. Balfour keeps
repeating his pledge but Austen
Chamberlain has repudiated it and de-
clares it is binding for this election
only. This reduces the pledge to
nullity and a disreputable election
eering trick.
Fred T.. Smith, the most brilliant, of
the younger generation Of tories, re-
peats Chamberlain's reputation
All this means a soreness over the
defeat. but also a more bitter and
more concerted movement against Bal
four's leadership than at any moment
since Joseph Chamberlain first forced
protection as the policy of the tory
party.
Undoubtedly, If Chamberlain were
in good health, he would be lifted to
Balfour's place Immediately, but the
most of the outsiders persist in think
ing that unless his health and disgust
at the divisions and intrigues behind
him induce Balfour to resign volun-
, tarily, he will bring the rebels to heel
again.
Liberals Grow BoIder.
In the meantime the speeches of
the liberal leaders have become bold
and more outspoken every day. With
the increase in their majority and
with the assurance of victory they
now, without mentioning the kings
name, plainly proclaim that they had
their guarantees before entering the
fight and that If the house of lords
throws out the bill new peers will be
created by the king. ..
Fred Smith declares he would force
the ministers to that extreme step,
but the general opinion is that the
house of lords will be affrighted and
| will at the last moment yield and &C.
cept the veto bill.
Nothing can exceed the definiteness
and the optimism of the ministerial
pronouncements. Lloyd George de-
clares the veto bill will be passed
without another election. Churchill
says that it will pass before the cor
onation in June and Herbert Samuel
says it will within six months.
Asquith, without committing him.
self, says: "At the same time there
is an equal advance in defniteness in
the prononuncements on home rule
mentioned, but little in the early days
of the election. Home rule has ad-
vanced to the front every hour after
wards until now every minister has
definitely committed himself to the
pledge that home rule will be among
the first measures of the ministry and
will be passed without another cleo
i tion."
BaIfour's Attempt Rejected.
Balfour's attempt to embroil the lib
erals and Irish by demanding pledge
that home rule should be postponed
until after a referendum Is rejected
by Asquith, Lloyd George, Churchill
and every other minister who spoke.
It is difficult then to foresee any
obstacle which can prevent home rule
from being carried within the next
three years.
Never did Irishmen work 50 hard
| and so unitedly as in the present cleo;
ton, especially in Great Britain
- =