The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-02-26
THE IRISH PARTY.

Now t tie Parliament of Great Britain and
Ireland 5o4te7 for the transaction of business, it
may be O. interss to many of our readers to learn
the quarter OF the Irish National party in the
House of Con mons and what the house thinks of
John Redmond and his fighters.
No matter what party may be in possession of
the treasury benches-Tory, Liberal Unionist-
the Irish party in the Imperial Parliament always
occupy the seats below what is known the gang
way on the opposition sde facing the party in
power and to the left of the speaker. Since the
days when Parnell led the Home Rule members,
the NaJionists have sat on the opposition side be-
low the gangway, in order that all parties in the
house may understand that the Irish members hold
themselves separate and apart from all political af-
filiation with any party of the house Whatever
may be the views and opinions on general political
issues, whatever may be the synpathies, whether
conservative radical or LIBERAL of the individual
members of the Irish party, they disappear in the
house and give place to iron obedience to the
policy of the Irish leader and that of his advisors.
To the spectator from the galleries the eighty odd
Irish members are a solid phalanx with but soul
and one heart. Forming this Irish phalanx
farmers, DOCTORS journalists, storekeepers lawyers
and landowners, poor, others wealthy, men
with dispositions and temperaments as dissimlar
their occupations and callings.
This Irish party is courted and feared, for it
holds, and safely position of far-reaching politi
cal power and Importance In the House of Com
mons. Its solidarity constitutes its great strengt
and its independence confers on it immense infu-
ence Its detachment from general political issues,
its indifference to and aloofness from all British
parties, the acknowledged ability and debating
strength of many of its members, and the fierce
saughts of these members on everything and every
one they believe to be a foe to Ireland have won
recognition and at times admiration from the body
of the House. The Irish party is neither gateful
resentful. It has nothing to resent, still less to
fear. In politics there is such thing gratitude
and the party certainly has no reason to be grateful
Nor is it resentfu The Liberal party, under Glad
stone, was wrecked when it espoused home rule
when Lord Rosebery, Joseph Chamberlain and other
Liberals separated themselves from their chief and
said: owe will not serve"
The Conservative. now the Union, party fought
four square land SO far with success, the aspira-
tons of the Nationalist for the right of the Irish
people to frame laws for themselves These re-
verses, these facts, have influence in determin-
ing from session to session the policy of the Irish
party With the Fabians they say;
"Tho' beaten back IN many fray,
Yet refreshing strength we borrow;
For where the vanguard halts today
The rear shall camp tomorrow"
Its members have no conjunction, no qualms
of conscience, in breaking away from the Liberals
and standing with the Tories, when the chance is
with them to serve Ireland There is no treason
here; they are fighting their battles in their
own way studying al the time the tactics and STRAIT
egy of their enemy. They not despised, they
not dstrusted they not hated for this loyalty to
what at one time was deemed Flost cause"
Indeed, the acknowledged abilities of many mem
bers of the Irish party the commanding intellect of
Others the honesty, the earnestness and enthusiasm
of all are admitted recognized and respected by the
House 1t looks as if in the end they will win out,
and $50 be it."