The Irish standard., 1910-04-16
AsQu|TH
AND THE KING
Former is Afraid of Pressing
His Majesty to Create
Liberal Peers.
Talk of Revolt of Three of
the Members of the
British Cabinet.
A Great Gain to Liberalism
Were Services of Trio
Dispensed With.

In Parliament we are talking of moth
ing but the general election, says Col.
Arthur Lynch in the st. Louis Repub-
lie. This must not be supposed to re-
fer to the election from which we have
just escaped, but to the coming gen.
eral election. Why there should be a
general election is a puzzle which can
not be solved even by a scrutiny of
what happens in Parliament. One must
go deeper and penetrate the mysteries
of all those unwritten laws on which
depends the solidity of British Con-
stitution.
Premier Asquith had majority Of
1874 on the main issues, on which he
| last appealed to the country. Now
it is recorded in history that momen-
tous changes, even in the British con-
,stitution, have been carried by a ma
jority of one. The union between Ire
land and Great Britain was carried by a
majority Of one-tllat majority obtained,
moreover, only by system of cOrrup-
ton which has been scandal to his
sion, think. where "tears ran down
the iron cheek of Pitt" But the ma
jority suficed and Pitt did not hesi-
tate to give it the sanction Of the whole
power of the nation.
But when Mr.. Asquith got his ma
jority Of 124, we learn from his own
confession in a speech at Oxford, he
summoned his cabinet and they talked
of dissolution.
John Redmond has, by his firm atti-
tude, forced the government into a
bolder line, and though it does not
seem possible to stave off for more
than two or three months the futile
dissolution, yet, at any rate, he will
have secured that at the next appeal
to the country, and the issue will be
clear-cut and definite.
. But it is necessary to offer a few
words in explanation Of the situation.
One of Asquith's difficulties is that
some of the most influential mon in
his own Liberal government have n
rooted aversion to liberalism. In any
other country than this Sir Edward
Grey, minister Of foreign affairs; Mr.
Haldane, minister of war, and Mr.. Mac
Kenna, minister for the navy. would
be looked upon as incrusted Conserva-
tives.
They are able to hold their own fairly
we'll in the Liberal governments we
have had here, because Liberal legis-
lation, such as might really alarm them
never seems to come to fruition. They
were not satisfied that the majority
of 124 entitled them to do anything
more than pass the budget which the
lords had rejected. ...
These were the circumstances unde,
which Mr.. Asquith repaired to his
audience of the king" Mr.. Asquith'.
heart was already in his boots His ma.
jesty received him with all that cour.
tesy and bonhomie for which he Is
J famous. And in his debonnaire way
condoled with him on the fact tha
, the country had not pronounced def.
nitely enough to give himself any
guidance as to the best means to taI.e
Evidently the nation was not yet pre-.
pared for the disappearance of tht
lords.
The main question for Ireland is
Does the government really NEAR
business in the threat to deprive th'
lords Of their veto in legislation? I
not, we had better turn them all ou
when convenient to ourselves. If the!
do, then the budget is a small lrlc'
to pay: for once the obstruction of tn
house of lords Is cleared the pathwa!
to home rule is secured.
But does the government mean busi
ness? Their one proposal was to pas
tho budget and to send up to the hous
of lords resolutions proposing to limi
r their powers. Tho lords will promptl
! throw these out. What will be tn
r next step Of the government? The
propose simply to resign. And the