The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-03-18
PER|LS OF IRISH
FREEDOM IMAGINARY
When Veto of House of Lords is Re
moved an Era of Activity
Will Begin.
Then Will COunsels of Ireland Be
Heard in the Councils of the
British Government.
The People of Both Countries Are
Awaiting the Passing of the
Veto Measure.

The Catholic Times, London, com.
menting on the Veto Bill, strikes
note OF good will that is pleasant to
hear. Under conditions as they exist
today the English and Irish cannot
be expected to cooperate in the work
of lettering the conditions that are
in need of attention. The fault lies
not with the irish people. They are
ready to let by-gones be bv-gones. But
they have u demand behind which
they have stood for years, a demand
which is just and honorable, and they
cannot enter into the spirit OF CO.
operation until TINS demand has been
granted. Home Rule is the one means
of bringing about harmony between
England and Ireland Commenting on
the probable effects OF Irish self gov
ernnlent, the Times says:
With the Parliament (Veto) Bill
passed into law, and the Veto OF the
Lords removed, an era will open of
unexampled legislative activity in the
life of the people of these islands. One
of the first measures to be won will
be the granting OF self-government 10
Ireland. The concession OF Home Rule
will make way for peace and pros
perity to a country that has claimed
that freedom without which all things
languish. To us, Home Rule for Ire
land has always borne a religious as
pect. When we think of the vast mul.
titudes of Ireland's sons and daugh-
ters who have fed from home ain
sought a better home in other lands,
and recognize that the bulk of these
emigrants were Catholics and carried
with them their faith to build up the
Church under other skies, we are not
prone as some to exult. For we Can
but ask ourselves whether the net re-
suit is gain or loss. We turn back
our mind to contemplate what might
have been had Ireland retained her
Catholic population. We do not sec
much to rejoice over in the loss to Eu-
rope of such numbers of Catholics
1t is easy to feel pride in the glorious
missionary work of Irish Catholics in
America or Australia or Canada. But
We confess to desire to see a strong
Catholic country here at home, on tn"
very hearth of the British Empire. We
want the counsels of Catholic Ireland
to be heard in the councils of the
British government And that will
arrive with free Ireland The old
religious bigotries will pass away, and
our ministers will feel the influence
of ministers who WELD power in Ire.
land. No Cabinet will venture to re-
pudiate the protests of men with
whom it is in constant touch. Irish
opinion will influence English opinion,
and the spirit of friendship will bege'
the warmer spirit of brotherhood. Thai
here and there will be found men OF
tenacious prejudice who will proclaim
the perils of freedom is but to be
expected. But they will prove to be
few And the history of the world is
against them. The people of Ireland
have no reason to hate or dstrust tn
people of England. And today we are
both engaged in the struggle for lib
erty, for liberty to govern ourselve
as freemen should. The obstruction in
the Lords prevents this. The Parlia
ment Bill removes that obstruction
And therefore the people of Irelan1
and Of Britain wait calmly and conf
IDENTIFY the passing of that great meas
ure for political emancipation into law