The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-03-18
Everything Changed in Parliament
in Twenty five Years Except
Irish Demand.
Land Question and Kings Declar-
alton Question Have Since
Been Settled.
The Irish Question is Logically the
Next Matter That Should
Come up.

winston tHuTCnlll, speaking III the
House Of Commons during the debate
on the Veto Bill. briefly reviewed the
history Of the struggle OF the Irish
people for Home Rule and called at
tcntion to the fallacy of the argu-
mcnts that are made against it Mr..
Churchill said in part:
More than quarter OF a century
has passed since the Home Rule Bill
was introduced by Gladstone. and
since that qucsction was raised by him
To Il foremost place in the politics OF
this country. made a calculation
the other day and l found that less
than one hundred members of the
present House were members during
the debates in 1898. and less than so
are here today who took part in the
debates of 1856. The rest of us are
going to enter upon new experience.
and. speaking as one Of the young men
under fifty to my own contemporaries.
| venture to say arc we not bound, aft
er this great interval, to survey this
problem by the light Of our own senses
and to test and probe 1t for ourselves
Twenty five years is Il long time. and
n great many things have happened
since.
We know that the local government
which Lord Salisbury said was worse
than Home Rule has been accorded to
Ireland. We know it in being, and
that it has worked, will not say we'll.
for ! do not dare to Ycncralize. but
that it had worked fa- better than the
old system of Grand Jury which it re-
placed. We have seen the question Of
land purchase settled by q Unionst
administration; we have seen the land
Of Ireland purchased and distributed
amongst Il great body OF tenant farm
nrs: VIC have seen the University nucs-
tion ana the question of the Kings
Protestant Declaration settled. 1ues-
tions which have harassed this House
for q generation.
We have seen these questions pass
ing smoothly and easily through the
House OF Commons, supported by enor-
nous majoritics Of all sections of all
parties. We have seen long success
sion OF remedial measures offered to
Ireland. We have seen them pro-
ducing an excellent effect. not only on
the very candor of the people, but the
very aspect of the country. What
ever form the Irish question may take
it no longer comes to us in the guisc
in which it presented itself to our
fOrerunnc"s. Famine has vanished
from Ireland, and we have better
homes, better clothes. more food, more
education, expanding prosperity, aston
ishing absence OF crime, activity in
enterprise and culture; but more than
that, within the last few years in South
Africa have happened events which
have followed from self-governmen
which a:c the principal cause Of the
recent and great change in public
opinion on the subject of Irish Self
Government, which has undoubtedly
taken place among the mass of the
English people, and in every rank
throughout the land.
Irish People Demand Homo Rule.
Everything has changed in the last
Is years except the constant demand
Of the overwhelming number of the
Irish people for parliament and a
government of their own. Of course,
it may be contended that many of
these facts cut both ways in argument.
We a"e not asking for a decision upon
the facts. We are not endeavoring
to rush this matter through the House
Of Commons. Home Rule is not 60
ing to be passed tonight. There will
be plenty Of time, and nothing will be
done in a hurry. Be sure Of that But
1t is our duty to fairly and honestly
D.