The Irish standard., 1911-09-09

ist minority in the South and Nest L
should support it.
"You may take it from mo that The
Irish people ardently desire to see the
Irish gentry-I use an old ia shioned
word for we are an old-fashioned folk !
-devoting themselves to the service
of the country. Let ME give you a
proof. In the eighties no landlord
fought more vehementy against the
Land League than Mir. kavanaugh, of
Boris. He was in sense the leader
of the landlords and the ahlest man
amongst them; the representative OIL
one of the great old Irish families and
Protestant. His son Inherited his
interest in politics, and began life, nat
seat as Unionist Gradually he
found himself losing sympathy With a
policy which involved hostility and
distrust towards the mass of his own
people. He let his opinions become
known, and almost Immediately the
people of County Carlow made him
chairman of their county council. They
afterwards sent him to the House of
Commons as member OF our party.
Mr. kavanaugh was as good Home
Ruler as | am. He agreed with us
entirely on the land question, but he
had Conservative and Protection'st
leanings. He left us at the end of the
1906 Parliament simply and solely bs
cause he was afraid that the exigenc-
les of our party might force him to
vote against his views on the Budget.
Now, men like Mr.. kavanaugh--able
men, educated men, with a large stake
in the country, would undoubtedly be
chosen to represent Irish constituent
cies, and the question of religion
would never arise.
Another paramount object for any
Irish Parliament would be the devel-
opment of the industrial centers OF the
| country Already lrishmen of all par
ties are working together for this end,
and with very considerable success.
We should hope that a native Parlia-
ment would find means to give a new
| impetus and new power to that in
dustrial revival. Such a question as
the nationalizations - T. dre railways
would naturally be considered as a
possible means towards this end. l do
not say that Ireland would be united
in favor OF such a project, but clev-
age of opinion would not follow the
existing party lines: and the moment
such questions were raised they would
effect the return of members to the
Parliament. Irish constituencies would
| he anxious to secure, so far as they
could, the services of business men,
and especially captains Of industry, to
assist in the settlement of such prob
lens. That could not fail to produce
a considerable effect upon the per-
sonnel of the Irish Parliament, sooner
or later, and | should say sooner rath-
er than later
would payment Of members be ap-
proved as par, Of the scheme"'
81 think we should all be in favor Of
payment Of members out of the State
funds, but that is a question which
the Irish Parliament should be left to
settle for itself"
| what exactly would be the limits
of power of the Irish Parliament"
II have stated il many times before;
but, if you wish, ! shall do so again.
The Irish Parliament would be charged
with the management Of purely Irish
affars-land, education, local govern
ment, transit, labor, industries, taxa :
ton for local purposes. law and JUS
tice, police ctc.-lcaving to the I'm
perial Parliament management OF all
Imperial affairs-Army, Navy, foreign
relations, customs, imperial taxation"