Putnam patriot., 1911-04-07
The Issue Plainl, Stated.


 The following concludes the speech of Premier Asquith, in setting forth Irish Home Rule as intended to be:
 II mean walking by the light of common sense in the domain of reali- ty. I will give an example. Let him take the Order Paper of today. IL will supply an illustration of what l mean. He will find thirty questions addressed to the Chief Secretary for Ireland in regard to matters. I don't say they are not important matters connected with Ireland, connected with postal officers, custom officers, lunatic asy. lums, and a hundred other things most important to the localities con cerned-questions in regard to which it K Of the highest importance that re- land should be well administered, which, if they had all been asked and answered would have occupied half our time That is an illus ration and it is very petty illustration 1 agree.
 Itisa very petty and humble illus tration, but to 20 to much bigger things you go on to the whole ques- ton of British administration in all its branches and in all its parts, and no one who has sat in this House, l don care for however short 8 space Of time, can fail to feel what feel, having sat here for twenty five years, with in- creasing energy Of convic ion every year, that we are totally incapable ot finding either the time or the Knowl- edge for the investigation and adminis- traitor of these matters which seem petty and so remote from this spot, but which to Irishmen on the spot are ot vital importance. l hear the word "Scotland." quite agree l have been a Scottish member ever since l have been in the House, and Scotland sui fers also from this congestion of busi' ness, from this limitation of time and of human power in Parliament which represents the three Kingdoms as well as Wales. Wales is very conspicuous illustration of the inca paeity, demonstrated by experience, Of this Parliament charged wlth the whole affairs of the Empire to give the requisite time, attention, and knoWl- edge to the local affairs of the eonstitu- ent parts of the United Kingdom. l have always said, and l repeat, that the case of Ireland k case para mount in urgency and importance, and believe, il k the policy which presented to the country on behalf Of my friends and supporters at the last General Election, that We can only ar- rive at a satisfactory solution of this standing problem oy creating In Ire land an Irish Parliament and an Irish Executive responsible to that Parlia. ment to deal with purely Irish affairs, subject always to the condition which Mir. Glanstone laid down and which every supporter of Home Rule has laid down up to this time that the indefeas- aDtN VI AAN a4AAa ment must be maintained. That Is ou- policy, and 1t Is 8 very simple policy.
 Lord Cecil having interrupted with "Very obscure" Mir, Asqnith eonunu- ed, confess see no ooscunty of any sort Nor do think the people of the country ind 1t obscure, tan opposition member, "Give them N chance. nl We have given them chance. We have told them in the most explicit terms when we asked them al this election and st the last election 10 give Their support 10 our policy for aeoiishing the absolute Veto of the House of Lords, that this was the use 10 which |, we should apply it---in those great causes of which this Is only one, to