The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-17
Bitter Struggle Between England and Ireland
 Is Ended
VICTORY SMILES
 ON IRISH CAUSE
Irish Statesmen Sound Note of Op. timism in Declarations Given Out for St. Patrick's Day.
 To Bury Hatchet

London. March 16.-In honor of St. Patricks Day and the near approach of home rule for Ireland, several ot the Irish leaders tonight issued formal statements and greeting on. the eve of the national anniversary. These in- cluded John E. Redmond, chairman of the Irish parliamentary party and chairman of the Irish League of Great Britain; William OBrien. M. P. for Cork. and leader of independent na- tionalists. and Lord Dunraven, presi- dent of the Irish Reform association.
 H. H. Asquith, the prime minister, and A. J. Balfour, ex-premier and lead CT of the opposition in the house of commons, declined to make any com- ment on the probability of home rule, refusing to break the iron-clad tradi- ton against cabinet members giving interviews.
 In a speech at the St. Patrick's ban quet in the Hotel Cecil tonight, Mir. Redmond referred to how, amid long list of valuable Irish reforms achieved by hard labor during the last 12 years, they had met. year by year, at this festival, almost despairing of achieving the great goal of their aspirations.
 Struggle Ended
 Now, at last" he said, we meet with the light of victory shining on our country and our cause The strug gle between England and Ireland is ended. England and Ireland have join ed hands against the common foe of both in defense of the peoples liber- ties and rights. All bitterness has left our souls. We want peace with Eng land. We want friendship with the English people. We want our proper place in the British empire and to bury, fathoms deep. in the oceans of oblivion and memory. the wrongs, the miseries and expressions of the past
 T. P. OConnor. speaking at the St. Patrick barsuet at Liverpool said: ''This Is the brightest and happiest St Patricls's Day any of us has ever seen. Ireland's deliverance is close at hand. The first step toward the real lzation Of Sir Edward w. Greys ar bitration proposals must be reconcila- tion with the Irish people through self government
 "St. Patricks Day The rule bill wilt be introduced for Ireland next year and after that great reforms demanded 
 land and Wales. We are proud that St. Patrick's' Day. 1911, finds Ireland full of hope and eager expectation. We all believe that the parliament bill will be passed into law in a few weeks and that thus the last obstacle to home rule will be removed. The breakdown of the house of lords barrier has been due to Ireland. One of our most pow erful aids has been and Is today the sympathy of the American people.
 JOHN REDMOND"
 "The difference between us is that MT. Redmond's friends believe that the veto bill and the home rule can be best car ried by constituting the Irish party, for all purposes, and at any cost to Ire- land in other matters, a wing of the lib- eral party In their party warfare against the unionists. We, on the contrary, be- lieve that by involving Ireland in Brit ish party quarrels we shall be making it impossible to carry home rule against the solid unionist opposition and an Irish Protestant minority driven to bay. while if Ireland's strength was wisely employed nothing would be easier than to bring about settlement of both>tbe lords and the home rule problems by general con- sent, in the better spirit, which Is now beginning to show itself in the unionist party and among our Protestant country men,
 "The next six months will show which is the more far-seeing policy. In tho meantime, let us alone hope for the best, but not hope for tco much.
 WILLIAM O'BRIEN."
 'I wish I could honestly say that to- morrow's sun will rise on bright pros rects for Ireland, but I cannot. Home rule will not. in my opinion, be con structed out of the wreck of the British constitution. and if it were, it could not be worked subject to a socialistic single chamber parliament at Westminster.
 Made Sacrifices
 Ireland has made enormous sacrifices She has paid heavily in advance for what? Nobody knows, and in making them, she has been maneuvered into an absolutely false financial position In view of the fact that F years have elapsed since home rule bill came up to the house of lords, the theory that the lords veto is the sole obstacle is manifestly absurd.
 Ireland is to drag the chestnuts out of the fire, if she can. for the radicals to eat. and she will get burned. If events prove me to be entirely wrong no one will be better pleased than l shall be.
 DUN RAVEN"
 Boston, March 16-A cheering St Pat rick's day message was sent today to John E. Redmond and his colleagues in the British house of commons, in the form of a $100OO remittance from the United Irish League of America.
 This is the ninth contribution of s10,- GOO sent to the Irish party since MT. Red mond and his colleagues visited this coun- try to attend the B Biffalo convention last October.