Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-03-04
n the House OF Lords Seems
Certain and the Unionists a
Are Divided.
Younger Tories Have Become
Insurgents Against Stand
pat Leaders.
London Spectator Shows How
Irish Nationalfsts Could
Be Defeated.
DEVLIN A NATIONAL LEADER

Little OF news value has occurred
In the British Parliament since the
victory of Premier Asquith and the
Liberals on the veto bill. There are
rumors that Parliament is about to
vote salaries for It's members. This
has caused members of the Irish
party to declare that they want no
salaries from the British Govern
ment-another evidence that the
Nationalists are not the salary grab
bers they have been declared In
some circles. The presence of the
Irish members Is forced on them
against their will; they are there to-
give voice to certain grievances
which this Parliament is supporting
in Ireland. They advise that the
money they would receive be devot-
ed to some useful public purpose In
ireland. Only few of the Nation
alists are men of wealth. The great
majority are poor men, and their
service in Parliament is always at a
sacrifice
The fight on tho Lord goes mer-
rily on, and even the Tories are d.
vided on an attitude of defense. All
admit that there must be a reform
of the upper house of Parliament,
but how to reform It is the question
Lord Landsdowne and A. ]. Balfour,
leaders of the Tory standpatters, in
sist upon retaining number of
hereditary Peers, while the young
Tory insurgents want the hereditary
principle abolished. Lord Lands
downe has announced his intention
of introducing a reform bill, but 1t
is doubtful IL ii will meet with the
approval or support of the younger
Tories. Wise politicians believe that
the disruption of the Tory forces
will strengthen the position of the
Liberals and will be convincing
proof that the veto bill is the only
way of removing the present dead
leck. There is mo doubt that
Premier Asquith means to ask the
King FOR permission to create 500
new Peers. Once the Tories are
convinced that the Liberals are both
ready and able to take that extreme
step the opposition will collapse.
The present spirit of all the Liberals
and Nationalists is such that moth
ing can prevent their final and early
triumph. The refusal of the Irish
members to assist at the coronation
of King George has been received in
a friendly spirit, and their action
has been applauded as dignified,
conciliatory and sound.
However, the settlement of many
questions of importance now pend
ing in Parliament is in embyro, and
the newspapers of all factions are
clamoring for strong man to put
England's house in order. At pres
ent the outlook for the avoidance of
a crisis until the coronation is over
is not very hopeful. The London
Spectator suggests as the only COM
promise an agreement that the veto
bill shall pass as 1t stands through
the House of Lords, Mr.. Asquith
consenting to submit home rule to
a referendum before introducing 1t.
A combination of the opposition and
the Government on this point would
render the latter Independent of the
Nationalists, but such an agreement
does not seem likely.
The hero of the hour In Ireland
and among his colleagues in Parlia-
ment is Joseph Devlin, whose mas
terly address on religious persecu-
ti6n in Ireland helped to carry the
day for the Liberals. It will be re-
membered that Mr.. Devlin visited
Louisville last fall as an envoy ex-
traordinary of the Irish Parlia-
mentary party. Mr.. Devlin is still
under forty years of age, but he has
been a leader In Irish National pol
itics since he was fifteen. He Is an
example OF one who owes everything
to nature and nothing to fortune.
He received his early training from
the Irish Christian Brothers.
More than twenty years ago
Thomas Sexton, a Catholic, won the
seat from West Belfast. This was
the first great break In the
buttressed and potent citadel OF all
that is narrow in religion and pol
itics. This dazzling opening and
promise of a new era spread such a
wave OF enthusiasm among the Ma
tionalists of Belfast that the grow
ing boys wero caught by II. II led
to the foundation OF boys debating
society In Belfast, and by sheer
force OF natural leadership Joe Dew
lin jumped to the leadership OF his
fellow Nationalists. He has held
that position ever since. II Is lead
ership not merely Of intellectual ad-
miration, but rests on the far
hiVhar basia of love confidence and