Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-12-16
Chief English Liberal Ministers
Preparing to Visit
Ireland.
Are Looking to King George to
Open Paliament in
Dublin.
O'BRIEN's FIGHT A FAILURE

According to the best informed
London and Dublin correspondents
Treland's prospects are daily growing
brighter. They cable that, despite
the insistence Of the Unionists that
there are differences between the
Ministry and the Irish Nationalists
and home rule advocates, there are
apparently sincere expressions Of be-
lief that home rule bill Is certain
Of passage during the present session
Of Parliament. John Redmond, the
irish Nationalist leader, is proceeding
on that assumption. He says that he
looks forward to King George open
Ing an Irish Parliament personally,
and promises a demonstration of
loyalty from the Irish people. He
asserts that this demonstration will
be the first pledge of lasting re-
conciliation, whose effects will be felt
throughout the English speaking
world.
The home rule campaign is stead
lly proceeding and next week 1t viii
enter new phase. Ireland will be
visited by the chief English Liberal
Ministers during the next few
months and Col. Seely, Under Secre-
tary of War, opens this campaign next
Sunday by speaking in Newry, an
Ulster town represented by a Ma
tionalist. Lloyd-George and Winston
Churchill will follow. The commit
tee of the Cabinet, which is discuss
ing home rule, is near the close of
Its labors and active negotiations
soon win begin. Though some diff
ferences of opinion will develop dur
ing the negotiations nobody need
fear differences which can not be ad-
iusted.
William O'Brien, in pursuance Of
his campaign of disparaging the Lib
erals and Nationalists, processes
anxiety lest the Liberals do not mean
TO push forward home rule and
carry 1t in the present Parliament
without another election. Premier
Asquith has set all such doubts at
rest by his emphatic declaration that
he would press forward home rule
with every means in his power and
pass 1t into law in the present Par
lament. and without another cleo
tion, and only tremendous run of
luck in the by-elections can now de-
feat the bill.
Friends of John Redmond, the
irish leader, are just now not little
concerned about his health. Fears
are expressed that If he does not
moderate his present pace on the
public platform his strength will not
stand the strain of the prolonged
and exciting debates that must fol-
low the Introduction of the home
rule bill in the House of Commons.
Redmond has shown traces of weari-
ness and stress for some time, and as
a breakdown at this jnncture would
be nothing less than a disaster to
the party every effort is being put
forward to lessen his burden. To
add to the anxiety, there is the
knowledge that his chief lieutenant,
II. p. O'Connor, is also far from the
tower of strength he once was. "Tay
Pay" suffers from an organic COM
plant that causes him at times TO
wish he were free from the excite
ments of political strife.
Few people realize that the re-
served, determined looking leader OF
the Nationalists is beneath the sur
face a man of an extremely fine and
sensitive nature. 1t is said that his
physical condition is due less to the
stress OF political conflict with Eng
lish Conservatives than to the at
tacks made upon him from the Irish
side by William 0'Brien and Tim
Healy. John Redmond Is sixty years
old and II. P. O'Connor Is sixty-two,
but both have lived the strenuous
life. II may be that If the fight for
ireland is unduly protracted much
more OF the debating than many peo-
pie expect will devolve on younger
man like Joaonh navIfu