Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-05-04
Tories Without Hope Speech
less With Amazement and
Despair.
Dublin Convention Shows That
Factions Have Been
Defeated.
Home Rule Bills Second Read
Ing and Closing Stage
Next.
IRELAND UNIT ON ASQUITH BILL

cabling the Chicago Tribune the
HON. T. p. O'Connor says party
strife is gradually regaining its hold
on English public opinion and inter
est in the Irish convention is intense
The Tories were hoping for a repeti-
ton of the same results as at tha
irish councils on the bill and filled
unelr papers for several days with
confident prophecies of the breaking
away OF this section or that from
John Redmond's acceptance of Pre-
mier Asquith's home rule bill. All
these hopes were absolutely false.
and now the Tory journals raise
the opposite cry that the convention
was too carefully machined to allow
any difference of opinion. AS a mat
ter OF fact, however, the convention
was too gigantic to allow machining
by anybody and no attempt was even
contemplated to interfere with its
absolute freedom of decision. The
only apprehension of the organizers
or the convention was that the
crowds would be so overwhelming as
70 lead to the impossibility of find
ing a sufficient space, and thus there
was chance of a disorderly rush
and great disappointment. These
perils were averted by the holding
OF two conventions simultaneously.
one indoors and the other in the
open air, which We're addressed al
ternately by Redmond, Dillon. Dew
lin. myself and others.
The convention made an enormous
impression not merely by its size.
but by the appeal and spirit. Moth
ing could be more eloquently siasa1
bolistic of the gigantic improI
of Irish conditions through 4
and other reforms won by then
party during the last quarter
tury. as every delegate was
dressed. self-restrained and though
full. Though the convention was ton
gigantic for a discussion of the de-
tails OF the bill, every one had ev-
Identity grasped It's main features.
had discussed them In every house.
and even every cabin and every road
side in Ireland, and had come with
mind made up and a firm determin-
alton not to allow faction or folly
to interfere with Ireland's chance of
getting all the essentials of freedom
which the bill offers.
Thus after Redmond's speech ex-
planning the bill no further debate
was desired, and the only reason why
the next speaker seeonding Red
mond's acceptance of the bill was
heard was that he was the Lord
Mayor of Cork, who had just been
elected unanimously and who has
-
and an opponent of William O'Brien.
When the acceptance of the bill was
put to the convention in a scene of
immense enthusiasm the absence of
one voice of discord gave as remark
able an expression of unity as the
nations of the world ever saw.
Three things stand out in relief
from the proceedings of the conven-
ton. The first is that there is
greater unity in ireland than ever in
It's history, not excepting the palm
lest days of Parnelps leadership, and
that there is an absolute intrusting
of Irish destinies today to Redmond
and the Irish party by the whole
irish people. The second was the
unbounded enthusiasm in the reeep-
ton of Gladstone's grandson, and the
third was the generous acceptance
by Ireland of England's proffer OF
firm friendship on the basis OF
equality and justice, as embodied In
Asquith's bill. The high hopes OF
the home rulers are made higher by
the announcement of the determina-
ton of the Government to press on
TO the further stages of the home
rule bill without delay. The Tories
were almost speeehless with amaze
ment and despair when Chancellor
Lloyd-George announced the second
reading of the bill for next week and
the closing stage in the week after.
Signs are multiplying that home
rule, which formerly divided, Is now
the strongest bond of union between
all the British Liberals and affords
a battle cry for rallying and encour-
aging the popular forces better than
any other question In the present day
of English politics. At last the Eng-
fish Tories are beginning to recog-
nize in this thick and thin alliance
OF the English and Irish Democratic
forces that a refusal OF home rule
brings inconyenienoes TO the English
men as well as the Irlshmen, and
the Tory journals are full OF loud
complaints that the English meas
ures are thus at the mercy of this
coalition OF the Democratic forces.
In the midst OF this brilliant mo-
ment Of triumph for their cause the
Trishmen are saddened by the an
nouncement OF the death of Justin
Mccarthy, one OF the noblest. most
unselfish and bravest figures In the
whole movement. The English
journals recognize his literary great
ness and lofty character. and publish
columns of eulogy.