The Irish standard., 1912-05-11
PUBLIC OPINION
FAvORS HOME RULE
Religious Animosities no Longer
Engendered by Bigoted Part
isan Appeals.
Falling off of Attendance in Com
mons Marks Decline of Violent
Party Feeling.
The Honors of Debate Continue to
Remain on Side of Home
Rule Speakers.

In his cabled message to the Chi
cago Tribune Of May r. p. O'Con.
nor points out religious appeals no
longer serve to create an unti-Home
Rule sentiment. He says:
The appearance of the House of
visitor that England was passing
through Il moment of great revolu-
ton. This is. partly due to the long
drawn and lengthy debates and to the
knowledge of every member of par
Lament, as the division on the second
reading was postponed until Thursday
OF next week. there Is no necessity of
regular attendance in the House of
Commons.
The audiences during the week were
usually scanty and signs OF vehement
party feeling We're conspicuous by
their absence. This is one of the
many signs that public opinion in
England can no longer be exerted
either by affrightng specters or by
the religious appeals which did such
excellent work against Home Rule in
the old days. Indeed, England may
be described as bored by Home Rule
and eager to have done with it.
f. Supporters, Are Confident.
This fact helps to create that feel.
ing of absolute confidence of 1t com
ing into a law which now inspires the
liberals and Irish.
Indeed, the hopcfulness of spirit
has manifestly increased and has beer
daily growing in the liberal party
from the first moment of the introduc-
tion of the bill, and the dry rot which
was threatened from the loss of some
by elections through the insurance act
was arrested by the return Of a lib
cral member this week without the
| tories making even an attempt to de-
feat him.
| Similarly the honors of debate con-
tinue to remain with the Home Rule
Speakers Winston Churchill made
one of the greatest speeches Of his
career, and Sir Edward Grey, knowr
as a safe man with strong imperial
istic instinct, profoundly moved tho
house and secured any wavering men,
bcrs lin that liberal imperialistic sec"
tion of which he was formerly Il con.
spicuous leader.
1t is certain now that the majority
on the second reading next week vii
be greater than on the first, as three
Irish and several liberals and labo
members who were absent through
illness will be able to vote and PROB
ably the majority will rise to 100 in
stead of "a, as on the first reading.
The Welsh church disestlblishmen
is not going so. we'll as Home Rule
as no enthusiasm Is behind 1t out
side of the Welshmen, and many lib
erals who are churchmen are wobbly
One such liberal will NOV, rejection
of the bill, but this measure also vii
pass into a law.
Grey's Prestige Raised.
The chief foreign complication 0
the week was the closing Of the Oar
danelles, inflicting an immense loss Of
English shipping. but England's pres
sure succeeded in bringing that to a.
end and thus raising Sir Edwar
Grey's great prestige.
The details of the Home Rule bi
were practically indorsed by the Iris
convention. and though some com
plants are still made with regard t
the financial arrangements of the bill
nothing remains which cannot be ad
justed, and Redmond and his part
:. will be able to defend even that por
tion of the measure.
The ministers already are consid
ering what will he the best metho
to put down filibustering tactics.
rigid closure is regarded as newt
able, but opinion diHers as 70 WnetHc
the remedy should be applied befor
entering on the committee stage G
the bill or postponed.
It is now pretty certain that tn
committee stage will not re finishe
j in this part of the session. as bot
} ministers and members are t.
fatigued to stand the strain of ses