The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-05-18

been altered by the great increase in
the scale OF other things. The whole
scale of our business affairs has null
tiplied and expanded vastly.
The questions Of the Victorian era,
which convulsed the politics Of the
eighties and absorbed the whole mind
of the nation, are as much outclassed
by the questions of the present time
as the battleships and liners of the
eighties are dwarfed by the ships we
are launching now. Events may hap
pen on the frontiers of India, or in
the North Sea, nay, even here at home,
in railway and colliery disputes, and
in the great markets and exchanges,
incomparably more important to the
well-being of the people of this coun-
try, and the structure and form of
our society and to the general well
fare of the realm than anything which
can happen in Ireland.
The Home Rule question, import
ant and vital as it is to Irishmen,
does not touch a vital British ISSUE
am going to subject that contention
to the crude test of bringing it be-
fore the tribunal of absolute force.
and by asking whether our national
security is in any way affected by this
measure. Will Home Rule weaken
our power or security in war? That
Is a matter which we are bound to
discuss quite early in the debates
upon this question. Can anything be
done by the Parliament in Dublin, as
constituted by the bill, to add to the
military risks or impair the effective
ness of our military measures? TO
examine the question fairly one ought
not assume-what l believe to be inn
possible, and what l shall presently
endeavor to show is extremely I'M
likely-that there will be violent di-
vergence of opinion and sentiment be-
tween the British and Irish, Parlia-
ments during the course of a war Of
the first magnitude.
Relation Without Parallel.
The circumstances of the relations
between the two countries are with
cut parallel in the history of the whole
world. Never before has the smaller
and weaker country succeeded, while
itself being quite unreconciled to the
system of the larger power, in exact
ing tribute from the stronger power
In nearly every case the weaker ma
tton has been made to pay and the
stronger has prof1ted by the union.
For generations, and this was the rule
between England and Ireland. For
generations the poorer island was
made to contribute by taxation and by
rents even in times Of the greatest
penury. even in years Of famine, to
the prosperity Of its Weather neigh
Dor, who had it by the throat. But
the irresistible march of events -
though perhaps scarcely perceived by
those who directed them-has altered
this situation entirely. 1t has first
wiped. out all the profit which Brit
ish revenues derived from Ireland. and
has then turned the balance decisively
the other way, SO that we are now
actually paying Ireland G1,5OO,OOo a
year. with certain increases naturally
maturing and in prospect in the fu-
ture.
Ireland is close by, and Ireland is
not self-supporting, and Ireland will
be drawn into continued close and in
innate political relations with this
country until the end Of the world
Our affairs are intertwined and our
interests are the same. They can
help us often and we can help them
always. Remove the cause of quar-
rel, restore them national self respect,
give them fair Constitution, and. you
will find swiftly and surely results
and consequences be, md your utmost
dreams. But l am going to plead very
respectfully that the Irish question,
although not so vital and so momen-
tous as these other questions, should
receive fair and statesmanlike consid-
GRAFTON from all parts Of the House
Our relations with Ireland deserve oul
unprejudiced attention, and although
to British eyes there are greater ques.
tons, Home Rule is the greatest and
most agitating question of all to every
Orangeman, and to every Nationalist
in ireland.
A Reference to Ulster.
In the grip Of Ulster, Sir f. Carson
is armed whip and spur resolved, a
all costs, to drive the Orange color.
to the fore. No one will deny on thi.
side of the House that 1t is the righ
Of every citizen, nay. a duty. provided
that circumstances are sufficient, t,