The Irish standard., 1912-04-27

ment in Ireland, and when time had
not mellowed his views or turned him
into what might be regarded by Eng
lishmen as mature statesman, and
when his views naturally would be
more vehement than they were later
In his life. What did he say then?
Home Rule. he said ''would be the
Introduction of system which would
relieve the ranking sting, of sup
pressed, but not cxtinguished, en-
nifty" Give back to Ireland her ma
tionality, her individual existence,
and sooth thereby the wounded pride
which goes SO far i'll history, and Of
ten turns the scale in the Gestinies of
nations as we'll as of individuals.
would like the House to mark these
words-"would teach Ireland to re-
gard Imperial affairs with interest as
being the concerns no longer of a
master and oppressor, but dear col !
league and sister whose honor and !
dishonor would be alike hers, whose
downfall could never be her profit, to
whom she would be bound by ties
sacred, because voluntarily assumed. !
1t would be system tina. would be
dc facto, though not de jure, an init
mately closer union than England has
yet brought about after six centuries
o. coercion, or would bring about af- |
ter six centuries or more of the same
method of Government" That was
not made at time when Mr.. Parnell
was in a position, as 1 am said to be
| in the position, of Cabling public
opinion in this country in favor of a
statutory Parliament for Ireland as
of giving Home Rule to Ireland. It
was made years before any proposal
of Home Rule became reality in
this country. 1t was made when he
was fighting against both parties in
this country, and say that these
words are conclusive proof that Mr..
Parnell never was separatist, and
that his evidence 1T the Parnell Com
mission was absolutely true. We on
these benches stand precisely where
Parnell stood. We want peace with
: this country. and We deny that we
, are separatists; and we say we are
willing as Parnell was willing, to ac-
cept subordinate Parliament created
{ by statute Of this Imperial Legisla-
ture as final settlement of Irish
claims. -. 1t is unworthy for
, the people. of this country to talk in
this way about terms
T If Home Rule is unjust and wrong.
refuse it. If it is just and right, what
/ consistent argument can you put for
) ward which Is founded upon the ques-
ton of q few paltry pounds, shillings
and pence? want to pass from this
Q general subject to the proposals of
the bill. The House will naturally ex-
pect to hear from me some definite
views upon these proposals and upon
the bill as a whole. Take, first, the
( case of the nominated Senate. I,
. personally have for many years taken
the view that from q democratic point
of view, nominated Senate-nomn-
t ated not for life, but for a short term
lis a far safer body thar Senate
s elected on narrow franchise.
: The late Sir Charles Gavan Duffy,
who was one Of the most experienced
= men in the working Of free institu-
Y tons In your Empire, was standing
n object-lesson of the value of Home
e Rule In his own person, because hav-
Ing been tried for treason in Dublin
t he went to the other end of the world
d and became one Of the most loyal
). wise and honored statesmen of the
n Queen In Australia. In a remarkable
!, pamphlet issued a few years ago he
n said: Nomination and not election
Q is the method by which the Upper
Y House is commonly chosen in free
/, countries. Teuton, Celt and Magyar
: Catholic and Protestant, large and
8 small states. have equally preferred
: deliberate selection to the hazard OF
t the hustings. Senators are nominated
t in Italy. Germany, Austria. Hungary
t Prussia, Portugal. Bavaria and sew
Y eral smaller States. and among Brit
t :sh Colonies in Canada, New Zealand
il and New South Wales
J, In Victoria, where senators are
r elected, there has been an intermit-
Q tent struggle for twenty-five years by
: the elected Upper House to exercise
: financial powers which on the prin.
8 c1ple of being nearly universal prac.
f lice are reserved for the popula,
t Chamber. Only the other day-and
: this will interest hon. members or
: the Labor benches--a most extraordi.
NO