New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-17
HOME RULE
Perfunctory Debates-The Goa
Iition Machine.

towering consciousness Of moral obliga-
ton, undertook TO redress Irish griev-
ances and to settle irreconcilable racial
feuds. His noble idealism and I'M
clouded faith in the righteousness OF his
cause vitalized Home Rule and made a
great thing of It, even when IL was fore
doomed to failure. II is now matter
Of cold calculation that the revised
scheme for the legislative independence
OF Ireland can be enacted, IL the cosli-
ton government can be kept in office
this year and the next. The Prime MIN
lister speaks with an assurance OF ulti-
mate success, which was lacking when
Gladstone, overstrained with the bur-
dens Of age, was fighting hopeless bat
tie; and yet how cold and formal is the
pleading and how little evidence there IL
that he really believes in his case! The
| first and second readings have proved
that he is as we'll briefed as the most
successful advocate at the bar. The log
ical formulas are as perfect as any that
ever came out Of Ballot; argument Is
concentrated with dexterity on the
strongest points; what is lacking is the
electric note Of conviction. Without the
Parliament act Gladstone could speak
with the commanding authority Of moral
earnestness. Mr.. Asquith, with superior
chances Of success, does not represent a.
statesmanlike enterprise so much as a
series Of coalition manHuvres.
&c, ,Pt he
may be repeated Of his most brilliant
followers Their debating performances
have been excellent, especially Winston
Churchill's, Sir Edward Grey's and Mr..
Birrelps; but a keen spectator IN the
gallery cannot help wondering whether
they really care anything about Homo
Rule, or are convinced that It will bs
helpful to ireland. Only once during
these debates has any one on the LIB
eral front bench been in a white heat.
That was when Sir Rufus Isaacs, who
has become an advanced Radical, funs
back with passionate earnestness Mr..
Chsmberlain's reproach that he was PAL
liating murder in the West OF Ireland
while denouncing civil war in Ulster.
There was fire in his oratory, and the
trend Of Ulster loyalty toward revolt
against the crown was discussed with
genuine Gladstonian fervor. That was
the single, conspicuous exception to the
rule that the Liberals debated the meas
ure in a perfunctory way. Mr.. Asouith.
is an adroit leader who employs his
lieutenants fully and gets the best work
out Of them. They carry out his orders
with cleverness and versatility, and the
main body Of followers behind them are
easily rallied for outbursts Of cheering
when the majority reaches three figures
In a final division. Yet there is an un-
mistakable lack OF that infectious en-
/ thusiasm which the Grand Old Man in
spired. The chief whip has planned an
| ingenious two years campaign, and the
Home Rule divisions are the principal
coalition manHuvres.
The Opposition to the Homs Rule bill
Is also conducted on narrower lines than
IL was In the Gladstonfan period. Austen
Chamberlain has made one OF the most
effective speeches against Il; but he
could not harass and exasperate the
government as his father had done when
| the first Home Rule measure was pro-
duced. Sir Edward Carson, whom the
| Prime Minister breads as an antagonist,
has remained in the background and not
explained how a section Of Ulster is to
exercise a veto power by threat OF civil
war and refusal OF taxes There has
| been no Lord Randolph Churchill with
the ardor OF Achilles in attack, and Mr..
! Balfour has become a sedate and phil
| osophic councillor in the rear. like VEN
cradle Agamemnon. Mr.. Law is most
aggressive in this taunts and ridicule,
! but he is no match for the Prime Min
lister in exposition of constitutional law.
! The larger issues Of justice 10 Ireland
and reconciliation Of races have been
neglected. and the argument has been
concentrated on federalism and the ire
rressible opposition Of Protestant Ul-
ster.
The one speech which has raised theSe
| Home Rule debates 10 a high level has
| been Mr. Redmonds. There was not a
|
was set toward the future, and he was
! fully prepared to accept his RESPONSE
! bility as future Minister of the Crown.
With Outspoken candor he foreshadowed
the dissolution Of the Nationalist party,
the creation OF new forces in the Dublin
Parliament Unionist control over the
Senate. considerate treatment of Ulster.
complete restoration of good feeling be-
tween Ireland and Great Britain, ths
constitution of subordinate legislatures
within the kingdom and the strength
! ening OF the empire. 1t was the most
dignified and conservative speech Of the
debate. Utterances like these Gladstons
was always awaiting with impatisncs
in his time, but Parnell invariably spoke
with cold reserve. and the Irish benches
were cynical and suspicious. Mr.. Red
mond has ceased to he an agitator or
| fractional leader A great Parliament
| tartan. who has forced ministers and
coalition groups to adopt his tactics and
policies. he has now displayed his readl-
ness to become a responsible Minister
Of the Crown I'm Ireland.
! Consequently, while there Is no great
personality behind the Home Rule
| movement IN England. and while the
| debates are conducted without general
enthusiasm or comprehensiveness, II ~
! highly probable that the Nationalist
will have their way. They are the most
viglant politicians I'm the Commons.
| h.