The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-04-20
FIRST STEP IN
SCHEME OF EVOLUTION
Premier Asquith Says Home Rule is
Beginning of Comprehensive
Change in Empire.
Auspicious Circumstances Attend
the Presentation of the Bill
in Parliament
Measure Provides for an Irish
House OF Commons and an
Elective Senate.

For the third time in a quarter of
century and for the first time that
possibility Of passage has attended it,
the government On April IL intro
duced in Parliament a Home Rule
bill granting autonomy to Ireland. The
bill was introduced by Premier Asq-
uith and it's introduction was attend
ed by scenes of greatest interest.
Mr.. Redmond it was said, has
agreed that the bill was satisfactory in
detail.
The official title of the bill is "rhe
Government of Ireland bill"
The galleries set apart for mem
bers of the diplomatic corps, for the
peers and for the public were filled
to their utmost capacity, while every
seat in the body of the House was
occupied and an overflow of members
stood in the gangways.
The assembling of spectators was
a brilliant one, many foreign diplo-
mats being present The somber back
ground of the upper galleries was en-
livened by the brilliant costumes of
women, many of whom had waited for
| hours to get into Parliament building.
The; authorities exercised the greatest
precaution to keep cut suffragettes,
fearing that the proceedings at this
momentous hour might be interrupted
by "votes for women" demonstra-
ton.
Ready For Bitter Fight.
Every seat in the cpposition's side
of the House was occupied before II
o'clock, as the word had been given
out that the anti-government forces
would make the hardest fight in mod
ern years TO kill the measure. 1t was
conceded on every side that each step
of the bill would be marked by the
most bitter debate.
| According to the program, Sir Ed
! ward Carson, leader of the Unionists
| in Ulster province, Ireland, was to fol-
| low Premier Asquith in the debate. So
intense is the feeling of Sir Edward
against the measure and so keen is
the hostility of his followers in Ire
land that it was expected that he
would share the leadership of the op-
position in the Commons. Mr.. Law
will be the last speaker on the oppo-
sition side.
John Redmond will lead off for the
Irish Nationalists and will be followed
by Ramsey Mcdonald, leader of the
Laborites in Parliament.
1t is understood that Augustine Bir-
rell, Secretary of State for Ireland,
will wind up for the government be-
fore there is a division. Just before
Commons opened large number of
supporters of the bill from Ireland,
among whom were many Bishops, ar
rived. The notables in the contingent
were given reserved seats in the dis
tinguished strangers gallery.
| With the exception of two members
who are in Ireland, the Nationalist
party was present in force.
| That new and bigger program
than has even before been attempted
by the British government is under
contemplation was revealed when the
Premier said:
Irish Home Rule is the first step
only in larger and more comprehen
sive scheme of evolution in the United
Kingdom and the Empire. But Ire
lands claim for attention comes first
and must be dealt with separately
Local interests must be delegated to
the local government for manage
ment."
Outlining the principles of the bill
Mr.. Asquith continued: "The i'm
perial government Will not surrender
supreme authority. That is the car
, dinal principle Of this bill. But II
, will confer real autonomy regarding
t Irish affairs. There will be a par
lament consisting of an Irish senat,
! and the House Of Commons. Thi,
body may make laws relating to Irisl
e affairs but may not touch such mat
: ters as the crown, army, navy an,
vital imperial affairs, Irish land pu