New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-12

the Atlantic for an analogy, and asks:
What would have been thought of the
founders of the American Constitution Il
they had decided on the powers Of
Massachusetts, and left the powers Of
New York undecided TO some remote
period?"
Then comes reply to the arguments
that Home Rule is necessary in order 20
relieve Parliament from overwork. Mr..
Asquith put his plea in his usual telling
way. His statement, says Mr. Balfour,
has done more than any other TO in
fiuence English and Scottish opinion; it
was not less potent than Mr.. GladstOne's
own. You will note that the great
Unionist delights in stating the case
against himself as strongly as it can be
stated before attempting to answer it.
His answer is this:
The overwork Of this House! When
we are going to be occupied this session.
next session and the session after with
Home Rule for Ireland. and when that is
over you WI have before you the recon-
stitution Of the Second Chamber. Home
Rule for Scotland, on different lines, but
equal of course; Home Rule for Wales,
equal but different; Home Rule for Eng
land. equal again, but different. This IS
the programme of legislation which
these Home Rulers bring forward, be-
cause they say Home Rule is the only
way in which you can tighten the burden
of Parliament"
Ireland. moreover, is to have her own
postoffiCe. Has Canada, he asks, sep
arate postoffice for each province? Has
Australia? Then what becomes of the
colonial analogy? And might ask what
becomes of the American analogy? The
Mayor of New York has just revived
that ancient hypocrisy about Home Rule
in the United States and Home Rule N
Ireland as identical. 1t was very eff
fective in its time. Now | fancy every
body except Mr.. Gaynor knows that
there never was, and is not to-day, an
Irish Nationalist who would accept for
Ireland the kind of Home Rule which
contents the American State. But this
illustration did not occur 10 Mr.. Balfour.
nearly than almost any other immediate
question. MIR. Balfour asks if the I'm
perial Government manages the police
Yes, says Mr.. Asquith. for six years.
Then by managing the police 1t gives
orders to the police. Who gives the or
ders?" II the Imperial Government
how is the Irish Government to be re-
sponsible for order?
And suppose they are used
against Ulster. If you leave 1t TO the
Irish, and tell me that. while we pay for
the police, they are TO be used exactly as
the Irish executive chooses within the
limits Of Ireland. we may have 10 sit
here helpless while those whom you are
paying and have appointed are doing
things which would be regarded with
horror by the British Government and
the British public"
These are some of the dilemmas put
before the country. and TO these and
others we shall doubtless have answers.
There has been one from Mr.. Herbert
Samuel. There Will be one from Mr.. Biz
The Customs barrier is another. 1t
seems certain says Mr.. Balfour. that the
Irish will have IL in their power TO erect
such a barrier against English trade.
VIII the English stand that?
Il believe you have given them tho
power to upset your general commercial
system. They will use their own tariffs
TO improve their own trade. I do not
blame them. But will England allow its
trade to be overturned to suit the Irish?"
Just as a specimen OF Mr.. Balfour's
felicitous phrasing. take what no says Of
Irish representation at Westminster.
Mr.. Asquith SAYS thlrty-four Nationalist
votes will not be enough TO turn the bal
ance of parties in the House of Com
mons.
II was touched by that argument. I
like these numerical estimates OF min
isterial virtue"
But II the Irish are powerless will
they be contented?"
All of which is perfectly good natured.
and for that reason the more deadly.
-
place, and tearing a Home Rule bill 10
pieces line by line You would have
heard the thunders OF the Almighty. Mr.
Balfour, contents himself with setting
forth what he calls the inherent logic
Of the situation" He desires Irishmen
to be free, but contends that they are
already free. If they are not, this bill is
only one step toward a freedom which
would disrupt the Kingdom and the EN-
pire. With a Parliament In Dublin and
with Irish members at Westminster de-
Gliding on all great Imperial questions
they would have more than freedom
They would be the masters Of any gov
eminent.
You will note that Mr. Balfour puts
both sides Of almost every proposition he
discusses. II is one secret of his
strength. He puts himself in the place
OF his opponent; tries to look at diff
Guilty from his point Of view: makes AL
loWances; argues that side with as much
force as his own: then demolishes Il. and
stands smiling amid the ruins. A pictu-
rescue figure, and even more powerful
than picturesque. c. w. s.
TO UNVEn WEBER MONUMENT