The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-07-06

because, In Newcastle on Tyne, even
before 1886, men like Joseph Cowen
had been in favor of Home Rule for
Ireland. His second reason was that
in 1885 he was, and for some ten years
subsequently he continued to be, a
member of the Liberal-Unionist party.
At that time, I had grave doubts as
to whether Home Rule was desired by
the people of Ireland. l have no such
doubts now. l was then opposed to
Home Rule because feared that the
minority IN Ireland would not be fair
ly treated. but in the light of greater
knowledge my opinion has changed,
and I now support the bill.
Blinded to the True Facts Of tho Case.
l was a Unionist in 1886 and 1898,
because l feared that the minority in
Ireland would not get fair treatment
under Home Rule. and because 1 had
doubts as to whether the people of
Ireland really wanted Home Rule. My
fears and doubts have been dispelled.
We saw as solid phalanx of men,
bers returned by Ireland today in
favor of Home Rule as we did in 1886,
in spite of attempts at firm and res
olute government" and in face of all
improvements that had been effected
III the condition of the country in
more recent years. II anyone denied
that this solid phalanx of members re-
turned by Ireland proved that Ireland
desired Home Rule, they were blind
ing themselves to the true facts of the
case.
study of the history Of Ireland
during the last one hundred and fifty
years made 1t clear that there had
been nothing done on the part of the
Catholics to Cypress their Protestant
fellow-countrymen. So far as there
was any indication of persecution and
oppression, the signs were rather of
persecution and oppression of the
Catholic by the Protestant. (Replying
to Walter Long, who asked: What
are they?" Mr.. Short continued:)
1t was the fight for the perpetuation
of Protestant Ascendancy which was
at the root OF listers objection to
Home Rule. The Catholics were only
emancipated from the restrictions i'm
posed upon them we'll on in the last
century. Today did they ever read
anywhere of attacks made upon the
Protestant Church by Catholics, but
they did read Of those which were
made by the Protestants on Catholics.
Fears Based Upon GroundIess Facts.
Recently received a pamphlet from
the Synod Of the Reformed Presby-
terrain church of Ireland protesting
against Home Rule declaring that
this bill surrendered the Protestant
minority in Ireland to an admittedly
and consciously murderous ascendan-
cy." Language of that description
must make all reasonable men grave
ly suspect the bona fides of such OPP
position. How could anyone expect
Justice from men whose minds and
judgments were so obviously warped.
AS far back as 1849 the Catholics of
Ireland had made all possible effort
to bring the Orange and extreme men
on the other side to spirit of recon-
Citation. 1 mention this to show that
the Catholics were trying to live, even
in times Of excitement. with their
Protestant neighbors and the lesson
of 1t was that one man must look with
some degree of suspicion upon the
proceedings in this relation of body
such as the presbyterian Synod when
they found it using language so ex-
aggerated.
The more they went into history
the more they would convince them
selves that this measure, which had
been brought forward. would satisfy
the desires Of the Irish people. It
was evident that even the opposition
did not believe there would be any