The Irish standard., 1912-10-26

the WOTk OF passing the Home kulG
bill with characteristic English bull
dog tenacity.
Everybody confesses that never for
years was the Liberal party more de-
termined or more united than at this
'oment, and that Home Rule has be-
! ne to them the sacred mission be-
ind which stand all that moral and
emotional enthusiasm which distin-
guishes the Englishmen at their best
moments.
Liberals Regain Confidence.
All of these things reveal the ex-
traordinary change in the temper of
the political parties since the opening
of the present sittings. Before the
opening of the session the Tories con-
fidently prophesied that they would
drive the ministry out before Christi
mas and the Liberals were then per-
picked and irritated by some losses
of by-elections and the discordant
notes of some of their newspapers.
Now the Liberals expect to remain
win the next election after that, while
the Tories acknowledge that the Home
Rule bill will pass the House Of
Commons before Christmas with a
full and united Liberal majority.
This view is supported by the splen-
did divisions all through the week,
the Liberal majority frequently rising
to over 100
Two Hard Corners Turned.
Two Of the sharpest corners of the
Home Rule bill fight were successfully
turned this week. There were many
misgivings and Ireland was troubled
lest the land purchase bill might be
interrupted when the Home Rule
passes and the Tories had begun to
threaten Ireland that no more British
credit would be given for that pur-
pose if the Home Rule parliament
were established.
and vehement terms, announced on
the part of Premier Asquith that the
land purchase would be carried
through until all the Irish land was
transferred to the tenants and Red
n1ond accepted this statement prompt
ly and whole heartedly and defied the
Tory threats.
The other corner and the more diff
cult one was the proposed transfer Of
the postoff1ce to the Irish parliament.
The Tories beloved against this pro-
posal as move toward the breaking
up of the empire and, the making of
/, Ireland into sovereign state and
one or two of the timid Liberals made
faint objection to the proposal.
Liberals Smallest Majority.
F.. The proposal was stoutly and un-
finchingly backed by Herbert Sam
uel, now the English postmaster gen.
| a more powerful position in the Lib
eral ranks by his extraordinary gifts
of clear speech and the mastery of all
the facts; but the majority on this
proposal fell to 70.
The next momentous struggle will
be over the proposal to give Ireland
partial control of customs, and here
also the Tory assault may be as
sisted by the same small group Of a
few timid Liberals, but it will also
have the full support of Asquith and
nine tenths of the Liberals.
The one disquieting feature of the
situation is the illness of three of
the great figures in this heroic
struggle.
. Asquith Regaining Health.
Premier Asquith was seriously
weakened during the week by pain
full carbuncle on his neck which twice
has been extracted, but he is now on
! the road to recovery.
The loss of Asquith at this moment
! would be irreparable to the Liberals
and the Irish, who are united in re-
garding him. as the chief pillar of the
Liberal party and the best factor in
keeping its ranks united and firm and
sane.
Joseph Devlin at last has paid the
penalty of his disinterested enthus-
asm in greatly overworking his f-ag-
lie frame and for some days he has
been seriously i'll, and his illness
added to John Dillon's motor acci-
dent has produced the gravest anxi-
ETY., as no two figures would be more
! missed at this solemn moment. But
! both are now rapidly recovering and
are expected to Join the fighting
(, ranks in a few days.
That poet says he is going to give