The Irish standard., 1912-08-10
The Distinguished Visitor and his
Companions Get a Hearty
Welcome.
Declared That the Act of Union Has
Proved to be Disastrous
Failure.
His Magnificent Address is Cheered
to the Echo by an Enthu-
siastic Throng.

Prime Minister Asquith was the
principal speaker at the great Home
Rule demonstration held in the Thea
ter Royal, Dublin. on July 10. John
e. Redmond presided, and there was
a large and distinguished audience,
representative not only of the Irish
Capital, but of every Province in Ire
land. and almos. every county and
city council. After brief opening
address by Mr.. Redmond, the Prime
Minister, who was received with the
utmost enthusiasm, addressed the as.
semblage. Chief Secretary Birrell fol-
lowed Mr.. Asquith, and addresses
were delivered by the Master of Eli
bank, Eugene Wason, Chairman Of
the Scottish Liberal Party; Solicitor
General Sir John Simon, and others.
AS the Premier arose, the entire
audience arose with him and for fif-
teen minutes there was another scene
Of enthusiasm. When this had ceased
the audience sang tHe's Jolly Good
Fellow" and at its conclusion there
was another great outburst of cheer
ing. Mr.. Asquith said:
l am pleased to address an audience
representative Of the best ideals and
aspirations Of the irish people,
came to Dublin with a purpose. In
the first place, I assure the people Of
Ireland, though I do not think that
any assurance is necessary. of the
resolute intention of the House of
Commons and of the British people
to bring your great cause to speedy
and triumphant issue.
Though we cannot alter or rewrite
the past, we can, and we intend 20
in this year. open a new volume.
There have been, one cannot forget,
moments of missed opportunities.
One such was the Treaty of Limerick;
another was the birthday of Grat-
tan's Parliament, in 1882; a third was
the too brief viceroyalty of Lord Fitz-
william, in 1875; and once again, and 1
am sure you will be glad to join with
me in paying this tribute to the first
and greatest British statesman who,
since the days of the Act of Union,
realized the magnitude of the Irish
cause, when after two generations Of
experience of the failure of the Un-
ion and the long delayed-delayed un-
til it was too late-fulflment Of the
promise of Emancipation Of the Cath
olics, the persistent refusal of the
British Parliament to deal with the
question of Tenant Right, the Fam
inc, and the long campaign of confis-
cation and eviction. when Mr.. Glad
stone at last, in 1886, espoused the
cause of Home Rule for Ireland
Each of these interludes in the
otherwise unbroken history. has
brought about momentary gleam Of
hope. only to be put out by what
seemed the pitiless exigencies of Il
malignant horoscope. I come here to
tell you that the clouds have rolled
away, that the horizon is clear, that
you have with you the majority of
the elected representatives of the peo-
pie of Great Britain, and that the
end is in sight.
The Opposition with which we ar.
dealing is an Opposition, in my ex-
perience, unique in the case Of a
measure such as this which they
know is going to pass into law. 1t
is an Opposition purely destructive in
its objects, anarchic and chaotic in
Its methods. They have voted with
q cynical disregard for their own
previous professions. and even for the
elementary doctrines of their political
creed.
They have voted already, in the
course If our discussions, in favor of
a special and privileged method of
treatment for four selected Counties
in the Province of Ulster, in favor of
"a Single Chamber as against Two
Chambers. Not one constructive sug-
gestion of any sort or kind have they
made.
Their purpose is not, as it should
be, to strike out by discussion and
dehatA n working plan for Irish Self.