The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-13

measures That depends upon the
viewpoint There are standards and
standards. Undoubtedly there has. in
I the present case. been I. marked alb
sence of the impassioned utterances. of
the appealing lamentation oratory and
or the vigorous defcnsible Indictment
/ OF England's policy towards and OPP
preston of ireland that characterized
discussions of the Gladstone PROPOSE
lions But be the comparative criti-
cism never so Just from that angle.
/; is not just from another.
John Redmond upon whom has de-
volvcd the chief burden of leadership
OF the Irish Nationalists. has through
out measured up to n high standard as
parliamentary tnctician and as n
/ statesman. More than that. he has
measured up to IL high standard mot
only of Irish. but of British patriotism
FROM the first he has been cain. cool.
seli-poiScd and tolerant in his words
and moderate in his demands. From
the beginning of the struggle. by his
adroitncss. conservatism and avoidance
OF harsh elimination and his clean
cut citation of facts to certify his con-
tentions and pleas. he has had the op-
position on the defensive In the de-
Date Thursday night he literally drove
the Unionists to the last dixie where
they were overwhelmed by their own
Illogical arguments and vehement dis
play Of prejudice without reason.
RnIp
was notable and maatcrful and
strikingly broadminded deliverance He
demonstrated unanswerably that the
moment home rule was granted it would
become the highest interest OF the
irish nation TO safeguard her consti-
luton to utilize it III moderation. to
cultivate the most friendly relations
with Great Britain. and. for the frs,
time In lrelands hisory. to do all
in her power to promote tho
unity. the prosperity and the welfare
of the empire" The :rrationality of
the assumption that the Irish would
not confirm this he made as clear AS
daylight
lie expressed and cogently buttress- |
cd tho firm conviction that In a very
short time after home rule had been
granted all the old parry divisions in
ireland would disappear: that rcspon- !
sibility would have the effect Of
steadyIng men of all political views.
This had reference To the intra-Irish
party divisions and dissensions which I
have contributed so much to disorder
in ireland, and Mr. Redmond. i'm earn
est of his convictions. declared that if
he had the task OF nominating the Irish
Senate he would put in ii a large ma
lority of men who had not been on his
side in the fight for home rule.
The speakers further declaration
that he had been Federalist all his
life. and that he welcomed the present
bill as the initial step of great Brit
ish federation all around. was a brill
liant, splendidly conceived and a tell
Ing stroke. 1t cannot fail to strength
en- Immensely his cause, since the
federation sentiment has for years been
steadily growing in all of Britain's
"dominions beyond the seas" and OBJ
tains to no small! extent in Scotland
and Wales.
on the whole, n Redmond put the
bill in the light of treaty OF peace
between Great Britain and ireland.
proved comclusively that it would &C.
ment Irish loyalty to the crown and
the empire, and placed tie responsible
ity Of spurning opportunity for that
consummation squarely upon the
tnionists. He challenged the loyalty
and the patriotism of the latter, leav-
ing them in most unenviable, impo-
tent and self stultifying position, so far
as vindicatin- either their political
policy or their approximations" is con-
cerned.
He made ghost of the menace to the
safety of the empire" and qnickened
influences throughout all of Britain's
possessions for finally and forever lay
ing it.