The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-03-02
Won their way out of all proportions


litical authority. What shall we say
of them? Speaking as an English
Minister, must say that on the whole,
in varying degrees no doubt, with
notable exceptions - they have been
our enemies. They have been filled
with feelings Of resentment and anger
against British Power and enemy,
and they have counter-worked our in
terests as the years have passed by.
and especially since Mr.. Gladstone rail-
lied half the British nation to the
Home Rule cause things have got bet
ter. A gentler feeling has supervened.
but still the Irishmen overseas have
done as much harm in the past as they
have been an adverse force in our coll
onies. They have on more than one
occasion unfavorably DETECTED the pol
icy Of the United States. They are
now the more serious obstacle to An
glo-American friendship. We have got
along in spite of all that. We have
got along in spite of great many
things, but, ladies and gentlemen, l
speak not only to you, but to The great
audience of Irishmen in all parts of
our Empire who follow the Home Rule
cause either on the one side or on the
other side, if we had their aid instead
of their enmity, their help instead Of
their opposition, how much smoother
our path, how much quicker our prog
ress. What new possibilities would
be opened, what old dangers would
vanish away, and there is no final
reason for this antagOnism between
people are by character and tradition
attached to monarchial institutions,
the idea of a King-a King not only
Of Great Britain, but a King of Ire
land, is familiar and grateful to Irish
minds. No national barriers stand be-
tween the Irish people and the Throne.
Here, as elsewhere throughout the
British Empire the Crown may be-
come the supreme and central limb of
unity and acceptance. Since his ac-
cession King George has travelled
widely. He has reviewed his fleet and
his armies, he has been to Scotland,
he has been to Wales, he has journeyed
through the vast provinces of the In
dian Empire, many great and famous
cities have rendered him their alleg-
lance, but it was Dublin-Catholic and
Nationalist Dublin. that gave him the
warmest welcome Of them all
If the House of Commons is to last,
If it is to hold its position as the great
representative assembly Of the Brit
mass of business by which it is at
present congested. This division of
business is vital. it is the only way in
which vast composite communities of
civilized men can in modern times
govern themselves. Look at our two
most important rivals. Germany and
the U. S. OF America. Both these
powers have developed their giant en-
ergies, effective as they are for all
purposes of peace or war, the one
through 25 separate parliaments, the
other through more than 20.
After reference to the continental
systems, Mr.. Churchill proceeded: We
recognize that the case of Ireland
stands in a different position over that
of all other parts Of the United King
dom. On historical grounds, if on no
other, it is clear that the same meas
ure, and the same form which might
be applicable'to Scotland and to Wales
would not be applicable to the needs
OF Ireland, but any plan which we put
forward for Irish Home Rule will be
an integral part of and fit consistently
into, the general scheme OF Parlia-
mentary devolution, and viii not be
out of harmony with the design of the
ultimate federation of the Empire.
This great and urgent public necessity
of clearing Parliament from the con-
gestion Of business is sufficient in it.
self - from a British point of view,
were all other arguments lacking to
justify the measure which we shall
shortly place before the House of
Commons. Now I come homo to Ire
land to Ulster. l must say you have
made me feel quite at home here. We
are told, perhaps with truth. that
deep fear is on the Protestants Of Ul-
ster of number of them that Home
Rule, will bring great evils upon them,
that their property and their liberty
will be assailed. and that their faith
will be prosecuted and oppressed We
are sure those fears are groundless.
They have been proved groundless at
other times. Exactly the same fears
waro ovnroSco1 u, TY1,%o. loon