The Irish standard., 1913-09-13
The Close of the Session Finds the
Irish Party and Home Rule
Strengthened.
Little Rest For Members During the
Period Following Close of
Session.
London Paper Writes Character
Sketch of Carson and His Lin
tied Liability Rebellion"

The Irish Party emerges from the
session with greater prestige than
ever. Tory and Liberal alike bear
testimony to its marvellous efficiency
and to Its splendid self sacrifice in
the cause to which 1t. is devoted.
There was no fear Of the Tory trick
of turning out the government ON snap
divisions, so long as the Irish Party
was at Westminster. Semper ct
ubique f1delis ("always and every
where faithful")-the motto of the
Irish Brigade in the service of France
might we'll be the motto of the Irish
Brigade at Westminster. Almost, lit
orally, from dawn to sunset, and from
sunset to dawn they have been at the
post of duty. Given the hot blood Of
youth or of early manhood. an inspir-
! ing cause like ours. and hundred-to-
/ one chance on the field of battle. and
tits not sacrifice. but glory, to die for
ones country. But for men like the
Irish members, the bulk of them no
longer young, many Of them old and
time-worn, and le-scarred veter-
I ans, to remain for months and years
4 away from their country, their homes,
| their families. and sverythins that
makes life sweet, watching and walt
ing, waging an unequal constitutional
battle against powerful and unscrupu-
lous opponents. II it be not the high
, est form of heroism, it is certainly
something very nearly approaching It
They have placed Home Rule beyond
the possibility Of defeat, as Mr.. Red
mond told them; but it would be we'll
for 1rishmen everywhere, when they
hear Mr.. Redmond and the party
criticized, to remember Mr.. John Dill
Ions words that "the world would
! never know all the troubles, anxieties
and difficulties which Mr.. Redmond
years alone, in bringing the cause of
Home Rule to the triumphant posi-
ton it stands in at this moment"
The Parliamentary session just
closed Was looked forward to by all
parties as a most critical one for the
government and for Home Rule. 1t
certainly was one of the most strenu-
GUS and searching since the Tory
downfall in 1906. But the government
has got well over it, and is stronger
J today than ever 1t was, whilst the
opposition has lost ground, if any
thing, and all its plotting and trick
cry have availed 1t nothing. The gov
ernment have been marking time, and
have done 1t very well. They have
passed their Parliament Act measures
a second time by undiminished ma
jorities, and have succeeded in get
ting one of them, the Scottish Tenn
perance bill. passed into law: they
have passed the Plural Voting bill
and pushed 1t forward stage on the
way to the Statute book; whilst the
! Marconi affair, upon which the Tories
relied to smash the Coalition, and
which at one time looked very seri-
; Gus indeed, has done the government
) more good than harm. because the re.
J, port of the Marconi committee, and
the subsequent debate in the Com.
mons, left not shadow of excuse FOL
the calumnies of the Tory muckrak.
ers. Next session will see the Home
, Rule bill placed on the Statute book
and before the end Of 1914 an 1rist
Parliament will probably be sitting IL
; College Green.
In the current issue Of Truth. there
is a very clever sketch Of Sir Edward
Carson as minor statesman:
For years past Carson has cult.
waited criminal countenance. The
great jaw and hooked nose. the heav,
wrinkles round the eyes. the dare
[. devil slouch and sleek, black hair. tn,
, hunch Of the shoulders. and even
though this is a matter Of sympath,
!, the arm In sling. all suggest Bill
!, Sykes. and f only the man would Il,
up his throat with a red muffler HI
. would stand very good chance o
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