The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-16
Brilliant Addresses For
and Against Irish
Home Rule
DEMONSTRATIONS
EXPECTED TO-DAY
Asouith and Balfour Deliver
Their Most Telling Speeches
to House Crowded to Its Ca
pacity-G ern m c n T
Tainted With Fear to
Face Real Situation.

London. January i5.-The Irish home
rule bill started on its final stage in the
House of Commons to-day and the
occasion vas marked by two speeches
seldom excelled in the House, by the
Prime Minister. Herbert II. Asouith.
and Arthur Balfour. former leader of
the Opposition. who have few equals
as paTiiarne ntarians.
Other speakers. representing all par
tics. followed and the debate finally
was adjourned until tomorrow, when
division will be taken.
Bitterness which previous bills OF a
similar nature aroused in the past was
largely absent in the discussion to-day.
but with the harder hitters on the pro-
gram for tomorrow this situation may
not be continued
when the orders of the day were
called and Mr.. Balfour. at the request
of the Opposition leader Andrew
Bonar Law. moved the rejection Of the
measure. the House was crowded TO
its capacity and every seat in the
gallery was occupied by Interested
listeners. Mr.. Balfour. who has been
absent from Parliament for some weeks.
while not go fluent as the Prime Minister
delivered one Of the telling speeches Tor
which he is famous
rear 10 dtt SitudtiDh.
He dealt with the bill in d general
way, and particularly laid stress on the
case Of Ulster. the present condition
of which he likened 20 that OF the
American colonies before the Revolu-
ton lie charged the government with
showing a dangerous want OF appreci-
alton Of the position OF that section.
Pointing his finger at the govern
ment bench. Mr.. Balfour concluded :.
IF blood be spilled-which God for
bid. the real assassins will be those
who have never had the courage 10
face the situation.
Premier Asquith defended the bill
from every standpoint He pleaded
with the House to forget the past and
give ireland what the vast majority
demanded He laid stress on the safe
guards introduced in the bill TO pro-
vent Protestants from being oppressed
by the majority. and repeated the gov
ernment's offer TO insert any other
reasonable safeguards If only the oppo-
sition would tell what was wanted
The premier recalled that MI Bal
four had made the same gloomy pre-
dictions when the Liberals gave self
government 10 South Africa.
The Unionisfs and Liberals continued
the debate until dinner, when I r
O'Connor approved the bill IN behali
of the Nationalist
- Thomas c. r. Agar Roberts. one OF
the two Liberals opposing the measure.
re yretted the refusal of the government
to hold out the olive branch to the
Obstetrics. and denounced the Dill as
one of coercion.
Unless the Ulster question was set
tied. he said the bill was fcTedoomed
to failure
Regards 1t as Sincere.
William o Brien. leader of the moe
pendent Nationalist. crictized some
of the provisions of the bill. and said
tina: while he could not accept 1t as final
settlement of the Nationalist require
rnents. they regarded II as a sincere and
courageous message of peace 70 Ire
land He suggested that II the former
chief secretaries and Under-secTctaTteS
Of ireland. representative Irishmcn. IN
Guiding john Z. Redmond and SIT I'd
ward Carson. got together they might
como to some measure of agreement
The I.aboritcs adhesion TO homo rule
was declared by James Parker. sitting
for Halifax
The Rt Hon. Herbert Louis Samuel
postmaster who had charge
of the financial provisions of the Dill,
defended them at length.
The Rt Hon. James Henry Camp
bell serving as leader Of the Obstetrics
in the absence of Sir Edward Carson.
who. although he fought the bill clause
by clause was unable 10 be present at
the FINAL stage owing TO his wife 5 illness.
repeated listers objection to home
rule and declared the bill would pro-
Guce a generation of inteTnecine strife
and permanent disaster to the progress
Of the country
All the parties have issued special
whips TO member requesting attend
ance for the division tomorrow night.
when demonstrations are expected