The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-05-28
IRISH HOME RULE
FINALLY ADOPTED:
WAR ANTICIPATED

London. May 26.-The Irish home
rule bill passed its third reading in the
mouse of commons today by a majority
of rs
The closing scene in the fight for
home rule brought together a crowd of
members and spectators which filed
the chamber to its utmost capacity.
Outside, great crowds gathered to
await the result of the debate on the
third reading of the bill.
The vote was, for, 352; against, PA.
Ihe house was seething with eX-
citement from the moment the speaker
o the chair. Members of the various
parties INDUCED in Quo outbursts of
cheering when their respective
champions entered the chamber while
at the same time hooking banter was
shouted from the opposite benches.
End Cane Suddenly.
The end of he hard fought struggle
came quite suddenly the u~nionists re-
fusing to debate the bill without in
formation as to the governments in
amending measure. Premier Asouith
lifted a corner of the veil, but though
Andrew Bonar Law, leader of the OPP
position, admitted that the premier's
words were conciliatory but he
fastened to add that MIR. Asquith had
not told them anything. To discuss the
third reading under the circumstances,
would, he said, be futile and ridiculous.
He added:
Let the curtain ring down on this
contemplate farce. 1t is only the end
of an act and not of the play. The GOV
eminent can carry the bill through
parliament but the concluding act OF
the drama will be in the country where
an appeal to the people will not end in
a farce"
HI Right Hon. James Lowther, the
speaker, appealed to the premier to give
the house some information regarding
the bill to be introduced after the pas
sage of the Irish nome rule bill for the
amendment of that measure so as to
meet some of the objections Of the peo-
pie of Ulster.
In response TO the speakers plea
Premier Asquith announced the
amending bill would give effect to any
agreement which the government was
still hopeful might be reached. He said
if at the time of the Introduction of the
Irish home rule bill to the house of
lords If such agreement had been
reached the amending bill would en-
body the substance of the proposals
outlined by him on March 9, in he
hope that after a discussion an agree
ment might be secured.
The easur is now safe after third
reading, for if it be before the house
of lords for one month, then it may by
agreement be postponed for some
weeks, but if necessary it can be put
lIIliIlSuldISIyE VII JIG SldLalC DCoNS. L Nv
government, therefore, in order to save
the bill. must remain in office fer one
| ont
Whether it remains or whether it be
defeated, whether it resolves to con-
tinue in existence till next ear or pre-
fers to go to the country at once, would
not Their matter, for the month would
have placed the home rule bill on the
statute book.
Why Asquith Is Cautious.
1t has thus become a vital issue be-
tween the government and Tory opinion
whether the government a last this
month or not. but the government must
remain in office for a month. unless in
one contingency, and that contingency
the government is doing its best to
| avoid.
All that is needed to precipitate that
| contingency is that Asquith, as war
minister, should give orders to the
army n that the army should refuse
to obey. Refusal of the army to obey
| Asquith, who is at once prime minister
challenge to the authority of the execu-
tive and the parliament that it would
/, be difficult not to TAX it up imme-
diately and present it at once for a de-
cisicn by the people.
In other words, refusal Of the army
to obey might compel an immediate
general election. Asquith has no rea-
son to fear a general election, especially
on such a tremendous issue as the army
against the parliament, and nobody
doubts tha on that issue he would re-
TURF with an overwhelming majority.
But Asquith does not want to pur-
case THU big electoral advantage at
the price of sacrificing the home rule
bill just as it is about to become law.
and thus being compelled to go through
three years more OF weary struggle I'M
der the parliament act to get the bill
to e1e same position as it now has
reached.
The threat of civil war in Ireland he
nl AMc cnMcEpuATInM