Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-15

SUFFICIENT to secure the passage of the
The lords capitulated in July, 1863.
the royal assent was given. the bill
passed and the reign of equality in
took up the Irish land system; the
church system was considered purely a
sentimental one. Ireland being an az
~ ,hs nson county, the great majority
but they did not own it-they were
mere tenants at will
No matter how faithfully and prompt
improved his place. his rent was syste-
natically raised: and IL he failed on rent
DAY to produce 1t. out he went and his
improvements were confscated, regard
less or past record OF honesty and regard
less OF season or condition of the family.
No thought as to his end was considered
he either paid his rent or he was evicted
TO starve or go to the poorhouse il he
million and a half of people persisted from
famine and the attendant fever. though
Ireland produced ample foodstuffs for
four times her population.
The land act of 1903 provides thai q.
the end of sixty-nine years the occupant
OF the land shall be the owner in fee sim
pie. The state advances the money for
the tenant to purchase the landlords in
terest in the holding. and repayment IL
arranged for at intervals covering the
period OF sixty-nine years. in instaliments
that are much less than the amounts
formerly paid in rent. Thus. under this
provision, Ireland is gradully becoming
nation of landowners. In addition.
through the laborers' cottage board the
rural communities are acquiring COM
Portable houses in which to live at a very
small sum-about % to so cents per week,
"Curiously.'' continued MIR. Ansherry.
the first modern suggestion of home rule
was agitated by Irish Protestants. who
were dissatisfied with the imperial parlia-
ment. Filled with hatred OF Gladstone
and distrustful OF English political par
ties, they began the agitation to bring to-
eether the Irish Of ali sects and parties.
on the theory that Irishmen had better
trust themselves and to their united ef-
forts rather than to any English min
lister. These same people believed that
once Ireland had home rule 1t would
bridge the chasm OF hatred between the
two countries.
"The names Of O'ConneIl. Parnell and
other Irish leaders Of note and their WORK
have brought a pretty clear idea OF Irish
conditions OF late years to the minds OF
every Irish sympathizer. and the great
purport Of the last legislation Is manifest
to all who are interested enough to read
OF It.
which was passed with the aid of an i'm
piled threat to fill up the lords with 10,
OF new peers created for the purpose Of
passing this bill. Previously this bill had
been held UP by the lords because OF the
proviso that, after the lords had rejected
the bill twice. the third time it passed the
house it became a law with the kings
sanction. irrespective of the attitude Of
the lords. In April, 1912. the government
of ireland bill, this being the official IL
tie Of the home rule bill. was introduced.
and passed the house with comfortable
majority Having been rejected by the
lords, it went back to the house and was
again passed. only to be rejected once
more by the lords.
Within, the past few weeks 1t was
again introduced and will be passed. de-
spite the fact that considerable opposition
has developed In Ulster. The unionists
throughout the British Isles are opposed
to this bill. but there are only fifty OF
them in all ireland. and it must not be sup
posed that all of Ulster is opposed to
home rule. AS a matter Of fact. the ma
jority OF the members Of parliament
elected from Ulster are nationalists or
home rulers, and several OF the counties.
or at least Donegal, is represented by
none but homo rulers. Five Of tho nine
wheimingly for home rule and the other
four are divided.
There is no county in Ulster but what
has at least one home ruler representing
It in parliament. Even the city OF Bel
fast, the headquarters Of opposition to
home rule. sends one representative to
the British parliament who is a home
ruler. There is powerful sentiment for
home rule in Belfast and they are made
UP Of every class. rank and creed
IT do not think" concluded Mr.. Ans
berry, that the forces under Sir Edward
Carson will 20 so far as to engage in &C.
tual warfare In resisting home rule. But
they will And some way of making q
graceful retreat. It must not be thought
that the home rule bill destroys the act
Of union; neither does IL restore the
Grattan parliament. But there can be
no doubt that 1t was the part of wisdom
on the part Of Irish nationalists. led by
John Redman. to accept the principle OF
an Irish parliament on Irish soil. And
after they have demonstrated to Ulster
that she will not be discriminate against.
reunited Ireland will demand and prob
ably receive that which is her due