Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-03-19
PRINCE ARTHUR MAY
BE FIRST HOME RULE
Y|CEROY OF IRELAND
Believed Fight Will Drag Through tn.
summe-Lord Derby !. Ozark
Horse" in Premier
ship Race.

initely decided that Prince Arthur OF
Connaught is to be the first home rule
Viceroy of Ireland. There was some
talk OF his succeeding his father, the
duke Of Connaught. as governor-gen-
eral of Canada, out this will not now
take place. unless the unionists are sue
cessful in preventing the government
from establishing a parliament in Ire
land.
Like all members Of the Connaught
family Prince Arthur is extremely pop
ular. besides it Is considered that
he would be an able and responsible
viceroy. while his nearness to the
throne and his personal intimacy with
the King would ave a great effect in
soothing unionist susceptibilities in
ireland. 1t would be difficult for Irish
society to boycott a yiceregal court held
by the first cousin and the niece of
the sovereign. especially after the lat
ter had visited Dublin in person to open
the first Irish parliament, which he will
do II that parliament is ever sum-
moned.
There Is little prospect. however. OF
the home rule bill becoming law early
the coming summer. as nationalists inc
liberals have often declared would be
the case. 1t is now predicted that Ire
lands fight for self government will
not be over before next fall.
AT best nothing can be lone with the
home rule bill until April, for financial
affairs will take up all Of March, and
now that Premier Asquith has prom
ised to make liberal concessions to
overcome the objections Of Ulster. it
VIII probably take most Of the summer
to reframe the bill. No one is serious
~ displeased at the delay, for it is be-
Heved it will work to a better under
standing. The government will have
time to consider thoroughly Its pro-
posed amendments and to determine
whether they will have the desired ef-
fect of promoting peace.
The alterations involved In the pres
ent bill would be enormous, and some
portions would have to be redrafted.
u any OF the amendments are adopted.
The exclusion Of Ulster would require a
complete modification of the financial
clause. and home rule within home
rule would be quite as complicated,
Premier Asquith will be very sure of
mis- ground before placing any Of his
suggestions on paper, but during the
next few weeks various suggestions
Will be submitted to the unienist lead
ers. Ii no agreement results the gov
lfications and let the house and public
opinion judge. Even when the sugges-
tons come before the house progress
will not be rapid. There are some tr-
reconeilables who will fight the bill to
the bitter end. while from other quar-
us VIII COl1S Very severe cT1ft-
clsms OF details. The irreconcilables
hope the government will produce a
scheme which will be satisfactory to
the majority of unionists and liberals.
but which will meet with the disap-
prevail OF the n~ationalists. Mr.. AS
qulth IS not at all likely to do that. He
mas staked the political fortunes of
himself and his party on the home rule
Dill. and it is very well known that his
great ambition is to carry out the de-
slres OF his old chief, Gladstone, and
bring contentment to the majority of
Irishmen.
The procedure to be followed is very
clearly stated in the parliament act.
After the bill has been read a second
time the government will come for
ward with their suggestions, and a long
series of debates may be expected in
the The unionists will doubt
less oppose them. out it may be in
ferred from what Lloyd George said
IN the debate on the speech from the
throne that the government will per-
sist in them, and will send them to
the lords. 1t is then tina the real fight
VIII besln, and 1t may be weeks be-
fore he struggle is finally decided.
Lord Derby Is being picked by many
political observers as likely to prove q
dark horse" in the contest for the pre-
miership when the unionists return to
power.
Those who most ardently supported
Bonar Law are now believing that his
leadership has proved a failure. He is
over 10 years. of age and he is a liberal
%unfonist, a party association which has
helped a man to the leadership
Of the %unionists.
Lord Derby on the other hand. who
has been u%nionist leader in Lancashire
for nan years, has never associated
himself with the tariff reform which
has helped to defeat the u~nionists at
three successive general elections. He
is a free FODDER" like most Lancas-
trians, and has further strengthened
his position by taking a strong stand
against those who threatened civil war
If the home rule bill is passed. While
a staunch anti-home ruler, Lord Derby
spoke strongly against the Ulster. men,
should they rise against law and order.
Again he denounced attempts to re-
vive the royal veto, when a section OF
his party suggested that the king
should be petitioned to withhold his
signature from the home rule bill. He
therefore gained the reputation Of be-
ing a strong constituencies.
The Lancashire leader has the ad-
vantage Of having served in the house
of and has had considerable
experience In the cabinet. He started
his career as a member Of the staff Of
the governor general of Canada; was
AAA0 AN1SS 6SSASt
tary to Lord Roberts during the South
African war, and was twice mentioned
in dispatches for conspicuous services.
Upon return to England he became one
OF the lords Of the treasury. and later
financial secretary to the war office.
where he remained until he entered the
cabinet as postmaster general.
He a to retire from the house OF
commons. where he represented the
West Houghton division Of Lancashire
for II years, on the death OF his father
In 1896, but he has continued his i'm
terest In politics. II not actually pre-
mier when the %unionists return to
power he is sure to fll n of the cabi-
net offices. His great wealth will, OF
course. help him, but Of even greater
assistance is his intimacy with King
George.
"A revival Of the stately minuet =
promised. But consider well the re-
sponsibility Of that dance. Thus, for
instance, Nj. Austen Leigh on the 18th
century minuet: 'It was not every ono
who felt qualified to max this public
exhibition, n those ladies' who In
tended to dance minuetS used to dis
Af--..t-If