Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-03-07
Home Rule Most Popular Plank
i'm Platform of Liberal
Party.
Disorder i'm House of Commons
viii Not Help the
Orangemen.
SENTIMENT As TO COMPROMISE

Central facts ultimately prevail
over Enthusiastically changeable
moods In rour political system.
cables Hon. T. p. O'Connor, M. p,
and the present central fact is stu
pendous ma jority in favor of home
rule in this as we'll as other recent
elections. Considering that this
Ministry has been in office for eight
years; that it has attacked so many
powerful interests and carried such
revolutionary legislation; that it
has passed through the whirlwind
of the Marconi scandal, and that
the almost unbroken tradition OF
English electioneering life is that
the swing of the pendulum to the
other side always begins after any
Ministry has held office for some
years, the marvel is that it still re-
tains such a strong and unshakable
hold on the majority of electors in
all parts of the country.
Eleven by-elections since last
August show majority of 1916
for home rule. Furthermore, these
by-elections have mainly been
fought on the insurance act, and
several have been complicated by a
triangular fight, with both candi-
dates on the progressive side equally
committed TO home, rule. 1t
emerges clearly from all this that
home rule, instead of being a weak
ness, is now the most popular plank
in the Liberal platform, and that it
emerges even more clearly that
Orange threats of civil war have
hardened instead of frightening the
determination of the British electors
to carry home rule.
This week, which ends with this
ridiculous and avoidable little mis-
hap, otherwise has been splendidly
hopeful for the Liberals. They have
House of Commons. Mr.. Asquith' 8
answer TO the Tory attack and de-
mand for a premature revelation of
the concessions to Ulster, which he
promised Oh the first night of the
session, elected from him a speech
of great power and still greater
spirit. for he declared, amid a tenn
pest of cheers from his own
supporters. that the Ministry was
not going to be bullied or hustled,
that he would put up no white flag,
and that he would not betray great
cause at the eleventh hour.
What added to the fierce welcome
by the Liberals of this defiant
speech was that il was in such con-
trast with the spirit of Asquith' s
speech on the opening night of the
session. That speech was inter.
preted by Asquith's own followers
as SO meek in spirit as TO suggest
a readiness to offer Orangemen
large concessions, while the spirit OF
the Liberal rank and file is against
all compromise and all concession
and that spirit is even stronger
among the Liberal and especial,
among the working class electors
who have been driven TO fury by Sii
Edward Carson's threats and by ths
apparent immunity given to aristo
cratic rebels In contrast with the
severity meted out to working clasi
strikers and agitators.
Private meetings of the Liberali
during the week have only beer
restrained by respect for Redmond
judgment from passing resolution
against all concessions, and Ii
short al this moment. though SOM
concessions certainly will be OF
fered by Asquith, the whole feelinl
Of the Liberals Is against compro
mise In any shape.
The speech OF the Irish debat
(which was the most successful was