Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-01-31
Thirty-One Nationalists Return
ed to'the New Cork City
Council.
Rebel City Has Returned to It's
Allegiance Under Nation
a1ists Banner.
UNIONISTS VOTERS ARE ROUTED

The results of the municipal cleo
tions in ireland have just been an
nounced. and whether considered
separately or in the aggregate, tney
are a wonderful manifestation OF the
peoples fidelity to the natlohal
cause. as we'll as their confidence IN
and loyalty to the Irish party. Out
side of the northeast corner, IN leW
cases did Unionist candidates show
courage enough to offer themselves
for election, and where they dlc
make a bid for public support they
were ANONYMOUSLY defeated.
Rut above and beyond all the rest,
there is a deep significance in the
result of the elections to the CORK
CITY Council. From the Southern
capital is announced glorious news
for all ireland except the weeping
willow of All-for-Ireland. William
O'Brien has been swept off the
political map, and the Nationalists
have been returned with an over
whelming majority. The most san
guine supporter of the Irish party
could not have foreseen a result SO
magnificent and so emphatic.
The municipal elections in Cork
are a triennial affair. At the previous
elections, three years ago, the
O'Brienites secured comfortable
majority, but ever since then the by
elections have proved that the power
of the arch factionist is on the wane,
and for some time the Nationalists
have been the predominant party.
The whole strength of the All-for-
ireland party was focused on an at
tempt at the present elections to
regain its tottering prestige. A
fierce political campaign was waged,
and William O'Brien took the hust-
ings on behalf of his candidates. He
has had disappointment as cruel as
ever blighted the hopes of man. The
one place where he thought major
ity was secured to him has sent him
to political oblivion. The constitu-
tion of the new Council is as follows:
Nationalists, 81; O'Brienites, 13, and
Independents, IL.
Those are illuminating figures,
emanating as they do from the city
that is associated in everybody's
mind with the O'Brienite revolt. The
Independents are mostly Councillors
elected on a ratepayers' association
ticket in commercial wards, and with
the exception of an insignificant
Unionist quota-who may be trusted
to vote hand in glove with the tiny
remnant which is all that survives
of a once blatant factionism-the In
dependents are supporters of the Ma
tionalist policy. But without reckon
ing their votes at all, the supporters
of the Irish party have a substantial
and unquestioned majority.
1t is asfe to say that the last has
been heard of the All-for-Ireland re-
volt as a serious political factor.
Cork has returned. to its old allegi-
ance under the banner of the
land. If O'Brien has any sense OF
honor he will resign from the Par
liamentary representation of a city
that shows 1t is only thirsting for
the opportunity to cast him out.
When ii is considered that there
are $500 Protestant Unionist votes
in Cork-every one of whom to the
last man voted the straight O'Brien-
ite ticket-it will be understood how
complete and overwhelming the rout
of O'Brien has been. He repre-
sents only fraction of the people OF
Cork, who are in favor of home rule.
Speaking before an immense gath
ering at Waterford last Sunday John
Redmond said:
Every sane man knows that, bar
ring accidents, the home rule bill
will be the law of the land this
year. If any change is made in the
home rule bill it will only be by the
good will of our opponents. But |
say frankly that | see no prospects
Of their good will being purchased at
any price whatever. Good will is
worth purchasing at big price, but
any change in the bill should be con-
sistent with the unity OF Ireland. :"