Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-06-13
No General Election Until Plural
Voters Bill Has Been
Enacted.
The Irish Leaders Have Signified
Their Approval of the Vol
unteer Movement.
IRELAND is WILD WITH JOY

Whitsuntide has not been the
usually cheerful English holiday.
cables Hon. T. p. O'Connor from
London. 1t opened under the over
whelming shadow of the terrible
disaster in the st. Lawrence river.
grief over the tragedy being
universal and deep. The Irish of
Liverpool were terribly stricken, as
the Empress of Ireland was the most
popular vessel afloat with Liverpool
Irish sailors and firemen. Intensity
OF public sympathy reveals itself in
the magnitude and promptitude of
relief subscriptions.
This tragedy and the spirit of va
cation give pause to political
activity in England, but Lloyd
Georges fighting speech broke in on
the truce. Liberals everywhere are
immensely gratified by the def
mite denial of the intention of the
Government to permit general
election this year. Rumor to the
contrary has been so repeated and
widespread that even the Liberals
began to doubt and the prospect of
losing the plural voters bill. on
which the heart of the Liberals is
set. produced general depression in
Liberal ranks, now relieved by
Lloyd-George's definite and unmis-
taxable pledge to continue this Par
lament until the plural voter be-
comes a thing of the past. Home
rulers also are relieved, as the
Tories now are robbed of their last
hope of preventing the final stage of
the home rule struggle and the as
sembly of the Irish Parliament by
the turmoil and uncertain fortunes
of an immediate general election.
Political tranquility in England
is in remarkable contrast with the
feverish activity in Ireland. The
passage of the third reading o. tha,
home rule bill was celebrated all
over the country outside of Ulster
with frenzied outbursts of popular
joy. Every city, village and even
hamlet had its bonfires, professions,
bands and triumphant speeches.
Ulster Nationalists Loyalty sup
pressed all demonstrations in obedi-
ence to the strong advice of Irish
leaders to avoid any excuse to
break of violence. This extraordin-
airy self-control and discipline helped
to maintain the position of stale
mate between the Government and
the Orangemen in Ulster.
Carson's clustering speeches are
interpreted as really meant TO
conceal the impossible position in
which he has been Unanswered by
Asquith and Redmond. He has now
no alternative between accepting
such an amending bill as Asquith
and Redmond will offer or taking
the tragic and indeed impossible
position of raising a rebellion. Car
son knows that with the home rule
| bill now safe Asquith's hands are
free to suppress il necessary any
rebellion in few hours and Lloyd
Georges last pronouncement re-
moves the final hope of Carson that
Asquith can be bullied into any
weakness such as a general election.
But the most momentous devel-
opment of Whitsuntide in ireland is
the new departure of the National
list volunteer movement. Without
any official announcement or Off
/ Cldl dCllOn lu6 lIlSu lcducib udNC
signified their approval of the move
ment. Several members OF the
irish party attended the enrolment
of volunteers. This final approval
removed the last obstacle to the
spread of the movement, as unques-
tioning confidence In Redmond's
leadership held back many thou
sands until his attitude was known,
lest the movement should in any
way embarass him and his col
leagues, whose statesmanship had so
splendidly vindicated itself.
In the present unassailable posi-
tion of the home rule bill Redmond's
final blessing of the volunteer
movement has given II an extraord-
mary impetus and literally thou
sands now Join the ranks. All
politics, British as well as Irish, now
are confronted with another and
most formidable factor In the solu-
tion of the Irish problem. II II
significant OF the spirit of this new
factor that the Nationalists now
demand vehemently the withdrawal
OF the proclamation against the
importation of arms, though thii
measure originally was intended
/ Oman oat.aan