The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-02-26

ment of the union of England
and Ireland in 1901, the ques-
ton of the repeal of that union has
reached an acute stage. For more
than century this has been a peren-
NAL theme in British politics. While
concession after concession has been
granted to Irish agitation, yet home
rule has thus far been withheld.
Catholic emancipation, disestablish-
ment of the Irish church, agrarian re-
form, full parliamentary representa-
tion--one after the other have been
demanded and granted. But home
rule has three times gone to the coun-
try and has three times been defeated |
The policy of the British govern
ment toward the colonies, since the
lesson of the American Revolution,
has been of liberal and generous
character. Both Canada and Austria
liza are Loyalty contented with the
friendly bond with the mother coun- ;
.ry. Scotland has been without sepa- [
ate legislative autonomy for more
han 200 years and seems to be well
atisfed with her status in the King '
om and the Empire. And yet Ire 1
and, sustaining substantially the il
anne relation as does Scotland to the t.
.ingdom and the Empire, has never -
eased to foment agitation and revolt C,
18th persistent demands for auton-
my. b
There must be some reason why lie
overnment, grown so liberal as that a!
Great Britain, has thus far re- h;
Ised to grant the demand. There hi
ust be some reason why so many bi
the great men of that country to
hose principles would be directly la
'ainst injustice or aggression have be
bod against home rule. And yet ha
is fact that the opponents of
me rule have had among them such as
IN as Spencer, Huxley, Tyndall, hi!
Dude, Lecky Martineau, Jowett, fol
nnyson, Browning, Goodwin Smith, to,
slie Stephen and Swineburne. There ito
! also eminent names among the tn,
ends of home rule-Gladstone, Mill, isl;
eeman, Ruskin, John Merely and COZ
ederic Harrison. But the fact that no,
both camps are to be found emf Br
IL men OF liberal opinions and out dis
ken opponents to oppression in all the
forms suggests that the problem the
not a simple question of liberty wit
against tyranny. don
urning from names to reasons, let and
consider the arguments by which ed
esion on either side is ultimately BILE,
,rmined. In favor of home rule are cas-,
liberal ideas of nationality, JUS eau
and freedom. 1t is a principle eau
lifted alike by the best English lipi,
Unionists and Liberals T
nations are, on the whole, best for
srned by themselves-th is to diff
by rules of their own race and by
r own choice. Now, it is said, Irisl
ury of agitation has proved that brit
Irish people have a true national acte
visibly marked off as such by its
frontier of the sea. Is thro
It, then, unjust to withhold from been
the boon of free government f? olic
this it is replied that there is term
her principle that sometimes ment
s and overbears the claim of parti
e to be independently su- be D,
e law of self preservation. This the |
,le is invoked by England with sect
ence TO ireland as 1t was by the religi
rity of the American people a at on
t the pretension of the Slave direct
S. 1t is alleged by Unionists be en-
Irish independence would mean Thi
zen OF the bond which constitutes natiol
ltegrity of the British Archipe- simpl
and holds it together as a single why
of the first order Granting the CANA
nee of steady movement to- why
the emancipation of national the
here is, they say, another move open !