Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-08-15
Tories Declared Their Hostility
to Home Rule Was Now
Gone.
Bill Will Immediately Become q
Law When House Meets
Again.
IRISH VOLUNTEERS ARE ARMING

last Monday night finally won for
home rule, cabled Hon. T. p. O'Con-
nor to the press of Sunday. With
extraordinary courage and presence
of mind Redmond saw the psy-
Geological moment to place Ireland
by the side of the British Empire in
the gigantic struggle just beginning.
and offered to the Government not
merely Ireland's sympathy but a
pledge to secure Ireland's shores
from the foreign invader by Irish
volunteers alone. No speech in mod
ern times has created such immediate
and tremendous effect. The House
cheered till it was hoarse. Tories
as well as Liberals, many with tears
in their eyes, rushed to shake Red
mond's hand, and the Tories espe-
cially declared that their hostility
to home rule was now gone.
Crowds awaiting outside Bucking-
ham Palace and Downing street to
hear the declaration of war at mid
night on Monday cheered Redmond.
His photograph in all the moving
picture shows was received with
wild cheers. From Ireland came an
immediate, universal response, back
ing Redmond's words, and an aston
ishing and unprecedented scene was
witnessed of volunteers and masses
Of people accompanying soldiers to
stations with cheers as they took
their departure for the war. But
behind the scenes Redmond was in
constant consultation with Asquith
and surveyed the situation with his
characteristic combination of firm
ness, vigilance and self-control.
1t was revealed to him that Bonar
Law and other Tory leaders had
Joined Carson in a demand that home
rule should be held up. Adjourn
ment instead of prorogation made all
the difference whether the home rule
bill would be put on the statute book
Immediately or at some distant date.
AS it turned out these protests,
though natural, we're unnecessary
for Asquith never contemplated any
such betrayal, and on Monday next
an announcement is expected that
the adjournment is only for two
weeks, and that when the House
meets again the session will end in
prorogation and the home rule bill
will Immediately become a law.
The Tories will be offered at the
same time the choice between dis
cussing the amending bill then or in
a new session later. In the mean
time Ireland's support of the British
Empire in the hour of peril is more
than justified by new, unanimous
feeling by the men of all races and
all parties in the British Empire
that this war is one for the defense
of the principle of nationality of
small States; of emancipating Eur
ope from the grinding and intolerable
tyranny of German military auto
cracy
The revolt of some extreme rad
icals which was uttered loudly last
Monday has died out and all the
nation stands enthusiastically behind
the British Government in this great
crusade to save France, Belgium and
democratic liberty. Nobody has any
doubt that though the way may be
long Europe will conquer Germany,
and already there is a firm resolve
as the first fruits of victory to re-
store Alsace-Lorraine to its people.
Winston Churchill, as the man who
put the fleet in such splendid condi-
tion. divides with Redmond the posi-
tion of popular hero.
The removal of the arms procla-
nation enables the Irish volunteers
TO arm more speedily. London takes
the whole situation seriously but
calmly. The temporary dislocation
of finance and business is passing
rapidly away and confidence in vic
tory and in justice Of England's s
cause are strong and universal.