The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-04-18
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Sir John French's Position.

Sir John French's Position.
But all was not yet over. The
Tories still hoped to smash the gov
eminent over Sir John French's resig-
nation. Sir John is the Chief Of the
Imperial General Staff, and as he con-
sidered himself involved with Colonel
Seely in a course which the cabinet
could not support, he and Sir John
Ewart, Adjutant-Gen had rendered
their designations. The Tories argued
that, if the designations were not with
drawn, the government must resign.
Sir John French is claimed as an Irish
man. He is the brother of Mrs. Des-
pard, well.known social reformer in
London, who is an Irishwoman, and
he is the greatest cavalry officer in
England. He has the confidence of
the cabinet and his loss would be
deeply regretted by every friend of
order and of Ireland. The question
with him is one, not of discipline, it
appears, but of personal honour so far
as his Interpretation Of the two last
paragraphs in the Seely memorandum
is concerned. The officers at the Cur.
ragh have now to obey orders or take
the consequences, under a new army
order which has been issued, and II
the Tory party desire to force the is.
sue of the Army versus the People, 1t
is probable that the government will
meet them very soon after the Home
Rule Bill and the Welsh Church Bill
have been passed. But not before
then.
Ireland and the Crisis.
1t is good thing for Home Rule and
for the government that this prema-
ture explosion of the Tory conspiracy
has taken place. 1t has put fresh life
and vigor into the Coalition, and united
Liberals and Labour men in a common
defence of democracy as against privi-
lege and militarism. 1t has had the
effect also of exhibiting to the Irish
people the magnitude and the nature
of the opposition to Home Rule against
which the government and the Irish
Party have to contend. The whole
gigantic conspiracy, reaching from the
steps of the throne, and seeking to in
volve the King, down through all
grades of what is known as Society"
has now been exposed. There has
never been a more formidable conspir-
acy against popular liberty. Millions
of money have been expended on it..
Boycotting, intimidation, rowdyism in
and out of the Commons, the seduction
of army officers, the dedication Of the
press to a campaign of lying against
Ireland and the Irish people, the pa
rades and drills of so-called "volun.
teers" in "Ulster"-the greatest sham
and fraud on record, according to Mr..
Devlin, M. p, who ought to know-all
these have been part and parcel of the
great conspiracy which has now been
blown sky high. Never was a Prime
Minister faced with more difficult
task than Mr.. Asquith, and his difficult
ties have also been the difficulties of
Home Rule. The Irish people have
shown what they think of Mr.. John
Redmond and the Irish Party, and
their action in regard to the conces-
sions to Ulster" and to the situation
generally. Every day brings fresh
patches of resolutions to Mr.. Red
mond, expressing implicit confidence
in his leadership and the determine
ton to stand by him and the party to
the end. This is as it should be, and
these expressions of confidence are
most welcome. They show how sound
is the judgment of the people, and
how complete has been the failure Of
factionism to turn them by hairs
breadth from their purpose Of seeing
this thing through to a triumphant
close. The concessions killed the last
excuse for civil war. The Curragh off,
GERS designations have blown the
whole Tory conspiracy to smithereens.
The Home Rule Bill.
Tuesday, March 31st, the second
reading of the Home Rule Bill was
taken, and the debate was continued
on Wednesday and Thursday The
general impression is that the bill will
go through as it stands. But that
rests with the Tory party and the
House of Lords. If they accept the
concessions, then they will be en-
| bodied in the bill. If not, then the
bill will probably become law as it
stands before June is very far ad-
vanced.
The Bolt From the Blue.
The announcement made by the Pre-