The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-25

AACy VSA 4OI8OtNCA kAbC -
BattIe of the Boyne and its impqEtan
consequences in shaping the destinies
OF the British empire, fought though
it was ~ long ago as 1880. This il the
cruz Of the vigorous protest that the
men of Ulster are making against the
efforts Of the Liberal ministry In Eng
Land to force the present plan Of home
rule for ireland down their Threats. 1t
IL the out-cropping Of the old antipathy
Of the Orangemen, the Irish Protest.
ants. for anything that might SAVIOR OF
their rule by the Hibernians. Of Ancient
Order, the Irish Catholics. Maybe the
Ulsterites' fears are Groundless under
present conditions. but these men are
firm in their belief that II the proposed
home rule measure Is enacted into law
they will soon become the victims cf
religious and political persecution at
the hands of the same forces that were
defeated when the army of the exiled
James II was SO signaliy repulsed
10y the soldiers Of William III. This
belief is so strong that they are willing
to fight for it. They also protest
against the bill because the Asquith
ministry has refused to permit It to
~ u d VOIC OA kAAC P<OksA$, AAOS O>>-S -
Ulster, but of the entire nation. And
they insist that the home rule meas
ure is being rushed to final enactment
not because Of its merits or because
majority of the people of Ireland or
Great Britain are in favor of 1t. but be-
cause 1t Is no more than the consum-
nation of q purely political pact be-
tween the Liberal party and the Irish
Nationalist party.
A few years ago, when the Asqutth
ministry began its ascendancy, the
Liberal party that 1t represents. lacked
the votes in parliament. or rather IN
the house of commons. to put through
its platform of political reforms
that eliminated in 1910 in the ia
nous so-called Peoples Budget, Of
Lloyd Georges design. So a Goa
lition was effected between the
Liberal party and the Nationalist
party, led by John Redmond. I'm
der it's terms the Irish Nationalist
agreed to support the Lloyd George
budget and the Asquith ministry in all
particulars, in return for home rule
measure to their liking. 1t is even as
serted that the Asquith ministry went
SO far as to make an agreement In
writing with Redmond to this effect.
The Nationalist party has kept ITS part
of the agreement faithfully. 1t has sup
ported the Asquith ministry to the last
ditch. And the latter must now deliver
its end of the bargain. 1t made q be-
ginning by passing the home rule bill.
drafted by Redmond and his friends
three years ago and It the time that
the Peoples Budget was enacted. But
the house Of lords went on record
against the home rule measure. I'm
der the British legislative procedure a
measure that Is opposed by the house
of lords must pass three successive SEES
sions of the house of cOmmon1 before
il can become a law. The home rule
bill was passed all right a second time.
And j is on ts present and third and
final passage shat the fatelof the As
uuith ministry, and it would now seem
the peace and contentment of Great
Britain, hinges. sAts@ss
John Redmond and the Nationalist
party not only drove a fast bargain,
but they also drove a hard one. For
the home rule bill of today that Is
causing all the trouble. ID far different
in terms from the home rule measures
of other days that all fell by the way
side. 1t provides virtual Independence
for Ireland. And this is another feat
ure OF 1t that is @repugnant to the III
sterites and other loya1ists in Ireland
and the Unionist party generally
throughout Great Britain. They dis
like the idea Of any part of the British
empire being severed almost So COM
pietely from rule and regulation by the
mother country. 1t jars their patriot
ism. their love of the glory. the
grandeur and the magnitude Of the
British empire. 2
And the particular urgency of the
adoption Of this kind of home rule for
Ireland, and even in the face IL the
cminous protest of Ulster. which ~ no
LEGS than a threat of revolution, Is
r..rely the desire of the Asquith Min
istry to maintain its position and power.
II it doesn't keep its pact with Red
mond and the Nationalists. its lease on
life is mighty short. And II 1t does pass
the home rule measure in its present
form, the explosion that will result is
likely to be of such proportions that 1t
will fall anyhow. So, the Asquith min
istry and present rule Of the Liberal
party in England is finally In place
that is pretty much like the one be-
tween the devil and the deep sea.
1t il also another significant illus-
tration Of the extent to which polfti-
clans will go to keep their feet in the
trough of public power, patronage and
emoluments. Here is the AsQuith min
istry the champion of champions of the
plain people. willing to take the
chances Of plunging its nation into a
bloody civil war and solely for the pur-
pose Of maintaining its political suprem-
acy BY paying a purely political debt Of
questionable contraction.
THE COUNTRY BOY WHO WON