The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-10-10
Passage of Home Rule Bill


The Home Rule Bill received the
royal assent Sept. 25 in the House of
Lords, and there followed subse-
quently in the House of Commons
scene unprecedented and unparal-
leled in British annals. The whole
assembly rose. as did likewise the oc-
cupants of the strangers gallery and
the press gallery. while the members
sang "God Save the King" Then
Radical member shouted out. God
save Ireland" to which Mr.. John
Redmond responded in ringing tones.
"And God save England" Cheers
loud and prolonged followed.
These were the memorable incl
dents that marked the final act in
perfecting the instrument Of national
self-government. II stage managers
had been projecting for years in a
closing scene fitting for great po-
litical drama they never could have
equalled, or come near to equalling,
the electrifying outbursts produced.
The Kings speech from the throne
had spoken of the terrible European
war. its perils and its trials. and the
resolution and determination to see
it through. 1t was simple epitome
of British courage and doggedness.
Irish Self
After the speech came the tote of
confidence in which was ai--o...ced
the gift of self-government % Ire
land-the outward and viz ,.c a.gn to
all the world of the com ~ -.less of
the unity and harmony Of - British
Empire and OF the unre.erved sup
port in the hour of her supreme trial
of Irishmen in Ireland, in the colo
MES, and in the United States. Events
so dramatic could not but produce
scenes of enthusiasm, and the forms
they took were marvellous and
unique. Cheers were to be expected.
Sometimes parties in the House of
Commons are exuberant, at other
times they are downcast, but today
some good fairy ordained otherwise,
and succeeded in inspiring in every
one present desire to participate to
the full in the wonderful scene. Men,
bers in all parts of the House sprang
to their feet and. joined in singing
God Save the King" Then it was
that Mr.. John Redmond's answer to
the cry of God save Ireland"
aroused the assembly to a pitch of
wild enthusiasm.
The Commons Assemblies.
The House of Commons assembled
shortly after IL o'clock. Mr.. Whit
ley. deputy SPEAKER. in the chair.
There was large attendance Of min
isterialists, and the treasury bench
was well filled, the ministers present
including Mr.. M'Kenna, Mr.. Hob
house, the attorney general. the chief
whip (Mr. 1llingworth). Mr.. M'Kin-
non Wood, and DR.. MacNamara.
The Irish benches were crowded.
Mr.. John Redmond occupied his usu-
al seat on the corner of the top back
bench above the Gangway. Below
him sat Mr.. John Dillon. Mr.. Swift
MacNeill, and Mr.. T. P. O'Connor.
Amongst other familiar faces were
those of Mr.. VIM. Redmond. Mr.. John
O'Connor, Mr.. VIM. O'Malley. Mr.. w.
A. Redmond, and Mr.. Seaman.
There were fourteen questions on
the order paper. and the postmaster
general was replying to the third.
which was a question by Sir j. D.
Rees, when one of the House mes
sengers in stentorian tones an
nounced Black Rod.
The Parliament Act.
Shortly after the courtly figure of
Admiral Stephenson. the Gentleman
Usher, was seen walking up the
floor to summon His Majesty's Faith
full Commons to the House of Peers
to hear the royal assent given to the
various bills. One noted for the
first time that in the message sum-
moning the Commons to the other
House one heard the words, land
bills passed under the Parliament
Act" this, of course, being the first
time that the powers of that act for
passing bills over the head Of the
House of Lords were put into prac-
tice. Immediately the Commons filed
off to the bar of the House of Lords,
from which they watched the pro-
ceedings Of the Lords Commissioners.
The Lords Commissioners.
On bench in front OF the throne
sat the Lords Commissioners, five in
number, in their magnificent robes
and quaint three-cornered hats,
which they dotted each in turn as the
clerk read out their names. In the
center was the Lord Chancellor
(viscount Haldane). On his right
were the Marquis of Lincolnshire