The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-08-07
"TAY" "PAY" o'coNNoR ON HOME
RULE.

RULE.
The usual brand is upon the articles
furnished by T. P. O'Connor anent
Great Britain. Ireland and Home Rule.
1t has been some time since O'Connor
stood for anything in this country
except writer who presented half
truths with the wrong complexion; but
he has outdone himself In his recent
effort to present views on the Home
Rule question. Some justification
might be found for O'Connor in the
atmosphere in which he lives. His
letters to the press last Sunday were
marvellous specimens of an effort to
draw conclusions from false premises.
His conclusions rest upon a basis de-
rogatory to the Irish mind and. an Of
tense against common sense that is
objectionable.
Home Rule Is coming to be looked
upon in England as a more or less of
a practical idea in British politics, says
this. There is some feeling in England
that Ireland might be able to govern
herself, because forsooth the Beers
in South Africa have shown some ca
pacity for self government. Without
warning T. P. announces that South AZ
RIGA is looked upon as sort of polit-
ical guinea pig upon which all English
political nostrums are tried, and the
results noted. The Minneapolis Jour-
nal gave space to the information
which T. P. O'Connor protects by copy
right The Tribune commented edi-
torially upon the problem of
Home Rule. stating in effect that
the Beers in South Africa had at
tanned some success and Ireland might
take courage. Was it expected that
the Beers should fail, or was it ex-
pected in the natural order of things
that Ireland should have entertained
no ambition for Home Rule until after
the long lapse Of centuries the Beers
would advise the British Government
that Home Rule in South Africa might
be treated in a practical way, and peo-
pie outside of London would believe
that they had some capacity for poll
tics and social organizations.
That the British press might use
this as an argument one might surely
expect; but for metropolitan dailies
published in the free atmosphere Of
America, and rejecting the genius of
American institutions to tell their
Irish readers that because the Beers
have attained some success in social
and political organization, England
might consent to entertain some
thought that after all Irish men and
women would exercise sufficient polit-
ical and social restraint to carry on
government of their own, is not
only offensive but ridiculous. The
Beers of South Africa revolted against
British rule, and because of their dis.
lance from the seat of strength of the
English army and navy it is con-
sidered dangerous to do otherwise than
to grant them larger measure of
freedom. England remembered her
experience with the American colon.
les. But the important fact-thou.
sands and thousands of dollars, moral
support and material assistance in
every way was given by the Irish in
America to encourage the Beers in
their fight for freedom, and when Eng
land realized that this colony might
yet grow strong enough to govern her.
self, she thought it best for her own
sake to extend their political privil-
eyes after prosecuting the country
with the unrelenting vigor of the Brit
ish army. The success of the Trans.
vaal rebellion is due In no small ex-
tent to the assistance given by the
Irish men and women, especially here
In America, and 1t i'll becomes publ.
cations in this country to assert at
this late date that there is some hope
of entertaining the thought of Home
Rule for Ireland, because the Beers