The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-08-18
WILL REDM0 ND
Retire?

As Well As In Political Prestige.
His Sceptre will Probably Pass to
Joseph Devlin. Acquiescence In
Plan Of Partition In 1914 May De-
stroy the Nationalist Party.
Many circumstances tend to fore
shadow the retirement of John E. Red
mond as leader of the Nationalist or
Parliamentary Irish party. His health
is said to be in failing condition, and
may necessitate his abandonment of
his Parliamentary seat as we'll the
leadership of the party which he has
led since the death of ParneN. Many
observers predict the disappearance
of this party after the next general
election, and it's replacement by a
coalition or compromise party, of
which the Sim Fein would be the
predominating element. Should the
Nationalist survive Mr.. Redmond's
toga would probably fall upon the
shoulders of the vigorous and active
Joseph Devlin, who represents an
Ulster constituency. 1t is we'll known
that Mr.. Redmond is willing to efface
himself from the political map if the
welfare of the people of Ireland will
be promoted thereby.
Acquiescence in even tentative or
temporary plan of partition which was
written into the Home Rule measure
now on the statute books and the fear
of the temperance and readoption
of the scheme in the present conven-
ton are the causes that have seriously
undermined the Redmond following.
Discussing these developments
writer in the Sunday Herald proceeds:
ut is not generally known that
after the Longford election Mr.. Devlin
proposed that all the members of the
Irish Party should resign their seats
so as to test the strength of the Sim
Fein movement
ut is by no means impossible" he
adds, that this proposal might be re-
vived but nothing is likely to happen
until after the Kilkenny election. 1t
is now too much to hope that the con-
vention can give any decided result"
"Mr. Redmond remains in poor
health, and may perhaps be compelled
to give up the leadership. In that
case his mantle would probably fall
on Mr.. Devlin, for MIR. Dillon arouses
too many antipathies to make a sue
cessful leader"
"There is, learn" says writer in
the Daily Mirror" "a persistent ru-
NOR in Duh1in thot Mr. Redmond NOV
resign, not only his position as chair
man of the Irish Nationalist Party, but
his seat in Parliament. If he does
resign, Mr.. Devlin probably would be
his successor as chairman"
even after the rebellion the Nation
alist Party continued to ignore the
country's demand for Independent
thought and action" says long arti-
Gle in the London observer" Last
year it consented to the partition of
1reland-a policy that all Irishmen
loathe This year it refused to sum-
mon the convention of the people,
with the result that the delegates are
going into the National Convention
under the strong suspicion of being
still pledged to the partition policy.
"The Nationalist Party is the Tsar
of the Irish revolution. If no new ele-
ments are brought into the situation,
the party will disappear at the next
general election.
Mr.. Devlin, though he might succeed
to Mr.. Redmond's mantle would hardly
succeed to his constituency"
"Opinions vary as to the best thing
to be done.
'That opportunity passed, and will
not recur. The Sim Feiners since
the prisoners were released, have can
didates in plenty. East Glare shows
how their organization has improved,
and Sim Fein clubs are now being
formed in every constituency in Ire
land, charged among other things with
the raising of local funds for local
elections.
Another suggestion is that the
Party should dissolve, and that the
old organization and machinery should
be 'scrapped' and new program put
forward of full Colonial Home Rule.
con such a program it is thought
some of the more valuable and able
members Of the Party might come
back after an appeal to their consti-
tuents. But the formulation of new
policy under fire, as it were, is not
an easy matter, and the Party has
become more timid as it feels that
the ground is slipping from under it's
feet.
"a very experienced Nationalist
told me that what he expects to hap.
pen is that Mr.. Redmond will wait
till the convention concludes it's la
bors. If it comes to no definite con-
clusion, and evolves no substantial
agreement, he will retire and leave the
field open to the Sim Fein Party to
do what they can-leave the issue, in
short, to be fought out between the
Government and the Irish Republi.
cans.