The Irish standard., 1919-03-29
ENGLAND's HOME TRIPLE AL11ANcE'

Lloyd Georges Coalition Government in England,
though swept into Office by overwhelming ma
jorty, is nevertheless beset with domestic cond-
tons that strongly indicate its instability. The
reputation of his quondam Liberal policies by the
premier bitter pill for his former supporters
to swallow, and it required the thick sugar coating
supplied by the record to render it at all pala-
table. The necessity of having him represent Brit
ain at the Peace Conference covered multitude OF
the agile premier's political sins, and incidently
brought victory to the heterogeneous CoaltionistS
with whom he surrounded himself
But the Government has another triple
Alliance" to ght-a domestic one, consisting of the
three biggest labor unions of the country-the
miners. the railroad workers, and the transport
workers. These have pooled issues in a struggle for
better wages and industrial conditions, and threaten
to paralyze the commerce and trade of the entire
country unless their demands are met. To this
formidable array of labor power must be added the
discomfort prevailing among wage workers in many
parts of reland and Scotland that the future of
the Coaltlonlst organization is anything but re-
assuring in respect to its capacity to hold the con-
tdence of the British electorate.
a few by-eections have served to show strong
reaction against the dominant Toryism and a
healthy revival of the old Liberal sentiment These
would to indicate that the party at present in
power has but short lease of political CONTROL and
may be ousted at the first crisis that shall call for
general election
The Irish question, of course, looms large as a
factor in the situation Those empty Parliamentary
seats of the Sim Fen members are perhaps getting
upon the nerves of even phlegmatic John Bull. It
affords daily striking object lesson on the failure
of British administration in Ireland, that like Ban
quos ghost will not down. 1t is silent but cogent
refutation of the national boast of it's democracy
and its success in dealing with alien peoples. 1t
constitutes argument that is hard to answer and
is we'll calculated to provoke reflection and con-
sideration 1t is indicative of evaporation and des-
peration the part of the men who were elected
to fill these empty seats, but who realize the utility
and uselessness of doing so
It is limited that the British Premier in one of
those theatrical plays of his may decide to lay the
whole Irish question before the Peace Conference
for settlement. This may be the outcome if he is
convinced of the impending defeat of the Coalition
outfit and not because of any genuine desire to see
justice done to the people of Ireland. 1t would be
a political coup rather than move based upon the
professed idealism of the British statesmen of which
much heard during the war. But whatever
might be the melting such stroke of policy
would be welcomed by the whole civilized world.
1t would the last obstacle in the way of the
wholehearted and full participation of America in
working out for the benefit of all mankind the prin-
ciples of justice and democracy which were laid
down. by President Wilson before and after our
entry into the world war. Unless and until that
obstacle is removed the full fruitage of the victory
cannot be garnered.