New-York tribune., 1920-11-13
The New Home Rule n:ll

The New Home Rule n;ll
The new Home Rulc bill Ter lrc-
land, having passed the British
House Of Commons by al over
whelming majority, now goes to thc
upper house Of the British Pa1'ia-
ment. That it viii be approved
seems unquestioned. The Peers now
possess only d limited veto, and thc
bill is supported by Liberals and
Conservatives alike and in effect is
an offer backed by the whole peo-
pie of Great Bsitain-Englishmen,
Scotchmen and N'vlshmon.
In 1885 Gladstone espoused the
Home Rule principle and was igno-
miniously voted out Of Office. After
thirty-tive years the idea that
brought him into such disfavor has
completely won as concerns Grcat
Britain. The only opposition to it is
in Iroland-among the Sinn Fem H.
reconcilables, who in this matter
make common cause with their
ancient enemies, the irreconciiables
Of Ulster.
Ireland has suffered from four
main grieVancos-firstly, religious;
secondly, agrarian; thirdly, nnan-
cial, and, fourthly, political. OF
these all save the last have disap-
pearcd. There is religious freedom,
feW landlords are left. and with re-
spcct to taxation ireland is fuvorcl
above other parts Of the United
Kingdom. Even rs to the remaining
grievance. it is partly renewed By
the complete local government POW
enjoyed by Ireland, while Ireland as
whole can have Home Rule if Ire
Land viii accept it.
The Homo Rule act of 1919 went
to smash because an agreement could
not he reached as to what consti-
tuted Ulster. The three Irish lead
crs, Redmond, Dillon and Devia.
agreed THAI Ulster should not coma
at once under the act. They lid not
care 10 undertake the responsibility
of coorcing Ulster. 1t was to re-
main outside for q time in the belief
that it would ultimately come in vol
unfairly.
But what was Ulster? The dis
pute in the main was over the
counties Of Fermanagh and Tyrone.
as is brought out by p. Whitwell
Wilson, American correspondent Of
The London News and a pronounced
Home Ruler Both sides claimed
these counties. Redmond thought
that by Yielding as to four counties
hc had gone as far as he could in
concession and the separation plan,
while Carson and the leaders Of in
dubitahle Ulster were willing to have
4 wrccking Of The Home Rule scheme.
But the narrow issue of where Fer
managh and Tyrone belonged broke
Up the final conference, and the
great chance was ,lost.
The new bill seeks to provide in
fact for listers liberty while in
form recognizing Ircland's unity.
There arc to be two linked parlia-
mcnts-one for the six counties cf
The north, including FcrmaNaeh and
Tyrone, and the other for the re-
Nainder of Ireland. The two par
Aaments. if so disposed, are author
zea to merge themselves into one
with full powers. In otho words
when the two parts of ireland come
together there is to be one supreme
governing body. In the mean time
the two parties are to function sep
arately, with a council, consisting Of
twenty members from each, to bring
about harmonious action. In the
bill are the usual reservations re-
tanning to W estminster control over
Imperial affairs.
By strange reversal TIE opposi-
tion to Home Rule is now only in
Ireland. The bill is one that Par
nell and the long line of Irish lead
crs would have been delighted to ac-
cept. But the Sim Fem seeks COM
rlete political independence. Will if
De able to induce southern Ireland to
'eicct Home Rule A present t
seems to have sufficient influence to
do this. But, now that it faces a
concrete proposal, viii 1t retain its
strength? 1t is doubtful Il il caa.
ITS resort to terrorism indicates thae
it fears the result of a fair and open
plebi lite. 1t is not impossible that