Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-06-09
THE NEW IRISH PARLIAMENT.

For the first time within the memory OF living men
an Irish parliament Is actually in operation in ireland.
From the time of the passage of the Union act nearly
. century and a quarter ago, effort has been made al
most constantly to re-establish local parliamentary gov
srnment in Ireland. For many years this end was sought
largely by the Irish leaders, and was strongly and sue
cessfully opposed by British politicians. Opposition was
also encountered in the northern part of ireland itself.
particularly in the Protestant sections of the province Of
Ulster. In the early eighties of the last century, Clad
stones home rule act, which had the support of the Irish
majority, and which provided for the recreation Of the
Irish parliament was adopted by the British house of
commons; submitted to the house of lords. it was re-
jected' by that body. Gladstone brought about the dis
solution of parliament and appealed to tho country on
the direct issue of Irish home rule. He was defeated.
and the home rule bill was dead. Had it been adopted
at that time. more than a quarter of a century of aeita-
ton and generalization might have been prevented.
Home rule. however. continued to be a live issue.
Lloyd George. the present British premier, became com
mftted to it,, and another home rule bill was framed.
This time while the British public was favorable. OPP
position to the bill came from Ulster. and this opposition
was so strong and so violent that it became necessary
to discontinue the movement in that particular form.
The war interviewed and brought things in Ireland to a
standstil. More recently, a bill providing for a dual par
liamentary government in Ireland was passed by the
imperial house of commons. was assented to by the up
per house, and signed by the king. Ulster was willing
to. accept this compromise, but in the meantime the
Sim Feiners who dominated the south of Ireland. had
succeeded in creating such a condition that acceptance
of the plan in the south of Ireland was practically out
of the question. Nevertheless the government went
ahead. and plans have been perfected to put the act in
force. W
The law provides for two Irish pariaments, one for
the north and one for the south of Ireland, these bodies
to have general jurisdiction over almost all matters Of
local concern. Provision is made for the creation Of \
general Irish parliament through the cooperation of the
two local parliaments. 1t Is provided that when this 10
effected, the sphere, of home rule will be considerably
enlarged. 49, 49,
Elections were held over q month ago to name mem
bers Of the two Irish houses of parliament. In Ulster
there were some active contests. but the Unionists who
stood for local home rule within the empire were more
successful at the polls than either they or their opponents
had expected. They elected a large majority of the
members, and it is this parliament which has now con-
vened and organized. q. x
In the south of ireland the situation was dominat-
ed entirely by the Sim Fem element. Sim Fem candl-
dates were named for all parliamentary positions. and
no opposition came forward The Sim Fem candidates
were automatically elected therefore. by default. 1t is
the purpose OF this group to refrain from participating
in the proposed parliament. Elected to membership,
they have refused to qualify. They stand for complete
Irish national independence, nothing less. The new law
provides Tor this contingency. If within a certain spec
flied time the members elected to parliament fail to
qualify, the British government may then organize a
and it is this course which will be followed in the south
ern part of Ireland. Ulster will go ahead with its sep
arate parliament and the official governmental machinery
in the rest of Ireland will be represented by a royal COM
mission which will administer affairs as best it can in spite
.of Sim Fein opposition. What the outcome of this pc
}cuiar situation will be it is difficult to surmise. There
has been hope that opposition to the southern parla-
,rnent would be withdrawn and that it would begin to
function in some form, and that out of this would pres
emily come such an agreement between the two sections
of the country as would, result in the establishment OF
the proposed parliament. Thus far. the Sim Fem ee-
sment has given little indication Of its willingness to Co
operate in producing such a result.