The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-23

thirty years ago. When doors were
opened for prayers there was the un-
wonted sight of a throng hustling;
Nj P.s pressing through the swing
doors to secure their seats. 1 need
hardly say that this was not 2 symp-
tom or outcome OF any religious re
vival amongst our legislators. 1t was
entirely due to the ancient custom
that conferred upon a member occu-
pying a seat at prayers the unchal-
lengeable right to that seat for the
rest Of the sitting.
GIadstOne's Appearance
Rows Of chairs We're arrayed on the
floor of the House. That was an in
novation never since followed What
was it all about? There sat in the
middle of the treasury bench, huddled
up and almost hidden by more stall
wart and upright figures, an old man
Of S3 years, to all appearances in the
last stage of physical decrepitude and
mental lassitude.
His name was William Ewart
Gladstone, the greatest parHamen-
tary gladiator of all time. The life
long champion of oppressed ma
tionalities was today to inaugurate
his final effort to give freedom to
the Irish race. trodden for centuries
by ruthless force. The last remnant
of his strength was 10 be consecrated
to the achievement of Irish liberty.
I had a seat just opposite the great
80 - l.. 8 -. i
who on that occasion listened with
marvel to that feat Of Intellectual
command aud physical endurance.
Great Britain's Voice
Mr.. Gladstone had Just emerged ont
of a general election where in spite
OF sixty years Of his eloquent ad-
vocacy. the voice Of Great Britain had
declared emphatically against his
Irish policy. and the poor parliamen-
tary majority at his back was made up
out OF the preponderating Irish vote.
He was confronted with the most
formidable parliamentary opposition
ever ranged against n minister, re-
doUbtable in debating quality. still
more redoubtable in its hold on Brit
ish pride.
Through the sultry summer months
OF 1898 he fought night by night the
battle of Irish emancipation. He did
not live to carry the cause through to
victory, but he planted the banner so
firmly i'm the soil that no assault
could succeed in tearing it down. And
this day when I stood with Mr.. Bonar
Law at the bar OF the House OF
Lords, I saw this banner fiourished
in triumph from the steps Of the
throne by a Unionist Lord Chancellor.
My next thought was of dreaTy
December night just one year ago.
when on one side of the cabinet table
in 10 Downing St. sat four represent
atives Of Great Britain, and on the
other five Irish leaders. 1t was the
famous room wherein British cabinets
have for generations forged their Irish
policies. Coercion and concession alike
issued from that chamber.
The bill which made every Irish
tenant the lord and master of his
home issued forth from this simple
and unadorned council chamber
Final Treaty of Peace
And now came the final treaty Of
peace. Would it be signed? 1t was
an anxious moment charged with des-
tiny for the two great races which
confronted each other at that green
table.
The British representative who
were associated with me on that oc-
casion were Mr.. Austin Chamberlain
I recall now how he sat by the side
of his doughty father, Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain. in 1898 during the ia.
mouse nightly duel between him and
Mr.. Gladstone. How strangely little
thirty arduous years have changed
his personal appearance.
After weeks of close investigation
the climax of the decision had been
reached.
Britain had gone to the limit of
concession.
No British statesman could have
faced any assembly of his country
men had he appended his signature to
a convention that placed Ireland out
side that fraternity of free nations
known as the British Empire, to free
her from that bond of union which is
represented by common feaity TO
the sovereign.
1t is not easy to interpret the po-
tency of this invisible bond to those
who are brought up to venerate other
systems. 1t is nevertheless invincible.
Would the Irish leaders have the
courage to make peace on the only
conditions under which peace was
obtainable-liberty within the EN-
pire?
Griffith "Un-IIiSh Leader
Opposite me sat a dark, short, but
sturdy figure with the face Of a
thinker. That was Mr.. Arthur Grif-
filth, the most un-Irish leader that
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