The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-04
WHAT THE IRISH DID
By I. A. JACKSON (Londonl

GEORGE LANSBURY'S reminder Of the parallel
between the Irish national struggle and the
fight around the Trades Disputes Bill derives point
from scenes of parliamentary disorder" reminis-
cent of the days of Parnell
It is no longer possible for an opposition group
to delay proceedings quite to the same extent as
Parnell did; but it is still possible for a Paramen-
tary Party Of the right tone and temper to pursue
course which will as his did at concentrate
against them the hatred of their political foes and
unite in their support the enthusiasm of those
whose cause they champion.
The characteristic Irish method Of obstruction was
not merely to speak, and at great length in opposi-
ton to measures of coercion: it to oppose sys-
tematcaly all measures brought before the house,
and generally to create such state Of congestion
reduced parliamentary business to a farce, and
the government to a frenzy.
This was varied by the method of moving the
adjournment Of the debate upon measures declared
urgent" by the government-and prolonging the
debate upon the motion to inordinate lengths.
THAT Mr.. Gladstone"
When these methods provoked as they did, the
angry Intervention of the speaker, another and more
calling method employed.
It's first use was the occasion of the cancella-
ton of Michael Daytt's ticket from penal
seryitude as a Fenian).
John Dillon had sought to question the govern
ment, but had been interrupted by the speaker and
suspended for insisting upon putting point Of or
der which that worthy declined to hear
Mr.. Gladstone rose to move some resolutions on
procedure; but had hardly started speaking before
ParneI rose and moved: "That the right honorable
member be no longer heard"
Amid yells of Indignation at this blasphenv the
Speaker refused to accept the notion and threat
ened suspension if this conduct persisted in
Again Gladstone started to speak and again Par
nell rose, with the motion He was named"
and suspended-the Irish Party refusing to leave
their seats while the division was taken
Parnell being removed by the Sergeant-at-Arm
Gladstone rose againonly to be interrupted third
time by another Irish member with the same mo-
ton: THAT he be no longer heard"
After this the Speaker named" and the House
suspended the whole of the Irish Party present
Al later stages of the struggle the Irish Party
were not satisfied to leave the House under the
purely formal "compulsion" of the Sergeant-at-
Arms. Police were brought in to eject them.
There is ironical analogy, too between the
British Governments excuses for their attempt to
eoerce Ireland and those offered in defense Of the
Trades Disputes Bill.
II was claimed that the Coercion" Acts were
merely aimed at '1berating" the vast majority of
Irishmen from the tyranny of a dictatorial and
seditious committee (the Land League) 1t was
contended that but for this committee there would
be nothing to prevent the people from showing their
great and growing love for the landlords that there
fore, once the League suppressed peace and sat
isfaehon would spread unbroken through the land
Identical arguments used now of the Trades
Disputes Bill-with but the change of names