NOTES OF THE DAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1242, 26 September 1911, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY.

In a new book of Mr.. W. R. Lawson, Canada and the Empire, there is much that is interesting in view of the Canadian people's decision that the "Liberal" Government had outlived its usefulness. Dealing with the land policy of the Laurier Government, Mr. Lawson says that the trail of the grafter and the politician is over it all. Prior to the beginning in 1896 of the happily ended Liberal regime, the railway builders were the chief beneficiaries of Canadian land policy. When the Liberals came in in 1896 there was a change of policy. Their watchword was: "Not an acre more for tho railways—all for the settlers." But (Mr. Lawson write.*) settlers is an elastic term, especially when tho definition of it is left to a Minister with hosts of political friends and clients. It does not' necessarily exclude a good Liberal worker with electioneering gifts and n strong cLaim on his party; still less does it bar n. niembnr of Parliament with a good record for loyal voting and active electioneering , . Ucnco it' happened that while rjuartd' sections worn thrown open under severe restrictions to the poor homesteaders, large blocks fell into the hands nl' thn clever politicians without any restrictions at all. It was "oasy terms" all round for ihctii; pay their own price at their own convenience; generally they wore nnt called upon to pay until they had arranged a sale to. some British or American syndicate at 500 por cent profit' or morn. Now Zoalandoi's will recognise here still another point of likeness be-

twecn Canadian and New Zealand "Liberalism." The more the situation is studied, the more clear it bocomes that Canada has acted very wisely indeed in deciding to get rid of an Administration grown rotten with long continuance of power..

We were told last week that the IIiGHT Hon. Akduew 'Fisher, the Australian Prime Minister, had,announced that the Government would make "preference lo unionists" the guiding principle of all their actions, even to the appointment of temporary State employees. This did not fully convey the extent to which the Fisher Government has placed Australia-undcr the thumb of the unionists. It appears from the Australian newspapers to hand by last evening's mail that this statement of policy was supplied to the press after he had received a deputation from the executive of the Trades Hall. This deputation was received privately. It only required this fact to make clear the completeness of Mr. Fisher's bondage to the leaders of "organised labour." He created some interest and not a little amusement the other day by endeavouring to persuade the public that the Labour "caucus" sett-led only matters of "general policy," but Australia is realising that there is no detail of policy that the caucus is unable tp determine. It is not surprising that, as a Melbourne cable message announces to-day, a great demonstration is being organised against the Government's adoption of the principle of preference to unionists in all cases. The recent.referendum showed that the Government is no longer able to count upon a majority in the country, and his .progressive submission to the commands of a national minority will ensure Mr. Fisher's defeat when next he - submits himself to the test of the public opinion.

To-day's cable message about the anti-Home Rule demonstration .in Belfast may be taken as the real opening of the campaign against the true Asquith-Redjiond "deal." Sir Edward Carson, to whom the demonstrators confided tho conduct of their fight, said that the "first duty was to insure that under no circumstances could any Home Ilule Billbo made effective, to far as the Unionists of Ulster were concerned." Although it- may almost appear that this statement covers a threat of civil war in the event of Home Rule, it is pretty certain that Sir Edward Carson , was merely opening the movement towards a formal logical proof of the impropriety of forcing Home Rule upon the Ulster Unionists. The essence of the case for Home Rule is the desire of a minority to break away from tho majority: "Ireland wants Home Rule; and so she should have it." Ulster replies: 'On the same basis, we claim, as_ an Irish minority, the right to resist majority coercion." The Irish Unionists number onethird of the population, they possess most of the capital, and control all the industries, and their opposition to Home Rule amounts almost to a religion. The Northern. Whiij, which , is quite the best newspaper in Ireland, and one of the sob'erest of Irish newspapers, said recently that the Irish Unionists

have 'solemnly declared that they will neither obey tho decrees nor pay the taxes levied by an Irish Parliament. This is no empty threat, as Mr. Churchill may find to his cost. It will not be as easy for Ih'e Government to dragoon Irish Protestants as it is for tho Nationalists to dragoon the Government. Tho'ro can be no doubt at this moment what is the duty of Irish Unionists: they must perfect 'their arrangement's and strengthen their organisations, and if a Home Rule Bill is passed they will be in a position to set it at defiance. And the moderate Irish Times says: We say deliberately that if, having regard to what has happened this week, an attempt ismade.to pass Homo Rule under th« provisions of the Parliament Bill, an internal situation will bo produced graver than any that this generation or their fathers havo seen. Passed under such conditions, it will bring not' peaco but a sword. Its finance unconsidered, its details undisclosed, it will come into operation when those who should unite to work it are furiously hostile. The credit of the country, never very strong, will be further lowered by internal convulsions. And, above all, there will be the problem of Ulster—stern, dogged, and indomitable. That unbending opposition, that would wreck a conference and destroy a Constitution sooner than recede ono inch, must still be considered. Tho South may produce men with all the arts of government and all tbo softer virtues, but it? has yet to be shown whether it' can produce men with stronger wills. Mr. Asquith is flying in the face of Gladstone's leading maxim concerning Irish affairs—that no Liberal Government should propose a Home Rule measure unless independent of the Irish vote —and if he persists it. looks as though he will'reap the harvest that Gladstone hinted at.