"THE CONVENTION ARE MASTERS."

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 18, 20 July 1907, Page 13

"THE CONVENTION ARE MASTERS."

Continuing, Mr. Redmond said that, as a practical politician, he had consented that any instalment of Homerule should be calmly considered on its merits, but with regard to the present Bill the convention were masters. It was, however, his duty to give them advice. Mr. Redmond then declared that, in his opinion, the isill was unworkable ; that if it were passed its failuro 'would be attributed to the alleged incapacity of the Irish for selfgovernment, and the National Party would be demoralised, and perhaps destroyed. Criticising the measure in. 'detail, he laid stress on the extraordinary power assigned to the LordLieutenant and the danger that the council would constitute a sort of rival body to tho Irish National Party, and advised tho convention to reject it as incapable /of amendment. The Irish Party would go back to -Parliament and press the Government to fulfil their pledges as to tho reinforcement of evicted tenants, the introduction of Mr. Bryos's University Bill, and tho amendment of the Land Act. In conclusion, Mr. Redmond appealed to Ireland to recognise how much the blame for tho present situation was due to "our own apathy and our own dissensions.' 4 If Ireland were determined, she could compel an early settlement of the question ; but it was better to wait for another generation ruther than accept a moasuro which would end in disaster and disgrace. Tho resolution was carried unanimously after a discussion in which Father Humphreys, who declared that Catholics and Nationalists meant the same, was ruled out of order. We may say here that the decision of the Convention, while undoubtedly inflicting a serious blow on the Government, is still more damaging to the Irish Parliamentary Party and to Mr. Redmond. He cpoko not as a leader, but as an adroit tactician who was taking a sharp curve under fire.