Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,700 Copies Daily TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1911. HOME RULE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9509, 9 May 1911, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,700 Copies Daily TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1911. HOME RULE.

The Irish envoys arrived in Palmers- • ton to-day in pursuance of their campaign for raising funds for what appears to be the last stage of one of the greatest and most romantic constitutional struggles in Britain's varied history. It is too late now to enter into'the merits or demerits of tlip case for Home Rule. The battle has been fought and won, and the forcing of the Parliament Bill through the House of Lords during the weeks succeeding the Coronation will seo the last obstacle removed from the pathway of the band of men who have maintained a' long and' at times seemingly hopeless fight against tremendous odds. It is not our province to express an opinion on one of the most contentious questions, ever decided by any Parliament. But there are some remarkable features of the struggle which compel attention. ,Of these the most : notable,is 'the gradual change of pub.-:' lie; opinion in the Old. Land as evi/deneetl / in recent elections. Home ;Rife; was inextricably entangled in the great constitutional issue of the ieforiiiof the House of Lords at the December election... when'the Liberals returned to power with an undiminished majority. When it is remembered that a score of years ago Gladstone; met his Waterloo on a similar issue it can easily be understood how the. spirit of suspicion, so long the chief obstacle in the path of Home Rule, has diminished. The change of attitude of the people of England on 'this question is nowhere more noticeable'than in the general support it has received from the great Nonconformist bodies, , Nonconformists form the largest section of the Liberal

party -and tlie Liberal/^arty.ia ; falling; Home Hule possible;;' Scotland and Wales, the'.: strongholds : . of Nopcon- "., formity, are overwhelmingly in favour; of Homo Rule, friends, and locs alike cannot help but admire the .fight maintained bytlie band of. Nationalists. A ;;small minority, by its'steady adhesion 'lo a single : :objective,, lias won a! re-. .inarkable victory. The envoys visiting lis at present are men of high standing in the political world at HomOj and whether wp agree or disagree with their mission we expect to ■ see the case for Home Rule ably stated by thorn and in a manner which its most iincomprbmisiug opponents will probably find fair and tolerant.