THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1901.

New Zealand Herald, 12 March 1901, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1901.

The prompt and effective steps taken by the British House of Commons to protect itself against the scandalous methods by which" the Irish Nationalist Party childishly imagined it could embarrass legitimate business will have the hearty approval of every : man who realises the inestimable value of constitutional government. -When we look back across the century which has elapsed and consider the freedom enjoyed and the progress achieved under the British system, it must be evident that any violent attack upon the character and dignity of any representative legislative body is a most foolish blow at the public well-being. And if tins be so concerning any one of the score of free Parliaments which has grown up in the shelter of the Empire, how mucin more is it true when the attack is made in the . great source aud model of our serried colonial legislatures— the historic House of Commons 1 That the inviolability of Westminster, how recognised and revered by our monarchs, should be made mock of by irresponsible demagogues seeking to invoke the expiring discontent of their hasty and passionate , countrymen is a thing not to be tolerated. Regardless of nationality, every man who is intelligent enough to know by what sacrifices our present constitutional freeclpm has been won, and sane enough to appreciate how bitterly we should all-feel its loss, must sympathise keenly with the House of Commons and condemn utterly this unprovoked and desperate attempt to bring it into disrepute. Fortunately for constitutional liberty the world over, the British Government has been equal to the occasion, and has had the expressed or tacit support of every constitutional party. The Radicals have been scandalised by the outrageous conduct of their erstwhile allies, whose mad effort 'to make Parliament disreputable has recoiled upon themselves. Continental chambers may feel themselves compelled by pressure of political exigencies to endure every indignity which lawless factions may heap upon them, but our British Common's is not yet effete and powerless. Henceforward— by an overwhelming vote decided—any member whose conduct is such as to involve forcible removal will be suspended for the remainder of the session. Thus moderately but forcefully is the deliberate attempt to turn Parliament into a bear-garden met and crushed. We are inclined to think that the misguided Nationalists have now a different opinion of the wisdom of their policy than they had a week ago. The victory in this first "amazing skirmish between the Imperial Parliament and the Nationalists unquestionably lies with the combined parties who uphold law and order. But we may expect further developments. There can be little doubt that a concerted effort „ is- being made to regalvanise the corpse of Parnellism before it ceases to be anything but a memory. For a considerable time negotiations have been reported in progress between the inimical factions which were the great agitator's .legacy to his party. For several months past a partial reconciliation has existed, and the Nationalist camp has been in a state of extreme unrest, betokening preparations for a great campaign. The reason for the reconciliation and the activity are not far to seek. While the Nationalist politicians have been bickering and squabbling, Ireland has been gradually pacifying. Gradually awakening to the fact that the disorganised party was doing nothing for them, the Irish people have dimly begun to grasp the fact that the Imperial Go- ! vernment has been doing a very great deal. Discontent there still is, most assuredly, but the bitterness of discontent has been weakening as the more industrious and energetic began to take advantage of the generous legislation of the past generation. While incessantly declaiming in public against the unspeakable tyranny of England and the wickedness of the rival faction, the shrewder Irish politicians have repeatedly warned each other that unless they stopped quarrelling the Irish question would die of sheer inanity. Convinced at last of the seriousness of the situation, for to a demagogue what could be more serious than to see his occupation endangered, the Nationalists have made superficial peace among themselves and are endeavouring to again force the Irish question into prominence. The pretentiousness of the bait they dangle before the eyes of the Irish peasantry and the riot they arrange for the floor of the House indicates most emphatically how little cause an Irish Nationalist party, as such, has for its existence.

It is openly asserted that the purpose of recent Nationalist actions is to excite American and colonial financial sympathy, and thus to strengthen a "no-rent" campaign which would compel the British Government to a display of force. This display of force is relied upon to estrange and infuriate the now increasingly tolerant Irish feeling. It is hoped that disorder and anarchy may thus be aroused in Ireland and a step be won towards the political independence which is really the motive of Nationalism. It is needless to remark that in this attempt to defy the law in Ireland the Nationalists will fail as completely as they have already failed in defying orderly customs at Westminster.. We are inclined to think, from the results of the last Presidential election, that our American kinsfolk are getting weary of the Anglophobia which posseses a section of their foreign element. As for the colonies, many lessons have been learned by them since the death of Mr. Parnell. The Nationalist members seem to have learned nothing. .They

speak' of our South African "contingents as men picked up at street corners, and insist that in some unexplained manner the gubernatorial influence is throttling colonial public opinion and making a general pro-Boerism appear to be loyalty. This is an instance iof their singular ignorance of the Imperial spirit which pervades the Imperial world. If Ireland : suffered from peculiar injustices it would be another matter. But when she has absolutely no peculiar injustices, but stands* as fairly in the United Kingdom as does Scotland or England;: when she would enter heartily into copartnership and co-operation with the sister-kingdoms :in all peaceful and constitutional progress were it not for a mischievous and misguided agitation; this groundless Separatist movement will find no countenance or support among any who love the Empire, however much it may find among those who hate us. :