The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1921. IRELAND AND HOME RULE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 2679, 15 January 1921, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 1921. IRELAND AND HOME RULE.

Tho situation in Ireland Jbsumes a new aspect now that another Home Rule Act—the Government of Ireland Act, to give it its proper title—lias been placed upon the Statute Rook, superseding once and for all tlie Act oi' 1914. The “Daily Chronicle” is icsponsible for tho statement that the political outlook in Ireland lias improved and that the Home Rule Act controls the situation. Certainly the. passing of the Home Rule Bill introduces a new and important factor into the situation, and much interest will attach to the process, already being put in train of bringing the measure into actual operation. It is not to be expected that this will prove an easy matter. There are some ominous difficulties in the way. So far as Ulster is concerned all should go smoothly. Ulster (is evidently quite prepared to stand hv the pledge given by Sir Edward Carson on her behalf in relation to the new Act. and reports indicate .that the nece.ssarv steps eonnected with. the establishment of the northern Parliament in Ireland are being carefully participated in by the political factions inter-

ested, and that the new Legislature should come into lx-ing in little more than three months. The Unionists not unnaturally expect to secure a majority at the elections but ft is

stated that Sir Edward Carson lias declined to accept office. The South of Ireland, the stronghold of Fein, presents, however, a different) position. Elections are being prepared for, it is mentioned in this par*t of the country but the measure of immediate success that may attend | the operation of the machinery for tho creation of flic Southern Parliament n-iniiN vt to be seen Much depends upon the powers of interference commanded by the Sinn Fcittcre. S-> inr they have shown no evidence whatever of any disposition towards compromise, any abatement of their demand for separation and an Irish Republic. Their activity in carrying on their adopted policy of endeavourfag to exert coercion bv violence is only limited apparently by thoir opportunities. Therefore Sinn Fein designs to render abortive the application of the Home Rule Act to ,tho South of Ireland wall have to be reckoned with. This can only mean the continuance to a definite issue of the trial of strength betw«>eii the Go- '■ vornnient and the forces of Irish to- ' volt. Sinn Fein has carried provoca- 1 t.ion to the uttermost limit. It has thrown down a challenge to constitutional authority, and, until it is j brought to reason by the only me- 1 thod that is likely to make any appeal to it, the prospects of peace for Ireland are not hopeful. Reviewing* the situation, the “Otago Daily Times' ’ remarks that it has been argtied that the Home Rule Act is mi- j acceptable to Ireland on the whole, apart from Sinn Fein. But contention as to the form which the niea- 1 sure ought to have taken, rather than that which it has taken, has been characterised by such diversity that it has certainly not been helpful 1 ami has done little more than to emphasise the if or eo of the Government’s , rejoinder that the critics of the Bill ‘ had nothing better, nothing even so promising, to propose. The very able defence of the Home Rule Bill offered xocentiv by Earl Our zoo in the House of Lords contained an interesting on- 1 deavour to foreca.st the conditions in j Ireland which the measure is likely to bring about. “Tt has boon said,” oh- ; served Lord Curzon, “that once you set lip two Parliaments in Ireland, or, supposing you failed to sot up a Parliament in the South, if oueo you sot up a. Parliament in the North, separation becomes permanent, and that you stereotype the particular kind of Legislature. That is not my reading of Irish liistory. That ia not

j my diagnosis of Irish character, and . that is not the object for which the Government introduced the Bill. It is one of my most profound conviction* that sooner or later-—it may perhaps, be later, in view of what is going on now—that nationalism which is deep-seated in the Irish bosom, that love of his country which every Irishman possesses, will bring the two parts together, and that through tho dark and. stormy avenue* which we are we shall arrive at the goai I believe to be the at the eijd of our endeavour*. I believe that when, the Bill is passed the Ulstermen will set up their Government at Belfast., and that, without provocation, vindictiveness or partiality they will show how Irishmen can govern themselves and other Irishmen who do not agree with them.” Earl Ourzon did not suggest that the Bill would bring about complete settlement of tho Irish question. He described it as only the Government's contribution to the solution. Ho added: “It takes us sormo distance: you may call it tlio halfway house, or quarter-way house, or what you like. It is not- tho intention to stop short. If your lordships accept this Bill the responsibility from this moment will pass to Ireland. Once, more the dpstiny of Ireland will be in the hands of Irishmen. I hope arid believe, in view of wliat they have accomplished in tlio past, tliafc Irishmen are still capable of saving their own country.” And at present Ireland has to he saved from the destructive influences of those whom. Archbishop Clune has designated “the cream of their race.”