On Thursday Mr. John Redmond moved an amendment to the
Address declaring the creation of an independent Irish Parliament to be " the most urgent of all questions of domestic policy." Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman met these tactics in an open and manly way,—the only safe course. He boldly stated that though the Liberal party remained the only party attached to the principle of Irish self-government, they claimed the right to say when, and how, they would apply that principle. That is, he definitely refused to give any pledge as to priority. He also stated that any Irish Parliament established must be subor- dinate, and not "what is popularly known as an independent Parliament." There was no formal alliance with the Irish party, but " alliance in the sense of sympathy and the desire to co-operate was as strong as ever it was." On the division forty-three Members voted with Mr. Redmond, and three hundred against him,—a majority of two hundred and fifty. seven. Thus only forty-three persons could be found willing to say that Home-rule ought to have priority, and the Irish Parliament to be independent. This is a moat significant fact. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was placed in a very difficult position, but he acted with good sense and sincerity. We would say more but that we do not wish to embarrass him by Unionist praise.
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