University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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THE REDWOOD. terially decreasing. Mr. Churchill claims that the people of Ireland are paying taxes for the maintenance of a navy to protect her commerce, which, since Ireland has practically no commerce to protect, is to force them into paying unjust taxes. All the world is eagerly watching the outcome of the present demand for the repeal of the Act of Union of 1800. If the bill passes, and all indi- cations point to this favorable conclu- sion, England ' s act will be recognized and applauded by all just men anl all political leaders the world over. If she rejects the measure another era of political unrest will ensue in Ireland, to terminate either in a revolution or a conciliatory measure similar to the one we now have. As for the Irish, with the better- ment of their condition in view, they cherish the hope of Home Rule as a parent cherishes the successful career of a son, and in the same measure that one would desire to see a father ' s hope realized, let us hope for the happy issue of the Irish Home Rule Movement.

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THE REDWOOD. ing forty members, nominated by the Irish Executive, (2) a House com- posed of one hundred and sixty-four elected representatives. The Lord Lieutenant w ill preside over the execu- tive body. Pending the time when the present Irish deficit, estimated by Mr. Asquith at $7,500,000 annually, can be converted into a surplus, the taxes will be imposed and collected by England, and the British Ex- chequer will transfer to Ireland the amount necessary for present expen- diture. The Irish government will have complete control of the postal revenue and of the constabulary. A notable distinction between this bill and the one proposed by Gladstone is that Asquith ' s measure calls for an Irish representation at Westminster of forty-two members. This resume includes practically all of the import- ant clauses of the present bill. The principal advocates of The Government of Ireland Bill, are Mr. Churchill and the Prime Minister, and if the bill carries it will be largely due to their efforts. The Premier has thrown himself into the work untir- ingly, but, I may add, not unselfishly, for he realizes that if he is successful in putting this measure through it will, even as it aided in immortalizing Gladst( ne, be the means of handing his name down to posterity as a bril- liant statesman. But it will necessi- tate his making enemies, just as Glad- stone had to make them when he proposed his first bill for Irish Auton- omy twenty-six years ago. Though the Conservative party in England is against it on principle, this obstacle, the Irish statesmen feel, they will have no difficulty in overcoming. The real opposition to the measure comes from Ulster. This province is, prac- tically speaking, the only stumbling block to the advancement of the bill, and with them are the Orangemen, headed by Lord Londonderry. Carson and Craig are fighting heart and soul against what they consider an outrage. They are decidedly anti-Catholic, and their slogan is Home Rule means Rome Rule, intimating that Irish Autonomy would be the same as plac- ing the government of Ireland in the hands of the papal authorities. For any fair minded person this statement needs no refutation. Mr. Churchill virtually braved the lion in his den, when he spoke for Home Rule a short time ago in the cities of its foes. A riot was predicted and troops accord- ingly summoned, but fortunately no disturbance occurred. Mr. Churchill ' s most salient argu- ment for Irish Autonomy is his dec- laration of the deplorable condition existing there today, and which has existed since the Act of Union went into effect. No fewer than eighty- seven coercion bills in about as many years have been presented to Par- liament for the betterment and ad- vancement of the Emerald Isle. But in spite of England ' s heroic efforts to improve Ireland (sarcastically re- marks Churchill) her population, in- stead of increasing is steadily and ma-

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THE REDWOOD. NOCTURNE walked beneath the olives when the sun Hung low in a reddening u-est. And every leaf was trembling, till the ivirid Called, and they answered with cries and clapping of hands. And beckoning they bade that I look. Ihere! There! What wast they saw, what saw? I looked again. The sinking sun had bathed them all in blood. Blood ' neath the olives ! I knew when I gazed I blushed as I looked to be man amongst men, Blushed with the leaves. And when the branches tvere bent Like One praying, His face to the earth, His lips in the dust, Prayed and shuddered and wept, Prayed and was dumb, Prayed, and the rivers of life Left their red courses and strayed, L bent down my face in the red dust and wept. And the crickets far off cried. Peace, Peace and Good Will. And the olive-branches cried. Peace, Peace. I walked beneath the olives rvhen the sun Hung low in a reddening ivest. Thomas E. Percy-