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Show flow America Can Aid Ireland T. P. O'Connor, M. P., Says If, at the Psycological Moment, President Roosevelt Says the Word the Irish Question Will Be Accomplished. ( (T. P. O'Connor in Chicago Tribune.) 1 My becoming a member of parlia- J ment was practically a matter of j chance. One of my best friends had resigned the seat from Galway, and many of my friends asked me to take his place. I was well known in Galway, Gal-way, having spent my boyhood there, and had made a number of speeches I there in debates and things of that I sort. My "Life of Lord Beaconsfield" J had also contributed to a better knowledge knowl-edge of me in my native land. At the same time, I encountered a tremendous amount of opposition from the wealthy class, and my seat was not easily won. In the first place, the expenses of the election something like $1,000 fell heavily upon me. The sheriff's fees had to be paid, and I had no money. I managed to raise a small amount of money from my Beaconsfield book in the way. of an advance, ad-vance, and the seat was won through sheer force of speechmaking. In those days 1880 things were different from what they are now. A member of patiamen for Ireland today, if he has not the money for his election, is taken care of by the United Unit-ed Irish league, and his expenses are defrayed from the parliamentary funds of that body. An election costs about $1,000. ' On this topic I wish to say one thing and to emphasize it: A member of parliament from Ireland always loses money by his position, the returns being be-ing small compared to what a man relinquishes in the way of business and other sources of revenue. There are many grotesque lies circulated to the effect that Irish members are. in parliament par-liament for what they make out of it. This is far from being the case. - Speaking broadly on the'Irish ques-' tion, I will say this: The -condition of Ireland is today healthy. In the first .place, we have a united Ireland; and. secondly, a great movement is beginning in the United States. ,: If the whole Irish race stands together, to-gether, I think the questions which havei for centuries been disturbing Ireland Ire-land will soon be settled once and for all. The United Irish league is one of the most powerful organizations in existencefar ex-istencefar more powerful than the Land league. There is a concerted and determined action on the part of all who wish to see the Irish question settled, set-tled, and a land bill is already promised prom-ised for next session which will. I think, bring the lone standing land troubles to an end. The landlords are divided against tjiemselves, and the level headed men among them are already al-ready more than anxious to come to an understanding with their tenants. The settlement of the land question will remove the greatest obstable in the way of home rule for Ireland. There is one important facto'r which may play a part in the ultimate removal re-moval of all of Ireland's difficulties the influence of the president of the United States. , When a reform gets to a certain point it requires just a breath to bring clown the old tyranny, just as it requires but a breath a voice to bring down an a'alanche. If, at the psychological moment of the Irish question, some person like President Roosevelt says the word, the thing will be accomplished. Of course, I do ' not know who will be president of the United States when the Ii itdi qu tion reaches this cru ial point, but that does not affect my argument. American influence cn English opla- ion is powerful and is growing in j strength every year. A few years a I counsel froni America would" have been I scornfully rejected. To-lay tt is looked r for and acted upen, a tul the day In I coining when the voice of Amei fca will j be regarded as the most powerful of j wise counselors. It is this position of America in English thought today ! which will explain the anxiety of lush f members to receive some message of j sympathy from the president of tlv? I United States, even though that mes- J sage were expressed in more or le.9 forma! terms . J As to the attitude of King Edward. I I j know nothing of his personal views, but j I am told that the king is not unfavor- - able to Ireland. He is shrewd enough I to see the enormous importance of Ire- I land to his country and his dynasty, and there is no one more anxious than i he to accomplish the reconciliation of j that country. When he went to Ireland some years ago he received a hostile reception that brought home to him the realitv and L depth of Irish discontent. It shattered f the tissue of gossamer lies built ud by- tiie press of London to the effect hat f with the exception of the paid agita .ors f the Irish people were contented and I loyal. For these reasons I believe that- were the conditions favorable King j Edward would say to his ministers that jt the time had come for closing this con- j flict forever a conflict destructive to ? England as well as to Ireland. j -As to the present system of coercion t used by this government in Ireland, , f such as plank beds, bread and watr and hard labor for political prisoners, : it is a wanton misapplication of power S and a disgrace to this country. I think the conduct of both in the matter of co- ercion is disgraceful and unmanly; but, J , at the same time. I think both are v ready to deal with the Irish land ques- j tion in a large spirit. I think both of i them fully understand the question and ! that they will work together for its st- tlement at the next session. Looking at the government of this. ' i country as it stands today, in n:y f opinion it presents to all democrats the S alarming spectacle of the breaking I down of representative institutions. I f think the Irish question is largely re- sponsible for such a condition. The f Irish party in the house of commons. j is almost impotent for good; while, at the same time, they can work a tre- mendous amount of mischief. The gov- 5 ernment machine is a great,-huge, cum- j oersome piece of mechanism, and all an j Irish member has to do to bring it to a standstill is to put a little sand on j it now and then. The remedy consists .in adopting the j United States system a complete sepa- ration of local and national affairs. When that is accomplished, we can j hope for real government, that is truly, : representative. I think. -however, that there exists in this country already a j tendency towards decentralization. The J example and influence of the United ' . , States are. as I have said, closely j studied in this country; and here is, I j think, a leaning toward the adoption j of many American political institutions. f At present this country is in a con- . dition of administrative chaos. j |