HOME RULE, in general the control of its own affairs by a separate political State; in British politics, a measure which has been more especially advo cated in regard to Ireland. The move ment originated in the formation of the Home Government Association at Dub lin, in 1870, under the presidency of Mr. Isaac Butt. At the general election of 1874 the party succeeded in sending 60 Home Rule members to Parliament for Irish constituencies. The elections of 1885 and 1886 still further strengthened the party, 86 members following the lead of MR. PARNELL (q. v.).
The original scheme has been mate rially modified since Butt's time and some Irishmen have declared openly for absolute independence, which many be lieve to be the ultimate aim of the whole party. The conversion of Mr. Glad stone and many members of the Liberal party to Home Rule principles added immense strength to the movement. In 1893 a Home Rule bill was passed by the Commons, but defeated by the Lords. In 1898, however, an act passed both houses of Parliament, providing for a system of free local self-government in Ireland. The act follows the main lines of the legislation adopted for England and Scotland, accompanied only by such variations as are necessary owing to the special circumstances of Ireland.
In April, 1912, Premier Asquith intro duced a bill providing for a bicameral Parliament, i. e., a Senate of 40 nom inated by the British Parliament and a House of Commons of 164 responsible to the Irish Executive, Ireland to have 42 representatives in the British House of Commons. An amendment provided
for elections to the Irish House of Com mons on the basis of electoral representa tion, the Senate, after an interval of five years, to be so elected. This bill, passed January, 1913, was rejected by the Lords. It was passed a third time May, 1914. The Premier introduced an amendment, providing that the Ulster counties be excluded for six years, when a referendum should decide the question of their joining the Irish Union. This was a concession to the Carsonites, who threatened armed resistance against allegiance to a Dublin parliament. The Secretary for War Seely told certain British officers that they would not be called on to take arms against Ulster's resistance to Home Rule, and this pledge the British Government repudiated. Colonel Seely, therefore resigned and Asquith took the War portfolio. The Home Rule Act was suspended by the Premier until 12 months after the war. The Irish revolt in 1916 led to an at tempt by various factions to bring in Home Rule. Lloyd George conducted the negotiations, but failed because the Unionists would not agree that the Irish members should be maintained in un diminished numbers after Home Rule was set up in Dublin. The Irish Con vention of 1919, in which all Irish fac tions but the Sinn Fein participated, failed to reach a complete agreement.