Why did the Liberal Government take up the cause of Home Rule in the years 1911-1912?
One of the reasons was because Home Rule had been a traditional nineteenth century Liberal policy since Gladstone had tried to introduce Home Rule in 1886 and 1893 unsuccessfully. Liberal policy in 1900 was to maintain the union of Britain and Ireland through diversity, peaceful devolution of a degree of power to satisfy Nationalist demands was proposed. For many Liberals Home Rule was ultimately seen as right and necessary.
The Irish Nationalist party led by John Redmond played an influential role in trying to get the Liberals to introduce Home Rule. The Liberals favoured the Nationalists argument that the Irish Nationalist party clearly represented the views of the majority of the Irish people, the Liberals were encouraged that Redmond was willing to settle for Home Rule. They also admired the way he had worked within constitutional boundaries, as there had been a decrease in violence and that Home Rule was now considered to be a more practical proposition. Another argument that helped the Irish Nationalists persuade the Liberals to give them Home Rule was that British rule over Ireland had been disastrous. John Redmond stated that British rule had been a “history of famine, of misery, of insurrection, of depopulation”. Asquith was also concerned that if he delayed Home Rule it might push the Irish towards more extreme demands and methods.
