CORRESPONDENCE.

Colonist, Volume XXV, Issue 2925, 5 August 1881, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE IRISH LAND LEAGUE. To the Editor of the Colonist. '. Sib, —The action of certain members of the House of Representatives and others in holding a meeting at Wellington for the purpose of expressing sympathy with the Irish Dand League cannot be too deeply censured and regretted by the large majority of New Zealand colonists. Men of liberal tendencies may, as indeed all should; feel anxious to redress wrong?, but, when they so far forget their duties to the land which gives tbem sustenance, as, to drag in questions which do not actually toiioh the. people of (his Colony in such a manner as may lead to serious con:eeqiiehbcs"elsewhere, they .cannot be looked upon as patriots. Whether the English Government i 3 acting wisely or not in enforcing the Cojrcioi Apt is not a question to be taken up by New Zealand politicians of the stump orator genus. , It. cannot be denied that de3pprafe cases require stroDg measures, and in endeavoring to put down the assassination movement in Ireland the British Government ia entitled, "to the support of all whose souls are not so dead as to forget the land from which they sprang. The Act in question was passed by the Representatives of the Nation, and this puerile expression from certain discontented and.disappointed individuals of the "Sir Oracle" breed in no way impugns the wisdom of the : English Parliament. 0/ course it is possible that the prime movers of tho meeting in question had a deep laid scheme on hand, &nd, if so, the desire of all hon.'et men will be that it may,"gang a gley;"' It is not without the bounds of possibility that Sir George Grey in the share he took in the matler—one of a despicable nature for an assumed leader of "Her Majesty's Opposition in New Z aland"—was actuated by, tbe old grudge he is known to .bear against the Home Government, and that he found a number of willing coadjutors in the persons of members of the House who saw a possibility of gaining popularity amongst.a certaiu section of the community and the / certainty of gaining a few votes at the pending election, but " it is a consummation devoutly to be wished " that if such is their object they may be punished as tbey deserve. There is little doubt that the resolution passed at this wretched meeting will be cabled home, for otherwise the mischief would not be comTplete, and its effect upon an excited populace, with the addition, perhaps, of a little of "the brogue from some of Mr Parnell's followers, cannot possibly be foreseen. At a time when an encouraging word to people in a state of lawlessness might drive them beyond all bounds, it is within the limits of possibility that these resolutions, made to appear as coming from the people of New Zealand, may lead to murder, and then in what position, it may be asked, will these advocates of sedition be placed? Unquestionably in a moral'sense they will be guilty. Outside tbis serious aspect of the case there is this to be said : that the members of the House who took part in this meeting were sent to Wellington by their constituents, and at the expense of the colony, to work for the common good of those who: sent them, and how bave tbey done 'their duty in this respect? They have introduced the elements of serious discord into this peaceful land, and their fit punishment would be that they should be sent about their business and never again afforded an opportunity for doing mischief.—l am, &c, A Constitutional Libeeal.