HOME RULE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14043, 15 May 1911, Page 8

HOME RULE.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PHESS."

Sir, —Mr Hughes makes much of the fact that in Tyrone and Fermanagh the paid Protestant officials outnumber the Catholics, though~tlve Catholics aro in a majority. Very likely—Fermanagh and Tyrone are both in Ulster, and does ho know, moreover, if theso officials were appointed before the passing of tho Local Government Act, and not by local election? Very likely, also, certain Irish members, including Mr O'Brien, did protest against the Pope's interference with the Land League. But this was before what Mr McCarthy calls 'the sacerdotal organisation of the Roman Catholic Church," before the founding of the Catholic Association. "The framework of society in Ireland," ho says, "has, by virtue of t\-.Q growth of this power, undergone a complete reconstruction. In 1886, Homo Rulo, as it was then called, wa«, in tho opinion of many Roman Catholics, including myself, an unsubstantial chimera. To-day it is in a limited, but ■well-doSned, form, an accomplished fact, and our chief consolation is that it is not accompanied (1902) by what was fallaciously called Home Rule, for then its scope would havo boon unlimited and indefinable." With regard to the election by Catholics of Protcstaute, I think, a* "Not a Home Ruler' : points out, theso Protestante aro Home Rulers generally, and tho Catholics know that Homo Rule means Catholic ascendency. As to the drink question, the point is not whether Ireland is more or less drunken than any other country. The point is that, according to McCarthy, the drink trado is almost entirely "hi the hands cf Roman Catholics, who. if Homo Rule is carried, will bo in tho ascendant, and who will naturally do their best in a Parliament with a "hugo Roman Catholic majority, to got a Licensing Act passed favourable to tho ''trade." May I repeat that I havo not yet heard Mr McCarthy s statements disproved to any such extent as to invalidate the general trustwortmnoss of his book, though, of course, it would be strange if you could not find teetotal societies among Reman Catlio-lioe-YouA, etc., HJSTORY . TO TITE EDITOR Of "ttTE PIIESS." Sir —"History," in his lengthy letters of concentrated abuse and misrepresentation of tho Irish people and their cause, seems to forget that there is a commandment of God which says: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." He cither does not know or he rushes into the back ground, the teaching of Christ on the subject of tho brotherhood of man, and so far as he is concerned his only object is the spreading of bitter feer ing and malice between Catholics and non-Catholics. He should bo ashamed of his conduct, as such wfiting du«s not tend to promote peace ariu concord among all States and peoples. It is very evident to a.!l just men, who uso their uod-given brans to think for themselves, that tho Homo Rule question, is not one of religion at all, but ono of justice. The argument is between the Irish r>ooplo and tho British Government. The firsa question is, has Ireland received justice at its hands, and "true" history tells us most emphatically "No."

Secondly, are tho people of Ireland entitled to manaso their own internal affairs tlio same as tho federated States of South Africa are now permitted to do? Why, by tho great and noble sontiment of British fair play and justice, of course they are. Again, "History," in his ignorance and colossal insolence would endeavour to make your readers who do nof. think for themselves, believe that Irishmen are not capable of go\-erning their own country. The lio is given to such inference when we look back over tho list of eminent men all over the Eng-lish-speaking world who. have been born in Ireland, or are of Irish parentage, and who have, by their untiring energy and ability helped in no uncertain mannor to make the United States and the British Empiro what they are. Now, with regard to loyalty. "History," and men who write in a like strain, imply that tho Irish are not loyal. The British army has teemed with Irish soldiers, and does so at ilm present time, and foremost on the scroll of fame arc tho names of such illustrious men as the Duke of Wellington, Lord Roberts, Lord Kitchener. General French, and hundreds of others. I would ask—Have they been less loyal that thoso who have .so long denied their country justice?. I say, ''No." Very voll, thon, why retard that justice which is their right, as it is our right hero in New Zealand? The publicity you have accorded this subject has enabled us to gaugo "History's" meandorings at their real worth. Ho has gained the notoriety he sought, and far from injuring the cause or Homo Rule ho has advertised it and awakened the interest and sympathy of scores of your readers to the ■ urgent necessity of Homo Rule for Ireland. His allusion to Protestant pence this morning further lowered him in tho •jyos of those not blinded by prejudice and bigotry, and I am sure that if you will send his address to the comiMitU.-e they will endeavour to procure a complimentary admission to the lecture, by the delegates, so that ho will not have to spend his pence. I will now appeal to all men and women to follow out tho golden rule, "Do unto others as you would have others do to you," and at least give the gentlemen who arq visiting us a fair hearing, so that justice- may at last be done to those from whom it has been so long withheld. —Yours, etc.. JUSTICE. P.S.—As one who is not an Irishman, I am broadminded enough to view this question in an unbiassed manner, from which standpoint "History" does not. TO THE EDITOR OF "THB PRESS.'" Sir.—Tho argument most frequently urged in this country in favour of Home Rule is that the Irish have as much right to govern themselves as we have. But in granting Home Rule to Ireland tho one-fourth, of tho population, the Protestant part of it, who arc for tho most part in the province of Ulster, will have no say in tho government of their country. There will always be an overwhelming majority against them. It tho Catholic population in tho other three provinces nave a right to govern themselves without interference from England, the people of Ulster should have equally the right to govern themselves, without interference from Lcinster, Munster, and Connaught. They should therefore be given a separate Parliament or council of their own. But this would not suit tho declared intentions of the Home Rule party. Ulster is the wealthiest province in Ireland. Its farmers, although the land is poorer and the climato worse, are better off than those in Leinster 3nd Munster. Its business men, after centuries of exertion, have built up tho linen trade for which Ireland is now famous the world over. Belfast is associated with tho building of the largest steamships in the world. This city has grown from 45,000 inhabitants in 1831 to 400.000 while Dublin has little more than held its own, and all the other towns of the eoufch and -west have declined, for whichj of course, the EngbVt Government is blamed. This prosperous province of Ulster is, however, to be the patient milch cow for tho rest of Ireland under Home Rule. One of the proposed sources of revenue is to be a protective duty on Sax imported from abroad. Only a small pjoportion of the flax now used in tho linen mills is grown by Irish farmers. It is an exhausting crop, and has to go through many processes, any of which may depreciate its value, before it is ready for market. So

farmers do not find it as profitable as otlier crops or as cattle rearing. The effect of the duty will bo to increase tlie cost of production, and thus gradually strangle the linen trade. The sariie policy will be applied to tho raw material used in the shipbuilding, and with eventually tho same results, *!though it may toko years to aocomp!Jsh these ends. Tho Homo Rulers unfolded this policy some years ago, and although they have not dwelt upon it of late years it has not been forgotten by the merchants in Belfast. AVith all tho revenue that can bo raised by this and other means, the Home Rulers do not expect to bo ablo> to carry on the government of the country" without a large subsidy from England of several millions a yea?. There will be nice pickings out of this for the Irish Cabinet, and tfieir friends. A Belfast paper, just to hand, writi-.ia; on this subject, says: "Anything more utterly preposterous cculd hardly bo conceived. The position stands in much the same- shape as if a business partnership between two men were to bo dissolved tipon the extraordinary condition that one cf the former partners should guarantee tho other in perpetuity against all losses, but have no say whatever in tlut control of his business. Really and seriously, that is, in effect, the request that has been made and to which the Ministry of tho day appears , to havo assisted." People here find difficulty in understanding the disloyal attitude of rhi> Irish Party towards our sovereign. But tho Irish leaders know that if they adopted any other attitude they would receive no more money from America. Tho money there is contributed on tno understanding that the ultimate aim. is to form au Irish Republic. Home Rule is only a first step in this direction. It is well known that the funds for carrying en the campaign have bee'i getting smaller of Into years; the Im'i have not been contributing as they used to do. The small tanners, through the operation of the X/and Purchase Acts, aro now practically peasant proprietors. They aro prospering -under their present conditions, and have no lonaer the fear of thoir rents being increased. But they piefer putting their money in the savings banks rather than into tho war chest of Messrs Redmond and Co. Henco tho recent frantic efforts to raise money in America and this deputation to Australia and New Zealand. Let everyone who contrihiltes to the cause here bear in mind that he is aiding in tho founding of an Irish Republic, and the disintegration of the British Empire. Redmond, sen., thinks ho has now got the English Government into a tijrht corner; ho holds, ho 'believes, tho balance of power in tho -present Parliament, and feels that Home Rule is within his grasp. But ho might be mistaken. Tho difficulties are many, and their adjustment no easy matter. Neither. Asquith, Grey, HaJdane, nor McKenna aro weaklings, they aro on the contrary, etrong, clever, clearheaded statesmen. They will want to .sco security for the millions that England has advanced to Ireland, and guarantees for hono6t government. "Mr Redmond may yet iseo tho fabric of his vision crumbling to the dust. In any ease, "No surrender" is still a goed battle cry.—Yours, etc.. A DER-RY MAN.