HOME RULE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1118, 4 May 1911, Page 6

HOME RULE.

THE IRISH ENVOYS. OPENING OF THEIR CAMPAIGN. SUM OF £700 COLLECTED. Between seventeen and eighteen hundred people attended the meeting of the Home Rule delegates at tho Town Hall last evening. Among the audience were many leading citizens and public men. There were also large numbers of. ladies present. 'When the delegates walked on to the stage, a. band, which had been contributing items, played "God Save. Ireland.' , Tho andiencu roso to their feet. Tho Mayor, Mr. T. M. "Wilford, occupied tho chair, and on his right hand was Mr. R. Hazleton (nest to whom was Archbishop Redwood), on Iris left Mr. W. A. Redmond, and Mr. J. L. Donovan. Others present in the front row were the Hon. James Carroll (AclinsPremier), Dr. Cahill (chairman ol tiie Reception Committee), tho Hon. T. W. Hislop, and Mr. M'Laren, M.l'. Tho members of the Reception Committee were also on tho stage.

THE MAYOR'S SPEECH. The Mayor thanked the committee ot management for the opportunity of presiding at a gathering which could only bo described as a notable one. The matter to be discussed was one which had gone beyond the region of party strife, and it was as well that it should bo discussed without heat, and subjected to the analysis of personal investigation. (Applause). After a Jew further words, the Mayor introduced the delegates, who, in turn, were received with loud applause, particularly marked in tho caso of Mr. Redmond.

MR. HAZLETON'S ADDRESS. Mr. Hazleton, who has a deliberate, vigorous style, opened with a few words in the Irish language, which, though not understood, were gladly applauded. It was, ho said, the languago of their forefathers, it was the hall-mark of' Ireland's separato and distinct nalionality; it was tno tongue of St. Patrick, >Snrs-' field, Oweii O'Neill, and of almost all tho great figures in Irish history. To-day its knowledge was necessary for entrance into tho Irish National University. (Applause.) And before many years it was certain it would echo once more within tho walls of an Irish Parliament. (Applause.) That was no prophecy. It was a certainty. (Applause.) On former occasions, lie proceeded, Irish delegates had, come out to put before the colonies Ireland's misfortunes. "We have come, on this occasion, like our predecessors, asking for your help, but we havo come under very different conditions." (Applause.) Then there was a struggle before them, the strugglo for Ireland's nationality and liberty; to-day they had that behind them. They had fought this fight hard, and difficult as it had been, and had won it. They had now only to follow up the defeat of their opponents and overthrow their citadel. (Applause.)

They wanted a Parliament ill Dublin with an Executive, of its own and full control of Irish affairs, subject to the control of tlio Imperial Parliament. They did not seek separation from tho Empire. Tho Imperial Parliament would still control the army and navy, Imperial and foreign relations, and all matters of that kind. Ireland , asked for the- right which New Zealand enjoyed to manage and control its own domestic and internal affairs. (Applause.) Even if English rule in Ireland were tho best in tho world, they would still stand out for the right to govern themselves. But that government had always been bad, inefficient, and wasteful. In Scotland there were 1)38 Government officials assessed for income tax, while in Ireland there were 4560. The polici' 111 Ireland cost £1,500,000; and in Scotland only half a million. Yet Ireland was the most crimeless country on the face of the earth. Tho object of all this extravagance was to buy over those who could be attracted by tho loaves and fishes to the side of those who thwarted tho wishes of Ireland. Changes had come- over the position in England and Ireland, so that it would now bo possible to get rid of all those evils. Itcligious differences were being smoothed over, and the Protestants were throwing in tlieir lot with the rest of the nation. Tho taunt that Homo Rule would mean "Rome Rule" was untrue. There were 8 purely Catholic constituencies represented by Protestants, and he had had on his own platform the Grand Master of tho Orangemen. (Applause.) The old antiIrish feeling in England was dying out, and tho people there were joining to lay tho power of the House of Lords in tho dust. (Applstise.) The Vein Bill would become law this .year.' If the Lords rejected it 500 new Peers would bo created, and the Bill would be passed in spite ot the present House. (Loud applause.) That was what tho Crown and the Government were pledged to. The Homo ■Rule Bill would then be passed within the lifetime of the' present Parliament, and then tho lqng-dreamt-of scheme of an Anglo-American alliance could bo realised, and tho Irish, who had given so much of their blood and their brains to the building-up of the Empire, would bo able to take their proper place in it. (Applause.)

MR. REDMOND'S ADDRESS. Mr. Redmond at the outset expressed great gratitude for the message of encouragement from "the Grand Old Man of tho Southern Hemisphere," Cardinal Moran. His Eminence would doubtless live to return to Dublin and pee the National Parliament opened in College Green. Whatever Irish grievances had been remedied, they .still stood on tho platform of Parncll, Butt, and O'Connell, and demanded national self-government. The Land Acts, Labourers Acts, Tenants Acts, and, best of all, tho Local Government Act of 1593 hiul resulted from tho struggles, , protests, and sufferings of tho Irish people, or were passed by British Governments with the object of killing Home Kulo ivith kindness. The National party did not care whether they had representation in the Imperial Parliament or not when Home Rule- was granted. They would leave that to the Imperial Parliament to decide. The late Lord Salisbury's statement that the Irish were not capablo of governing themselves had been utterly discredited and disproved by Mr. Gerald lialfour's Local Government Act and the complete success which had attended it in practice, as well as by tho achievements of the Irish in other countries. He found that New Zealand had a Prime Minister of Irish extraction, and another Minister who was present on that platform bore the mine of Carroll. (Applause.) Similarly, in Canada, America, and all new countries. Irishmen were loader? of public life. The speaker warmly repelled the alleged statement that tho Irish Catholics were intolerant. All over the country. Catholics had elected Protestants and Orangemen to tho local councils. Tlin future would show that freedom's gifts wore the power to develop the country arid the nation, and the power to heal tho ills that had resulted from the bitter strife of centuries of English misrule. The Irish question was the greatest of all Imperial questions. (Applause.)

MR MARTIN KENNEDY'S APPEAL. Mr. Martin Kennedy said he believed that Now Zealand would not fail to answer the appeal. He would ask (he audience to respond liberally. Four years 030 the Dominion liad contributed JSSOOO. and this time the amount should be 50 per cent. more. Tv;o subscription lists so far had been returned containing a sum of .C 220. Collectors at.this plage went among the audience.

A VOTE OF THANKS. The Hon. J. Carroll was called upon to move a vote of thanks to tho emissaries. Ho expressed pleasure at tho calm, deliberate, and genuine way in which the delegates had fortified with eogont argument the sincerity of their cause. (Applause.) It was not for them to enter into the past regarding Ireland. Ireland now had sailed beyond the stormy waters into the calm stream of rational consideration. (Applause.) In ■•onsidering facts as they now stcod, and leaving the past, they found that in do V 6 seme fix Ireland had had a Parliament

of its own, and was not therefore n nation crying out for a 'new toy. This old desire to govern themselves would go on increasing until somo solution of the question was found. (Applause.) Home liule seemed now to be shorn of its blackness; it was almost an accepted fact. Both Scotland and Wales; were now talking about Home Rule for themselves, and all these facts were encouragement to Irishmen to achieve their great, desire. They also had tho fact Hint in Home politics Home liule was discussed openly a.s one of the pivots upon which rcsleil the present party existence. He pointed !o tho fact that (he colonic-) had not been successes as Crown Colonics, The spirit of the race had burnu fruit in the desire ainoug.-t us for self-government. It was said thai Irishmen could not rule their own country. Well, they had shown that (hey could rule other countries pretty well. (Applnuse.) Homo Rule for Ireland was coming, and the only question was how to give effect to it, and what should be the powers and limitations in regard lo Imperial arll'nirs. Iho financial question would also have to be argued out, but the whole problem had now got into calmer wateis, and those present would, ho believed, soon bo able to congratulate their visitors on the realisation of their fondest hopes and dearest aspirations. (Applause.j The Hon. T. W. Hislop, who seconded the resolution, said he hoped that, if the delegates came again, it would be to le.l oi the granting and successful operation of Homo Rule. (Applause.)

THE ARCHBISHOP'S SYMPATHY. His Grace Archbishop Redwood, spent ing in support of the motion, said that on former occasions, when ho had spoken on Home Rule to the people of Now Ze.<;and, he spoke as of a far-away thing, but now it was almost in sight, and would soon be attained, to the great glory of the. Liberal party in England. (V,iplause.) The House of Lords could no longer say that the English peoplp were ayains!. Homo Kuk, for Iho elections had shown that the democracy supported the policy. Indeed, the democracy of the Empire was with them. The old wounds of Ireland would soon be healed, and the Irish everywhere would help to make Home Rule a perfect success. .He hoped the envoys, when they went back, would be so well furnished with the sinews of war as to ensure an early and complete victory. (Applause.)

MR. J. T. DONOVAN. Mr. J. T. Donovan, in acknowledging the vote, expressed thanks for the magnificent sum contributed that evening, which he accepted as an inspiring opening to a successful campaign. The amount, he was informed, was JE7OO. (Loud applause.) As the result of travel among the English colonies, and in America, he had seen the prominent placo that Irishmen played in their government. "Would il not be for the good of Empire if full sympathy with England was held by these'lrishmen ? He would say definitely that there could never be any alliance with America so long as the Irish question was unsolved. (Loud applause.) Tho twenty millions of Irishmen and their descend'ents in the United Stales was an .ample assurance of the influence that would guarantee this would be carried out. Downing Street, he understood, had already been apprised of this fact. He referred to the excellent work that Mr. Martin Kennedy had done as organiser of the movement in New Zealand. Dealing with the need for funds, he recalled that members were not paid in Great Britain, and they hail also to bear their own election expenses. A great campaign was about to be carried out in Great Britain and tho Liberal party had placed their platforms at their disposal. (Applause.) In conclusion ho returned - hearty thanks for their welcome. (Loud applause.) On the proposal of Dr.. Cuiiill, the usual compliment was accorded, to the chairman, and the meeting then concluded with the singing of "God Save the King."

AT ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE. A PURSE PRESENTED. Tho Irish envoys (Messrs. Hazleton, Redmond, and Donovan) visited St. Patrick's College yesterday and were the guests of the Very Ecv. Father Kennedy and the faculty at luncheon. They also addressed the students, who presented them with a purse of sovereigns as a contribution to the Hoine Rule campaign funds. ■ Mr. Donovan mentioned Inst night that this was the first contribution they had received since' landing in Wellington. The delegates will speak at Taradalo on Saturday.