Redmond the Remarkable.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2320, 26 March 1914, Page 2

Redmond the Remarkable.

The greatest obstacle to Home Rule for Ireland is the longstanding fear to many Protestants, to use the phrase frequently em-

ployed, that "Home Rule meant Rome Rule." And the prominent part occupied by priests on all the platforms of the Nationalists who have gone out preaching the gospel of Home Rule has not tended to allay this fear. And now we have the leader of the Nationalist Party, Mr John Redmond —who, should have acted with the greatest direction at this time—vaunting the red rag like a Red Fed. The Press Association has sent to all its members (of which the Star is one) a statement from Mr Redmond which that leader desires to reach all the Nationalist sympathisers in New Zealand. Says Mr Redmond: "The Ulster Orangs plot has now been completely revealed. Carson and his army have not and never had the intention of fighting. As a fighting force against the regulars they could not hold out a week. The plan was to put up the appearance of a fight. Then society influences ,weTe to seduce the army officers, and thus intimidate the Govern-

ment and defeat the peo_)le's wil.

The,, action of the commanders in i some crack cavalry regiments officered by aristocrats has now.fully disclosed the plan of campaign, ; and raised issues wider even than

Home Rule: whether democrats

j government is to be browbeaten iaiid;'dictated to by drawingrooms London and a section of officers "who'"are aristocrats and violent Tory partisans. The cause of Irish freedom has in this fight become the cause' of popular freedom, order, and liberty "throughout the world. It is impossible to doubt the result of such a fight.' And then Mr Redmond, usurping the place of the Premier, winds up with the dictum: "The second reading will be taken on Monday, and the Bill will be proceeded with until it finds its place on the 'Statute Book." Mr Redmond has done - his cause' no good with that powerful element, the Silent A 7 oter, in issuing such an abusive and vituperative message, which of course, will also be circulated at Home. If as he says, "it is impossible to doubt the result of such a fight" (for Ireland's freedom), why yell like a kicked kid? The Ulsterites have just as much right to get up on the roof and yell that they are fighting a Fenian plot. If the Orange and the Green are to be flaunted again, what hope is there for an early coming of Home Rule .