“A PLEA FOR IRELAND.”

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 30 April 1888, Page 3

“A PLEA FOR IRELAND.”

{Con tinned.)

Address dolivored by Mr T. L. Buick, Secretary of tho Gladstone Branch of tho Tpisli National League, on Wednesday, 2oth April, at Ewart’s Hall : How strangely inconsistent are those English in tho dispensation of this their national inheritance. Crusadeaftor crusade has left the shores of England and journeyed to Jerusalem. Tho bones of hey bravo Templar Knights have bleached and whitened upon ylie plains of the Holy Land ’ only ’ to liberate tho Eastern Christians from tlio grasp of the infidel Turks. When tlio Hungarians raised their standard of rebellion against the tyranny of Austria, and Garibaldi unfurled bis banner of independence in Italy, the deepost sympathies of Englishmen wero aroused. Their money was poured out like a golden torrent to aid tho persecuted Jews in Russia. They liavo endured—tho hostility of foreign countries—tho storms of seas and the perils of land all, to give freedom to foreigners, and still they refuse to liberate a pcoplo within their own dominions. (Loud Applause.) Truly, charity should begin at homo ; but tho agos of tho past seem to prove that the grace of charity is an utter stranger to tho home of British Governments. For pver since tho days of Honry II has not the Government of Ireland been remarkable for tho tyranny and oppression which has been inflicted upon a long suffering people by these Jiborty-loviug Englishmen under tho hypocritical pretence that it was all for tlio country’s good ? They liavo fed her with penal laws and clothed her with coercion. They have demonstrated tlioir love and affection by evicting the inhabitants from bouse and home. The}' have cherished her by driving her sous and daughters from tlioir native laud. They liavo shown liar hospitality by imprisoning her members of Parliament, and they have boon tolerant to her by denying borpcoplo the freedom of speech. But never once during tho whole course of their stewardship have they ever applied the principles of modern They have always resorted to these old and barbarous practices of foudal times; for certainly no legislation of which coercion, eviction and murder are the principal ingredients can claim to belong to any other period of Biik’s'i history ; at all events, it is disgraceful in filth century, and I feel quite convinced that no statesman however great or clever will ever bo able to successfully govern Ireland under such cruel and barbarous laws. And yot it is only in tho struggle for this same liberty which has cost England so much of her best blood, and of which Englishmen are so justly proud, that Irishmen are engaged at the present timo. All that they ask is that wey-might be freed from tho burdens which arc being thrust upon them by their tyrannical landlords and the cruel ami Russian treatment which they arc receiving at tlio bands of the British Government. Can anyone suppose that it is justice that the landlords should be privileged to charge the Irish fanner exorbitant rents, and where tlio unfortunate peasant cannot pay, that the British Government should send their military to evict with ruthless hands 'the unhappy sons of Erin. To turn from house and home both the young and the old, the weak and tho strong, simply because they were not able to meet the extortionate demands of their grasjnog. la> dlords, is a blot upon the fair i.i.nic of Brit*in, vhiph will take centuries- of time to obliterate. (Applause.) But let us hope that ere long her statesmen will begin to make amends for their, past actions, and once more take up the cause of the on-pressed ; to aid the weak against the sfrbttg ; for most assuredly a more liberal system of Government will hqyo to be applied before anything like law' and order can be restored. Ireland will never bo ruled by policemen ; she must be governed by the genius of statesmen. (Loud and prolonged And when this all-sufficient remedy for her political dissatisfaction is applied, wo will iiud that a change so great and radical in its nature will take place that instead of tho present poverty-stricken and unhappy Ireland, will see stretched beforo us iii sweet and peaceful repose tho sslfgovomed EmoraTd Isle. (Applause.) There may be some wfio will takoiFexcaption to this aud call ilran enthusiastic view to take, and too’Bright a picture to paint. Bat I urn firmly?|oiiviuced that Home Rule id the great' for ffiany c>T the distressing evils., under which unhappy Irolaud is groaning at the present

time, and thin is why I, a young Colonial, s.aud before you to-night to advocate the cause of Ireland, imperfectly I fear, but honestly I know. (Applause.) And hero let mo remark that in no portion of the world do j consider Ireland entitled to a greater' share of sympathy and support in her present deplorable condition than in these Australasian colonies. For we wiio are here living under a system of government similar to that which we aic asking for Ireland, we know f:om practical experience what a blessing it is to have the direct control over those political affairs which com-cru us in our every day lives; and I consider it is simply an act of duty m die interests of humanity that those who have hasted of the sweets of Home Rule siiou <1 endeavor to obtain for the people of Ireland the same rights and privileges which we enjoy. (Applause.) And more especially would I urge upon the young men of the | colony the necessity and importance of

their interesting and connecting them se ves with every progressive movemen of the day. For the probability is thai when they arrive at a more mature age some of them may be called upon to legist lato on behalf of this or some other country, and when they attain to this high and honorable position they will find that the experience which they have gained in these early years will be of the greatest service to themselves, of the greatest benefit to others; and I think it should be with feelings of pride that any young colonial should attach himself to this movement, which is calculated to give to the people of Ireland the direct control of their own political household. (Applause.) And this is only as it should be, for I think it will be readdy ' acknowledged by all sensible and intelligent people that no one should know moye of our wants and necessities than we do ourselves. If this principle can be applied to our own local >elf government it should also be applicant to national affairs. It is therefore jnlte clear that Irishmen should know nore of the wants and necessities of Ireaml, and should be more Capable of nanaging their Own affairs than Englishnen. And when they demaud' the ighfc to mrike their own laws and govern hernselves are they not simply asking or that to which they are perfectly enitled ? (Applause.) The pages of hisory and the condition of the country o-day prove beyond all question that Jnglish rule in Ireland has been a most jnoininious failure. If then Englishmen re incapable of governing Ireland why ot let Irishmen have a try ? alley can ertainly do no worse than their predeessors; but I feel quite convinced that hey could make a vast improvement. Loud applause.) A certain section of ne British public led by one or two of he leading English statesman are, at he present time, engaging themselves in most energetic manner against the ause of Home Eule. The objection r’hieh these Unionists (as they style themselves) have to this great political revolution is that it will tend to dismember the Empire. They seem to consider that the granting oi Homo Enlc to

British dominions, and to divert tips terrible catastrophe tl\cy have formed themselves into ' a political party -to frustrate the designs of t-110 leaders, Their m-tors have 'travelled the length and breadth of the land denouncing Mr Gladstone and his scheme for the alleviation of Ireland’s miseries. Ihey have tried every means, artifice, and device by which thoy might prejudice the public mind against the liberation of the Irish people, And in this way they are lending every assistance to the Tory tyrants of England with whom thoy have leagued themselves to deprive Ireland of her just rights, and to retain the integrity of tho Union ? And what is tills Union which these people are so exceedingly anxious to preserve. It is only an empty name, for there is no union of lan i, and when we recall to mind tho treatment which the Irish people have received at the hands of the British Government, and the events which are happening every day, we may rest assured that there can bo no union of hearts. It is true that an event did take place by which Ireland became nominally united to Great Britain. But I think it would be more to the credit of these Unionists wero they to endeavor to forget that event instead of priding themselves upon its existence. (Applause.) .For when we read its history, every honest man must blush with shame to contemplate the vile treachery by which Ireland was robbed of her independence. Every species of political corruption was applied in order to secure the vote in the Irish House, and so well cli I these infamous designs succeed, that to-day, instead of Ireland being England’s sister she is her slave,