“A PLEA FOR IRELAND.”

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 1 May 1888, Page 2

“A PLEA FOR IRELAND.”

Con tinned.

Address delivered by Mr T. L. Buick, Secretary of the Gladstone Branch of the Irish National League, on Wednesday, 25th April, at Ewart’s Hall:

Perhaps tho most complete answer which could bo given to tho arguments of tho Unionist party is to quote the position of our own country. For the cam of Ireland and the colonies is synonymous, only Salisbury and Balfour won’t see it. But I would ask: “ Has tho granting of Home Rule to this or any other colony tended to dismember, or proved in any way disastrous tot.be British Empire?” “ Would tho Australian colonics have been so far advanced iti evory respect had they been governed from the House of Commons in England ?” Every sensible and right - thinking man will at once answer “No;” for tho secret of their success lies in tho fact that tho people have governed themselves. (Loud applause.) But how illogical and inconsistent are theso Unionists in tho propagation of their political doctrines ! They have preached against separation, and practised tho very thing they have preached against. For have thoy not supported measures which oau have no other effect than to causo tho Irish peoplo to desire a separation ? How could they remain contentedly united to a country that has treated their land as the vulture does tiltdead body ; that has been pouring into her system the poison of Coercion and the disease of injustice? How could she remain attached to a nation that has drained to the dregs the wealth of her soil, and has stifled her trade and ooinmei ce ? Ho w could they remain in thu ben Is of political wedlock with a country that has committed larceny upon her liberties and violence upon hor people? Would not this conduct tend rather to break the the chain which biuds the sympathies of tho two countries rather than draw them closer together in the bonds of friendship ? Who then are tho Separatists ? Lot the Tories and the Unionists answer mo, and if the truth is in them their answer will condemn themselves. (Applause.) And not only are theso Unionists illogical, but they are absolutely ignorant of the circumstances which surround the fundamental argument which they have raised against the cause of Home Rule ; and were they but to acquaint them'elves ! with tho true facts of the case, the y W.mlcr speedily discover that, notwithstanding the cruel treatment to which she has been subjected, still Ireland does not wish U> become totally separated from Great Britain. No sane man in Ireland wants separation; but Irishmen wero constantly looking and living for the time when the Rose, the Thistle, and the Shamrock would be bound together in the bo ids of die true amity and peace. (Loudappl m-se). No;' Ireland does not wish separation All that she asks is tho control over her own local affairs ; and even were it a part of the Nationalist programme that the bonds of union should bo burst assunder, Ireland has no means of enforcing that wish. For compare the armies and navies of the two countries, and seo what chance she would have of successfully cont aiding with England, Ireland’s army would not constitute a corporal’s guard: hor navy consists of a few fishing smacks ; and to array theso against the mighty military and rnaratirne power which England has at her command would be a

madness never to be thought of. Besides, it would he directly opposed to the host interests of Ireland that she should be separated from Groat Britain. For while the union lasts, from her geographical position, England must ever act as a shield towards her, and there the Irish farmer will obtain a ready market for his produce, and in numerous ways lie must reap substantial commercial benefits. Therefore, considering this phase of the question in all its bearings, I am convinced that the members of the Unionist party;are giving (heipselyei, a great deal of unnecessary trouble and concern in on - deavoriug to preserve the integrity of the Union, and in preventing the dismemberment of the Empire. For undoubtedly they have failed, as they must inevitably fail, in all that they have attempted and 9x5, fyiytnfti ing, for common sense points to the met that if ever the union between England and Ireland is to‘be peaceably maintained, it must be by other measures

'i and other men than those who now its name, only to betray its spirit a defeat its end. (Applause.) Nor can any one pretend to say that Ireland is not entitled to Home Rule on the grounds of tho disloyalty of her p'">p:c ; for whenever the lri.-fs . o'diers h.-iv- gon« it.to tho ii. hi n; Ou.lt- cither for tin- purpose of gaining the liberties of their fellow men, I or for the purpose of aiding greedy England in the aequieUfen.of new territory, they have over proved themselves to be good au-1 frue -soldiers and loyal to a Queen who It us not. been so loyal to' her people; fur during tho 50 years that Queen Victoria has been upon the throne it is estimated that she has spout only 12 hours of that time in Ireland. (Shame.) To create a prejudice agaiust the cause of Homo Rule lias always been ono of tho greatest desires of tho English Tories, and they could not possibly have hit upon a moro likely plan than when thoy raised oho cry that Home Rule meant Romo s' Rule. Well they knew the weakness of the English people, and could they but raise in tlioir minds a fear that Catholicism would once more obtain the ascendancy, they were very confident that the English people world not tolerate .the movement. But I contend that the question has not one single religious aspect. (Applause ) It is purely a political question, and one which affects Protestants and Catholics alike. (Applause.) It is true that a considerable number of Catholic priests have always interested themselves in the matter of Home Rule, but it is more iu their capacity of leaders of tho people than as priests of religion by which they are connected with this invement; and to whom havo the people a greater right to look for guidance than to their parish priest; for he who is their spiritual father will ever prove their truest friend. In days gone by, when hope had| been almost crushed, when the dark cloud of tyranny and oppression was spread over the land and tho people had sunk into the deepest depths of despair, who has cheered them on and pointed , them to the flickering flame of freedom, if not the Catholic priest. Innumerable are the heroic deeds and generous sacrifices which havo been performed by the members of the Irish clergy ; and when the roll of honor is called, many a priest will tako his proud place in the noble ranks of Irish patriots. (Loud and prolonged applause.) Thera can be no mistaking the rnotivo which prompted the initiators of this Home Rulo cry, for by unearthing the relics of religious _ feud they hoped to secure the co-operation of the Protestants both in England and in Ireland. But from the earliest times down to the present day history proves the error of their calculation. For the | question is not, and never was, a religious one, consequently tho Catholics and Protestants havo always worked in tho greatest unison and harmony for tho good of their common cause, and membors of ■ both denominations have alike been 1 ,-leaders of tho it is so at presont time, for the hope of Irishmon ; to-day is Charles Stuart Parnell. (Ap- ! plauso.) Aud.he is a Protestant, for has he not said that “ He was born a Protoa- ■ taut; he has lived a Protestant; and ho hopes to die a Protestant.” But he is not connected with this contest from a religious point of view. As an Irishman ) he is fighting the battles of his country, and it was this same spirit, this same patriotic inspiration that in years gone by indue id Sarsfiold, Emmet, and O’Connol to carry on the fight which is to-day , being continued by the groat Gladstone himself. (Loud applause.) If anything further is necessary to prove the complete otnptyness of this cry, I will just, refer you to a few lines in a spoech delivered . by Archbishop Plunket, in reply to one of those orations made by Mr Chamberlain while oil his recent visit to the Orangemen of the “ Black North,” and which I think will tend to prove very clearly that at lea t Irish Protestants do not fear Home Rule. Archbishop Plunket is the latest Irish Protestant who has been falling foul of Mr Chamberlain, and at a recent meeting of tho Protestant Synod he said “ that in tho Province of Leinster there were more than 100,000 Irish churchmen who wero as loyal and law* abiding as any otheis who could be found in any other part of Ireland; 100,000 Irish churchmen who did not wish to be looked upon as English settlers or as a foreign garrison, who wore Irish to their heart’s core, who love their country and desiro to abide iu their country, and to exercise their influence to promote as far as iu them lies the peace and prosperity of the land, and to live in brotherly lovo amongst all classes and all creeds of theirjf allow men in this our native lands.” And this is, accord ng teProte.-tunt authority, the character of tho people whom tho Tories say wilt commit all kind of horrible atrocities in the name of religion if Ireland has Homo R; 1-. But Archbishop Plunket gives us , tmfcier assurance when he says “That for his own part he did not dread in tho future much danger from Ihe possibility of tho ascendancy of a Roman Catholic Church in this land ; he did not dread the I ascendancy of Rome so much- as tho ascendancy of Secularism and Infidelity, against which all Churches and all Creeds \ must make a common causo.” I am sura I such a testimony as this, coming from so I eminent an authority, should be sufficient I to at once sileuco tho idle carping of such I political renegades as Mr Chamberlain, I wlo to nonsense may go down with I Orangemen, but it wont suit tho genuine I Irishmen. (Loud applause.) It was in- J deol an unfortunate circumstance that I tho followers of Mr Gladstone should have I become so thoroughly disorganised in I almost the hour of victory; and there is I ino member of the great Liberal party that I can view with feelings of other than the I most profound regret tho attitude whiefi I Lord Ilartington, Mr Bright, and Mr Chamberlain have t ikon up in regard to the Irish question. For they" have J blighted the high hop®; which we ventured to repose- in them by leaving the H great party of the people, and joining one ■ whose only method of legislating seems I to-be brute force. This stitoment is amply 'fl justified by the manner in which they H acted in Trafalgar Square and aro acting H every day in Ireland. I believe in having H good laws, and seeing them thoroughly H carried out; but when it requires police- H men’s batons and soldiers’ bayonets to H enforce laws upon a people it is safe to conclude there is lyrauuy, but no good H government. (Loud applause.) And it is this bigotted adhesion to tyranny that has characterised all Tory Governments. It was this that lost to England her American colonies, and it is this that will bring about tho downfall of the Salisbury adrniui.struti.-m ; for sootier or later they will havo to surrender to a power which is stronger than their constabulary—the power of public opinion. But while idieir authority have determined that they will not grant Itrur land Home Rule, amiLs i they'have resolved to crush it. Finding themselves beaten in every argument, with not a Hi logical leg left to stand upon, d ssited by their friends, find conscious of their own |Hj guilty actions, driven to this la-t resource* I by the lash of desperation, there is now on the part of the British Government ft deeply-studied, Weli-phmuod, and .-ystomalic cliorf, not to rule and govern, hut to misrule and misgovern Ireland. .*HH ( To. he Conti-nii't)',