“A PLEA FOR IRELAND.”

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 3 May 1888, Page 3

“A PLEA FOR IRELAND.”

Continued. Address delivered by Mr T. L. Buick, Secretary of the Gladstone Branch of the Irish National Leaguo, on Wednesday, 25th April, at Ewart’s Hall: — The Crimes Act was not p ssed against crimo in Ireland; there was no necessity for it. Fur were not the ten out of the twolvs judges on the entire circuit of the thirty-two counties presented with white gloves as an evidence of the almost entire absence of crimo in Ireland three monthj previous to the passing of that Act. Eul the character of Ireland had to be blackened in the eyes of the world, and this measure was passed to incite and provoke the Irish poople to commit crime, in order that the past policy of the Government might be vindicated, and that that they might find an excuse for inflicting more coercion. For in the hour of their pride and the arrogance of their power they have boasted that they will kill the “ national spirit.” But what foolish and vainglorious language is this; for abler men and stronger Governments have before to-day attempted and proved the impossibility of the accomplishment of that task. For soven hundred years they have strangled liberty and banished justice ; but still the national flame is burning, and the national spirit is as vigorous ns ever. They may proclaim meetings and silence the voice of the press, they may imprison members of Parliament and prohibit the freedom of speech, but instead of crushing the desire for independence, this will only imbue the Irish people with a more fixed determination to be freed from that ineumbus which has boon dragging them down into the mire of poverty and slavery, and it will bring to their aid the sympathies of the world’s democracy and the assistance of the greatost statesmen of the British Empire. (Applause.) For what could be more obnoxious to the mind of the honest politician than to find a government administering a law that would deprive the people of their right to assemble together in public meeting whore they might discuss, and if necessary condemn the actions of the day; where they might freely speak of the political treatment which they are receiving; and where they might raise their protest aguinst what they deem to bo iufringements upon their rights as British subjects. What would more readily disgust a fair and impartial man than to find a government imprisoning those political opponents who had tlio courage to openly avow thoir opposition to that government, and who boldly condemned its policy ? Who could support a government that would attempt to gag that section of the Press which has proved itself to be hostile to their unholy measures? Does it not Beem that these workers of iniquity are determined to silence at any cost all fair and legitimate criticism of their actions ? But if thero is one lesson which this arbitrary policy teaches more elearly than another, it is “ that the causo which will not bear discussion is already lost.” (Loud and prolonged applause.) _ England is one of the freest nations in the world, and the charter of her freedom of her • greatness and her material happiness is based upon her parliamentary representation, her freedom of speech, the freedom her press and the right of assembb'ng together in public meeting : now Ireland being an integral part of the kingdom has a just right to the same privileges ; but what is the true state of her case ? her parliamentary representation is a mere farco and a subject of ridicule in the British Parliament, as was evident during the passing of the famous (or as you like it infamous, Coercion Act. Where is the freedom of her speech or the freedom of her press ? The late imprisonment of Messrs Sullivan and O’Brien and others will answer. For doing their duty simply publishing tho news of the day, what anyono outsido of Ireland was quite free to do, they are to be bound like malefactors and cast into the prison coll of the criminal. Who could respect a law that requires no proportion between the crime committed and tho punishment to bo infleted, a law that condemns gentlemen of the highest character to the same punishments as the worst and lowest misdemeanants and ruffians of the street ? By what right does the present Tory government claim to treat Ireland and Irishmen with such barefaced injustice? England may boast of her freedom, of her greatness and of her “ Rule Brittania,” but she has yet to learn to hold in lofty and in equal poise the scales of justice. (Loud applause). Muchs I regret that time has not permitted me to speak in detail of the early troubles of the Irish people or to proceed furthor in the refutation of the arguments which have been raised against their causo by tho enemies of political progress. But I thiuk that sufficient has now been said to convince you that the Irish poople are not like the child crjiug for tho moon, asking for something which it would bo impossible to give or that would do thorn no good if they got it, but that they havo genuine grievances, which can bo cured by tho remedy that they wish to apply; and now, as my time becomes even more limited, I must proceed to briefly point out what I consider to bo tho best medium through which thoy might obtain this remedy— Homo Rule. (Applauso.) When Daniel O’Connell first initiated and insisted upon his policy of passive resistance it was received with feelings of indignation in most all parts of Ireland, and he was most severely criticised and most strongly condemned for tho peaceful naturo of his opposition to tho British Government. But I think if wo were to closely follow tho course of events wo would then bo able to clearly judge how far the genius of that great man penetrated into the future. For thero is now no ono worthy of the name of statesman who oould bo so unwise as to proposo any other kind of resistance to the vicious policy of the present government. (Applause.) Tho misv take of Robert Emmet’s life was that he attempted physical resistance; ho preferred insurrection to agitation, and tho sad consequence was that ono of the most brilliant of Ireland’s Patriots becamo a martyr. The age for physical resistance was passed, and wo must now use methods of a more humano and moral character, for if ever tho Irish people are to bo elevated to tho plane of freedom, they must bo raisod by tho lever of Education—(Applauso.) For iu this advanced age the human mind is more susceptible to its gentle influences than perhaps to any other courso of treatment, and as this should be made purely an intellectual fight, the best plan of attack is to oducate tho English mind up to tho true position of affairs. To show them the true condition of Ireland, what sho wants and tho good it will do hor if she get 3 it. This is absolutely necessary boeauso the people of England hold in their hands the means to sanction tho measure or refuse ■A it. Nothing must ho done to prejudice tho English mind against tho Irish cause; all kinds of agrarian crime and acts of violence must bo most studiously avoided and most strongly condemned. Tho use of that now impetus to politics—namely, dynamite— must conso for over, for no matter how much it may ho justified it is not politic. Every blow of this kind that is struck will only lend strength to the enemy. Patient agitation will do more than explosions, and prudent oduoatioi. more than acts of violence. (Loud applause.) If this lino of policy were to b< carefully adopted and faithfully followed I am sure we need have no fear of the roAult, and the Irish party will go on conquering and to conquer; for in pursuing

their present pernicious policy, that band of intellectual barbarians who constitute the British Government are simply ma ieg thoir own coffin. The affair at Mitchelst JWn was a suicidal stab, and it has done more good for the Irish cause than fifty Phccnix Park murders. (Applause). It has shown the people of England how far thoy have been blinded to tho true state of affairs. But very soon their eyes will ho opened, and they will iast off tho yoke which has been breaking tho hearts of the Irish people for so many years. Then we will witness one of the greatest political reforms that England has over made; when the mighty Gladstone shall go to Parliament at the head oi’ a body of loyal and true followers he will turn tho tables upon the Conservative tyrants, and the glad tidings of Ireland’s freedom shall fly like a meteor of light across the Channel, dispelling in its brilliancy the dark history of the past, banishing in its lustre the tyranny and misery which has reigned supreme, and giving to Ireland her proper place among nations, where she will remain a credit to the world and a monument to the dead patriots. (Applause;. Then we will fully realise that the lives of Parnell, Dillon and O’Brien have at length borne fruit, and these bright gems of our untitled nobility may rest contented that they will leave the world better than they found it. Their names will be engraved upon the hearts of the Irish people, for whom they have fought and suffered so much. No higher tribute of praise could be paid ; no more noble monument could be raised to memory of these great men than to see the Irish nation growing and flourishing under a system of Government for which they have been so sternly fighting ; and when the next Irish Parliament sits in College Green, and all the intellect and talent of the land is gathered together to bogin a now era in Irish history, then we in this far distant clime will be able to rise up and say with the poet of old:

“ Erin, oh Erin, thy win tor has passed, And the hope that lived through it Has blossomed at last."