IRISH PATRIOTISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15717, 18 September 1914, Page 7

IRISH PATRIOTISM.

" 1 my that the coasts of Ireland will be defended from foreign invasion by her armed eon* and for this purpose armed Nationalist Catholics in the South will be -"nly too glad to join arms with the armed Protestant Ulst-ermen in the North." Thus ppoWe 'ir .John Redmond, the Nationalist leader in the House of Commons, when 'Wlanr? t h <" patriotism of Irishmen to the Empire in the European crisis. "I was moved a urr.-it deal by that, sentence in trie speech of |ho Secretary for Stafo for l'"or<i?r Affairs in which he said that the Wis br cr.ht spot, in the situation was the changed feeling in Irehnd." said Mr. RV>dJr.an i. "In past times, when this Empire has hern '•n,:,i , ." , d in these terrible enterP"?fs. it is trueit would be the utmost affectation and follv on my part to deny it--the svnipathv of In- Nationalists of Ireland have, for reason* to be found deep down in centuries of history, been estranged f-y,ni tfm coun'rv. Allow me to mv that what has occurred in recent yens has altered the situation completely.

" Wider knowlwltrv of the real facts of Irish history has. I think, altered the view of the democ-ra-v of tin- countrv towards tho Irish question, and tn-dav I honestly Relieve that the democia<v of Ireland wi'l turn, with the utmost anxiety and sympathy, to this country in everv trial and evprv dancer that miv ov rtake it.

"Them i.- a |H/s.«ih'ill'.'. ;>t anv rate, of history ro).iMtin? 11j-«-■ 1f . Til" House will remember that in 1773. a! lie end of the disA.«traw American War, when it might, I think, truly ho paid that the military power of this .ountry was almost at its lowest. <.hf,, and when the shores of Ire'arid wero threatened with foreign invasion, a body of 100 000 Irish volunteers '[•rang into existence, for the purpose of defending her shores. At, first, no Catholir-vih, how sad the loading of the Jistory of tHosti days is—was allowed to he enroll. ; D that body of volunteers; end yet, [ rom || in v , rv . first day, the Catholic ~f the South and West subscribed money, ami vni it toward* the arming of i| lt .j r | Vote* taut Miow-country-Ken Ideas widen a.* time went on. end fin..il v ti,. ('.,!!; l:, s in the Smith were firmed ~;,,{ Knrolicd ;,.- brothers in arms '•"•'lUi then f.-|,W ,;<jiintrvinen, of a differ*"t n-.tMl, ,n the North. Mav historv repeat itself ''