PUBLIC OPINION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10886, 28 April 1921, Page 10

PUBLIC OPINION

ENGLAND AND IRELAND. (To the Editor “N.Z. Times.") Sir. —Tour reporter's interview with. Mr Dolan, published in your Saturday's issue would be of unusual interest to the readers of the "Times." In one part of the interview Mr Dolan expressed a sentiment that calls forth a word o rtwo of comment. I quote his words: "The average Englishman premises that the Irishman is an ignorant individual, led in spiritual mutters by a tub-thumping, superstitious, sheiielagah-whacking and domineering person called a 'praste,' and that his politics were forced down his thToat by a grafting, ra cous-voi ce d epeiler, whose name was all the more detestable became his name sounded like i Muldoon.’" These utterances enshrine lan Irish exaggeration, and though not intended to deceive, are calculated to mislead. They are an iniuetic eto the average intelligence of tho 'ngLish. The average Englishman does not hold any such distorted opinion of an Irishman. Some thirty years ago he may have done so, bat much water has passed under London Bridge since those times. - A j genuine, practical change has come over the thought and mental attitude of the ; English in relation to I reland “and the Irish. ’ ; Being myself convinced of the justness j j of Ireland’s claim to a large measure of ! self-government, I have been privileged j ; to address many mass meetings of men ! on the subject. The last one in which j i I took part was addressed by Lord Har- i ; court, then a Commoner of Cabinet j . rank, and the once-famous John Red- i mon'd. During a very eloquent speech, permeated with Irish wit and humour, Mr Redmond said-. “If the cause of Ireland rested with the average intelligence of the English, Home Rule would be granted on the morrow.” That pas-age in the speech Toueed the -vast audience, and it was some considerable time ere the tumultuous chegring subsided. John Redmond was no political firebrand. He was no lover of the sensational or spectacular. Ho was a reasonable and reliable leader, a man of mental balance and wise judgment. He knew that the average English mind grasped the jus-, tice of Ireland's claim, and would grant it there and then. True, there are in England .the narrow and superstitions who have no vision, or else make Home Rule spell separation. These ore in the minority, ana the minority are not always right. It is not the average intelligence of England that has betrayed Ireland, _ but the political jugglers and opportunists. The Liberal administration baa not been a signal success. It has not fulfilled its promises in any marked degree. It recurved more than one mandate to placate Ireland and do her justice. Instead of that John Redmond died a disappointed man and the country is passing through a crisis such as it has not experienced in its longohequered history. Not until the average Englishman has his way will his fellow-irishman get fair play. T. A. BEADY. UNITARIAN OR CATHOLIC? (To the Editor "N.Z. Times.") Sir,—My attention has been called to em anonymous •criticism of my leoture on the above subject, which appeared in your columns yesterday. Many have m& irhy I do not reply. I desire, therefore, through your columns to explain that I'have made it an invariable ™» <« “• not to reply to critics who, through fear or. shame, or any other cause, do not sign their names. The present writer hides his identity behind a double mask—that of a Presbyterian lay-reader and of a Liberal in theology. Judging solely by the contents of bis letter he may well be the former; he certainly is not the latter. Judging again from the contents of the letter I am not surprised that'he did not care to sign it with his name. But why write what one is ashamed of? lam in the open. Let my critic come there. WYNDHAM S. HEATHCOTEL