Home Rule. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2511, 30 April 1902, Page 29

Home Rule. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir -Born Irish, it was but natural that 1 should follow the teachings of my parents and clergy, which teachings were to the effect that England was the greatest robber of a nation on the face of the earth, that England had robbed Ireland of its lands, and had given, them to English lords, that in former tune* Catholics -had to hide in caves to ->avo their lives, and that at the present time in Jrelnml it was either landlords or slave?. And so it has been *1 my life, up till last October, that anything I could say or do against tho British Government was a joy anil pleasure to me. But all things come to ai: t-nd, and so it was that on October 27 last you* seer, sage, and esteemed writer "Civia" quoted Mr Dillon in the English Parliament as vilifying and slandering Lord Roberts, and accusing him of barbarisms in tho war, the truth of which i. knew there wia not one particle, and I asketl •myself tho question, Is this the means by which my Irish friends are going to get Home Rule? I trow not. But the truth is, some of them are blackguards, and must be quarrellino- — if not with some one else, it will bo amongst themselves. There is no poverty ia Ireland equal to that in England and Scotland, for only yesterday, a lady told me ?h« had worked in both England and Scotlaivl for Ad per day. Ireland pays better vrage c than these. Bui what have Irish people to complain of in the colonies? For when T look round, I c?n see rebels in all the Government departments, and J kno«v who get-? th? most, of the Benevolent funds. But to cut tho matter short, I may ftt -once say that I am. related to the O'Connor family of fame, but denour.ee the blackguards in Parliament, and all those vtho countenance them. And Jam not alone in this matter, for numbers in this colony have necn for sotr.e time past that Recimond find Co. have only boen successful i". fiounding the death knell of Home Rule. Oladatone showed kindness in the Boers by «»ivinK thi^n a Parliament— result, the present war; and Redmond says the Irish are only waitingtheir opportunity for an armed rebellion beforo they have a Parliament. If any kind friend) wishes to know exactly how Home Rule ntandt at the prcfeni time. I must refer him to Lor<l Rosebery's eloquent and pointed Liverpool speech. — I am, etc.. J3OGTROTIEB. Anril &3* lftft