MR REDMOND'S SPEECH.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13300, 9 February 1914, Page 6

MR REDMOND'S SPEECH.

(Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) ■ LONDON, February 8. : Mr Redmond, m a speech before the 1 National Liberal Club, said the opposi- 1 tion to Home Rule was less on its ■ merits than to the Parliament Act, the j opponents of which desired the Govern- 1 ment, to restore the Lords' veto. I j This was the first time that the Nationalist Liberal Club had entertained ] Mr Redmond at dinner, and this, was the ! largest dinner party the club 'had \ known. When Parnell dined at 'the I Club after the defeat of the first Home 1 Rule Bill he was the guest of only, a ■ section of the Club, though his visit was noteworthy on account of Parnell. < sliaking hands with Earl Spencer, who 1 had been Viceroy during the Land ' League's fierce campaign. ' Mr Redmond was given a stirring ova- , tion. He declared that the Tory party < was without a programme or a policy. j It was now falling back on poor Ireland for a party cry. Irishmen should ■ no longer submit and be made pawns ' and playthings of British parties! Ire- ' land would never submit to be governed ujider .the old rotten system of superiority and ascendancy. If its opponent succeeded m killing the Home Rule Bill, Ireland would be absolutely ungovernable under the old regime. Any Nationalist concession to meet the fears of any section must be the price paid for con- ' ciliation, assent, and agreement to the : Bill.' Concessions on any other basis would be mischievous and futile. The matter must be settled here and now. He concluded that Nationalists would • be fools,* cowards and traitors to the highest interests of order, liberty and democracy, as well as to Ireland, if they allowed any threat of violence to turn them , a hair's . breadth from the path they believed and knew to lead to •a ccyaterited Ireland and a United Fj'mpire. , Mr Redmond reiterated that the Nationalists were m readiness to give, every concession consistent with Home' Rule and- Ireland's integrity, but unless an agreement was reached tlie Bill must pass as it stood. > It is expected that the Unionists m the. Lords will move an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, asking the King to grant a general election.