THE DUBLIN CORPORATION AND THE QUEEN'S VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 96, 12 May 1900, Page 4

THE DUBLIN CORPORATION AND THE QUEEN'S VISIT.

A special meeting of the Dublin Corporation was held on March 14th in connection with the approaching visit to Ireland of the Queen. The proceedings were of the most turbulent character. The public gallery was filled almost immediately it was opened, ' the crowd cheeiing and shouting " God save Ireland." Mr. T. Harrington, M.P., on arriving, was loudly cheered. The Lord Mayor, on entering the Council Chamber, was met with a mixed demonstration, the hisses and boos being much louder than the cheers.

The Lord Mayor said the resolution j he proposed was that, when handing. Her Majesty the keys of the City on the arrival at the boundary of Dublin, an address should be presented to her in the following terms: "We, the' aldermen and councillors of the Corporation of tho City of Dublin, beg to oiler to your Majesty, on bolialf of ourselves and our fellow-citizens—(loud cries of'No') —a hearty welcome on your arrival in the capital city of your kingdom in Ireland. We are assured and we recognise that in your exalted station your Majesty comes amongst the Irish people above and apart from all political questions, and the citizens of Dublin unite in welcoming you with that deep respect which all entertain for the person of Your Majesty.— (Hear, hear.) We confidently expect that your stay amongst us will prove a pleasant one, and trust that it will be ]of lasting benefit to your health— (loud j laughter)—and we desire to represent ito Your Majesty that whenever it ! pleases you to visit this portion of your I dominions you will be assured of a 'cead mille failthe.' "

The reading of the resolution was met with derisive laughter and interruption. Proceeding, the Lord Mayor said he could claim for the address that it was one to which any man might with perfect propriety subscribe. It was true that there existed among some of his Nationalist colleagues a feeling that the presentation of a courteous and dignified address involved some sacrifice of principle, but, speaking as an Irish Nationalist—(cries of " A Tory ") —who had ever upheld without reproach his opinions, and who had suffered severely for doing so, he said that if he believed it would even in the remotest degree injuriously affect the claim for the national demand of the Irish people, he would neither submit nor support- a resolution of this character. But that was not so, and no one knew it better than the opponents of that resolution. The occupant of the Throne was above party, and came to their country as the constitutional head of the State. Therefore, if their policy was agitation by constitutional methods for the attainment of the legislative independence which they meant by Home Eule, then they were not abating one atom of that demand nor weakening its foundation in the slightest degree by receiving with respect the head of the State, and offering to her a courteous welcome on behalf of the citizens.

AhiwmMi Tyi. Councillor, rose amid loud groans to~ coo/infl the motion, and did so amid many hostile demonstrations.

Mr. Harrington, M.P., claimed to be as broad-minded and as tolerant towards the views of Unionists as anybody who took a part in Irish life opposite to theirs, and if a propositidn came from a Unionist Lord Mayor, and was supported by Unionists whose feeling of loyalty was genuine—(hear, hear, and cries of " That's the rub," and laughter)—and who had some reason for their feeling of loyalty, because the country was in their hands, he could respect the movement; but when this resolution was sought to be enforced by an argument that it would | serve the purposes of national politics, and it would advance the national cause, he begged leave to join issue with the Lord Mayor, and to tell him that the men whom the country had entrusted with the direction of national movement repudiated his action, and repudiated his argument. (Loud cheers.) There was no obligation on the Nationalist Corporation of Dublin to have this question raised. There was no appeal made to the Municipal Council or to the members of the Municipal Council, to go out of their way to present the keys of the city, as he was told now, and he suggested that they should be the keys of Kilmainham.—(Cheers and laughter.) Wherever the Irish race was to be found the action proposed by the Lord Mayor would be received with feelings of hatred and contempt if the Corporation of Dublin voted such an address as suggested. Mr. Clarke moved as an amendment: " That this Corporation, while viewing with pleasure tho visit of Her Majesty to Ireland, and regretting that such j visits have not been more frequent, do net present an address, as such presenta'ion would be construed by the British public as an endorsement of the policy of Her Majesty's Government, past and present, towards this country." The Lord Mayor ruled the amendment out of order.

Mr. Jones said he had never been lacked to take the oath of allegiance to Her Majesty, and he probably never would, but he. did. not recognise the light of any man who had taken that oath to dictate to him the line he should take.

Mr. Harrington: I rise to a point of order. I submit that a member of this Council lias no right to accuse another member of taking an oath which ho has violated. The parliamentary cath which I have taken is perfectly consistent with the attitude of men who do not believe in Monarchy, but are republicans, ! ® le H'gh SherrifF said that as a | Nationalist and a Catholic ho had considered the matter carefully, and lie intended to vote for the address, because lie believed this visit would help in a "reat measure the trade and commerco of the city.—(Groans and applause.) Mr. Brady said ho regretted extremely that for the pnst twenty minutes they had had to listen to a -ipeech of a most intemperate character irom Mr. lliu-ringtou. He believed the visit would bo of benefit to 'he trade of tho <-:ty in general, ai)*J.f not !>>i!!!/ Jtitwc-twl in nr>y pnn-v! testimonials or addresses,, he w ; .ul.V

Vote in favor of the Lord Mayor's motion.—(Applause.) Alderman Doyle strongly protested as a Nationalist against the address. No one would give more respect to the Queen than that he would, but when the Lord Mayor thought well to make it a political matter—(cries of "No, no," and "Yes, yes")—he would register his vote against it. Mr, Jones said what he stated was that he refused to recognise the right [of any who had taken the oath to dictate to him. If the parliamentary oath was to be the eighteen-carat nineteenth century hall mark of Irish nationality, was it high treason for a man who had sworn nothing to welcome the constitutional head of the State? He appealed to the Council not to bo intimidated by the gentlemen who were supposed to lead the country—(groans from the public in the gallery)—or by the extreme license which the Lord Mayor had, perhaps properly, allowed the gallery. He called on the Council mot to heed these idle shouts, which did not represent tho citizens. After further heated discussions and exciting scenes in the gallery, the resolution in favor of presenting an address was carried by 30 votes to 22.