Correspondence.

Thames Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 10195, 18 January 1907, Page 1

Correspondence.

our critical csKmrc (rev. * t . A. WILLIAMS) ON HOME BULB , "FOR IRELAND-. 1 (To tih© Ekiibor.) ! Sir,—The Rev. T. A: Williams, a t Baptisb divine, Residing at Thames, has in the ''New Zealand Herald, in , (vigorous terms denounced, Home Rule .for Ireland, interpreting it as. meaning. or uljbimately resul+iry in Rome Rule. The rev f gem'.yjinn, like mauy prejudiced; people, would havi: us believe that the struggles of the Irish I are religious: and. not political-r-thflit [the Home Rule miovemetab is ai sec- , tairian one, organised by priests with , the abject of over ratingl the LrisK Prctesfcants; yet we know better, and .can refute this fabulous story, invera|ed;. for the sole purpose of impeding dhie Nationalists' pa-ogre«s in A bringing about the success of the almost unnnimous measure of plateing 1 Irelaiid' on levei ifoofcing with other civilised countries. And' considering! that her people, are equal to, if they do not> surpass, other European nations, miorally, intellectulally and phiysically, is sihei not entitlled toi this right so readily denied her yefc given to ©thler British coloniesl, aucth, as New Zealand', Austiralia,, eto? There are numbers whb say thaib New 1 Zealand!' requires selfgiovernmienit beoause of her geographical position, yet India, an extensive country, witihl oi population of over 250 millions, and. situated tome thious- ' andl of milesi from, fingland, is not self governed 1. . ! Thle prosperity and Welfarei of any

country depends entirely upon its constitution. If we notice in a partioulair 1 ooaintry that the inhabitants aro increasing and living contentedly that industries and trade are in a miost flourishing" ataite, dia we not" atr tribute this advanjoemlent to soundl government? Buti if on the othler 1 hland it isi perceived that the population is deteriorating 1;, and industries and oommeroe are stagnant, whilst people, though apparently progressive, «*e not ajdvainoing along the lines rf modern pursuits, we say there imisif. be something radically-wrong- Whatf' is that something? . Tsl it not misgovemmfiint? Such is what ./Ireland has foeem.suffering from for many diecades of years; and until the tyranny , is 'burst asundier, Ireland will' neyer be more than ai degenerating, nation. Jn every national movement Pro-; testants and Catholics combine to fight the usurper. One sentlenloe taken fromi the Roy. Williamia' letter, isi precoded' by a, slanderous ajaausaition regarding the domineering 'of priests over the illiterate Irish I! know thafc many loyal hearts must 'beat witli:fiery ; indiipjnafcion—indignation rightly stirred when the priesthood- is affronted in thiei highest degree 'by a man whose mission is peatee, but wiho has deserted his high and noble calling by talking up tihie "Weapons of afciuse for "ho jus* reason whaitsoever. Our mindfe naturally wander 1 back to penal times-, when persecution ra&ecl at its higlbiest, ■ when fire and sword swept thVaueifii thie oountir like a htir-«

ridane leaving woei and 1 poverty in their desolate track. It is tihen we recolletot whia* the priest underwent in, (wider to fulfil 1 thie oblig>aiti(>ns' im- ' poeed upon him by his offi.de. Hememberinpr these things it 'is no wonder fchiait the Irish haTOi for their clergy a love that is unequalled or unsurpassed elsewhere—a love which is not the oufc' comic of terror a,s some would! construe it^ but a. love for the reverence and hloly fear.with! which ihJe is held 1. . 'As a concluding point, I have, only tol add that so long; as< Ireland is tireaited as an irresponsible nation and siulbi- " jected to unjust treatment .will she ever ,ha a thorn in Eingiaod's aide; and though she can never assert her-

self ind'ep&ndent of aid froni elsewhere, yet thk timie will come when her sons, who were driven, from hler shores to New 1 Zealand', -will come to ■ aid her in. hier distress, and then Ireland 1 will 'be free 1 Irelapd shall -be free!—l «an, etc., *■ ■ JUSTICE. Thia!me&, January 17 th.