Popular Lectures.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6658, 25 September 1889, Page 4

Popular Lectures.

Mr T.. Lindsay Buick, Secretary of the Gladstone branch of the Irish National League ga^©» last night, in the Hibernian Hall, the first of a- series of three " Popular Lectures on Irish Topics." The attendance of the public w&a but scanty, those, present numbering less than forty. Though the advertised time for the chair jto be taken was eight o'clock, the proi ceedings did not begin till at least fifteen minutes after the hour. Undoubtedly the small attendance was not a compliment to the leotnrer, but to beep the audience waiting for a quarter of an hour was passing the slight on to persons who deserved more consideration from the lecturer. The chair was taken by Mr Hoban, who briefly introduced the lecturer. Mr Buick cornea to Christchurch with a high reputation as a lecturer. He is a young man, of good presence, with a great command of language, and a clever way of [ constructing well-balanced sentences. His | phrases are well polished, his intonation though somewhat monotonous is sufficiently musical, his memory is inoßt retentive^and his gesticulation is natural. He never becomes impassioned, but he evidently has learned how to place his arguments before his hearers in a clear and forcible manner. For fully ninety minutes he spoke unfalteringly, without referring to a note or hesitating for the right word. Taking for his text, ** Thrice armed is he who hath his cfuarrel juat," he delivered an able lecture on "Home Rule for Ireland." The cause he advocated was, he maintained, the cause not of any one country but the cause of the whole world. He attributed the discontent in Ireland to the long continuance of oppression, and especially to the unsatisfactory nature of her land laws. In eloquent terms he described the cruel methods by which the legal rights of the landlords were enforced by the Government. He explained that the object of the Flan of Campaign was not to abolish rent, but to secure fair rent. He appealed for sympathy and assistance to the National League, from whose exertions he predicted a glorious destiny in the near future. He praised the heroism, constancy and devotion of Irishmen, who, in the navy and army, have fought for the liberties of England, and asked why so loyal a people should be deprived of liberty, and instead be " fed with penal laws and clothed with coercion!" Ab in England, so in Ireland, the government of the people should be by the people for the people. Especially from the inhabitants of the free Colonies of Australasia had Ireland a right to expect sympathy. Irishmen must enrely knoir their own requirements better than Englishmen could, and seeing that English legislation I had failed to satisfy Irishmen, let the Irish now legislate for themselves. Home Rule did not mean the destruction of the Imperial Union, but meant only that Ireland should have her own domestic management. It was not a question between Catholic and Protestant j it was purely a political question, affecting all religions alike, though Catholic priests had shown heroic patriotism. Parnell, Sarsfield, Emmett, O'Connell, and Gladstone, all advocated Home Rule, and the Nationalists looked hopefully forward for the time when. .the rose; -thistle and shamrock would be bound together in a true union of amity and peace. He repelled with indignation the statement that Irishmen were incompetent to govern themselves, and deprecated the idea that physical force could do anything but retard the progress of the Home Rule movement. Whilst giving the present Government credit for good intentions, he protested against their inhuman treatment of political prisoners. He felt certain that public opinion was in favour of Home Kulo, and was as certain that public opinion would triumph. The lecturer was loudly applauded during- the lecture and at its close. Mr P. Guinness moved a hearty -vote of thanks to Mr Buick for his brilliant lecture. ; Mr JcAnJEJarretfrTras about tosecond the motion, when it was seconded by the Chairman, who put it to the meeting, and it was carried by acclamation. Mr Buick, in acknowledging the-compli-ment, announced that the subject of his lecture to-night would be, " Ireland, Historical and Social." A vote of thanks to«the Chairmaitclosed the evening.