HOME RULE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13034, 30 March 1910, Page 4

HOME RULE.

Provessos Dicet expresses the opinion that the real issue of the elections is the repeal of the Act'of Union, and if Home Buie is passed he thinks it is certain to include the retention of Irishmen at Westminster in order to keep the coalition Government in power. Should another election eventuate within the next few months it is very questionable whether the hope of the Irish party will be realised, for if the Unionists are successful they will not entertain such a proposal. The average colonial quite fails to understand why such strong exception is taken to Home Buie, especially when the case is put so plainly as it was just on the eve of the last elections at Home by Mr Stephen Gwynn, the well-known author, when addressing an audience of Protestants. It was contended, be said, that with Home Bnlc Protertanism would not be safe in Ireland. Protestants would be boycotted, persecuted thehood would be'supreme and unscrupulous; feelings of disloyalty would be fanned into open rebellion. All that was contended, and more. Wei), he was a Protestant, and so were 11 more of the Irish Nationalist M.P.’s who were fighting for Home Buie. He relied on Bom an Catholics for his election; he was returned unopposed.' Ireland returned more Protestants to the House of Commons than England did Boman Catholics. If Ireland wished to boycott and ruin the Protestants, why didst she do it now? There were countless, instances of Protestant tradesmen who carried on year after year in Irish towns and villages, when at any moment they coald be smashed up by the withdrawal ofjhptr Catholic customers. It was an insult rto Ireland’s intelligence to talk of Heine Bole leading to separation. “England rfas almost her sole market; England’s appetite and England’s gold kept her afloat. Would she fall her best customer ? And if she did, what would happen? What could undefended Ireland do against itincd England. That was assuming &e people of Ireland were at heart disloyal, which, as an Irish Protestant, he emphatically denied. England sometimes wondpred at Ireland’s discontent. Bat what could they expect so long as they openly mistrusted the Irish people? It wonid lie unnatural under the existing conditions for Ireland to be satisfied. Take only-the .attitude of the British Government in do* building up of the territorial forces. . ffx Haldane, the Minister for War, h&d gitnEm to every Scotchman. Welshman, and Englishman the opportunity to become a trained soldier. ■ Every man in Englaad, Wales, and Scotland could wear his utifonn and follow the flag. That privilege was denied to Ireland. When Ireland had a limited form of self-government she would be at peace, but not until then. t