THE IRISH POLICY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 186, 20 October 1876, Page 9

THE IRISH POLICY.

(From the ' Carlow Post.') The letter addressed by the member for Louth to the 'Times' will be read with no ordinary interest by the friends of the party of Home Rule. Scattering to the winds the various myths and rumours of splits and discussions, which are the mere creations of the fancy of the promulgators, Mr. Sullivan tells all whom it may concern — and what true patriot does it not concern? — that the ranks of the party are as firmly knit together and as determined to fight the battle of self-government to the end as ever they were. In powerful and scathing, yet calm^|and dignified terms, he denounces the efforts of the press in England and the anti-national press in Ireland to malign and belie the aim and object of the movement. Nothing could have been more seasonable, nothing more appropriate than this declaration, coming, as it does, from one who so deservedly possesses the confidence of the national party in Ireland. To have allowed misrepresentations which have been so widely and malignantly circulated within the last week or two, to remain unanswered and uncontradicted, would have been most injudicious, if not fatal. The interval of the recess will give sufficient time and afford various opportunities for maturing and discussing the future line of action to be adopted. A premature declaration of the course to be hereafter pursued, even if it had been decided upon, would be most impolitic. Many events may

take place during the next six or seven months that might give a totally different aspect to matters, and render a complete change of tactics necessary. Festina lente should therefore be the motto for the moment. There is one passage in Mr. Sullivan's letter in the ' Times ' to which special attention should be given by every sincere lover of his country. " Drawing a pregnant lesson, from the eagerness of English journals to hail so-called splits or secessions in our ranks, even these incidents only serve to awaken us to the value of union, and induce us to make still stronger demonstrations ot unity of purpose and of action." In following the advice thus given, the true elements of success will be found. There is no absolute necessity for originating any new line of action ; nay, the best policy may lie in inaction, or in biding the proper time, and seizing the most fitting opportunities. Such opportunities often occur when they are least expected, and it is then that their results are perhaps the most important. There is another passage in the hon. member's letter which is worthy of special notice. It is his testimony to the more favorable tenor of the great organ of English opinion towards his country. Has the Home Rule movement had no share in bringing about this change ? We say it has contributed much towarck it, and if, though by slow and imperceptible degrees, it continues to influence that opinion, an important step will have been taken towards the end aimed at. We think that eventually it will be recognised in England as elsewhere as a public fact that " the Irish people have set their hearts on an independent, and united, and loyally disciplined party in the House of Commons, and the man who sought to destroy it would be execrated from Donegal to Kerry." The English people admire pluck, and there is real pluck in this declaration. For the present this is our policy, the programme which will be carried out to the letter, always provided that we unite cordially and energetically in the course which it prescribes _^^___^_^____