IRELAND'S CENTENNIAL ADDRESS.

New Zealand Tablet, 2 March 1877, Page 5

IRELAND'S CENTENNIAL ADDRESS.

If the British Cabinet in London, and Sir Edward Thornton — ita agent — in Washington, have been congratulating themselves upon so embarrassing President Grant, through the starched etiquette of the State Department, that he had to break his promise and decline the formal acceptance of the address brought hither by Mea9P3. Power and Parnell, their congratulations were somewhat premature, as they will find upon glancing over an abstract of last week's Congressional proceedings. The House of Representatives (as ita name implies) represents the American people — which Secretary Fish and his assistants do not. Despite all the turmoil and worry over disputed elections, the House of B. ipresentatives has been vigilant and thoughtful enough to perceive that the action of the Executive in regard to Ireland's Centennial greeting was opposed to the principles and traditions on which the government is based, and, if allowed to pass unrebuked, would furnish a pernicious precedent. Consequently, on Wednesday of last week, the matter was brought up in the House, with the result detailed below. We copy from the official report: — House of Kepresentatives, Washington, D. C, December 20, 1876. The Speaker stated that he had information that there waa a gentleman in the city who was the bearer to the people of this country of a communication from the Irish nation congratulating the American people in this their centennial year. Mr. HolmaTi, of Indiana, thereupon rose and asked unanimous consent to offer a resolution, reciting that Mr. J. O'Connor, J P., j had been deputed to represent to the people of the United States ! the congratulations of the Irish nation on the centenary of Ameri* can Independence, and referring the subject of his mission to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, with instructions to report what action should be taken on the premises. Mr. Townsend, of New York, suggested to Mr. Holman the use i of the word 'people' instead of 'nation.' j Mr. Holm in expressed his opinion that the term ' nation ' was j not inappropriate, and he hoped tha,t the objection would not be ' pressed. ' Mr. Townsend — I do not object. lam in favour of the resolu-t | tion at any rate. | Mr. Holman— There is a sense in which the term ' nation ' 13 properly applied to the Irish people. Mr. Hoar, of Mass — What is the national authority of the Irish j people ? I Mr Holman — The communication comes from that portion of j the Irish people who now reside within the- limits of Ireland. Their representative is deputed by them as a people to express their congratulations on the close of the first century of American Independence. 1 Mr. Hoar — In what mode is the deputation made or authenticated ? | Mr. Holman — That is one of the subjects properly referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Mr. Hoar — The resolution makeg the House allege aa a fact that this gentleman has been deputed by the Irish nation. Now, it is proper that if the House is to assert that fact it should know it. The gentleman who offers this resolution does not, I understand, know it. My question is — who deputed this gentleman ? t What is the national authority ? >uppose the Irish nation should say next week : 'We did t not depute him/ what evidence is there that they did ? Mr. Holman — The technical point raised is clear enough. , Mr: Hoar — Say, ' said to be deputed.' | Mr. Holman — But inasmuch as the term ' nation ' may be used synonymously with ' people,' 1 trust that the resolution will be adopted in its present form. The objnetiennot being pressed, the resolution was adopted. In taking this action without a single dissenting voice, the representatives of the American people have deliberately recorded their belief that Ireland has never forfeited or abandoned her claim to be considered a distinct nationality. No matter what disposal is now made of the address, it has done good work in achieving this result. — American Paper.