THE REAL AIM OF IRELAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 456, 6 January 1882, Page 21

THE REAL AIM OF IRELAND.

(From the Pilot.)

It is time for Irishmen to take their attention off the Land Act and the "No Rent" policy, and let it return to the point it held before those temporary measures diverted it from the chief end in view — Home Rule, or local self-government.

For good or ill, the Land Act is in operation. We trust it will be largely for good ; and that every atom of its benefit will be used by the tenant farmers of Ireland. But even were the Land Act all that the Land League desired, _it •would be only a step toward the end. « The end of Irish agitation is Home Rule. The end of Irish revolution is Separate Independence. Against which of these will England prefer to work ? It is time to change the Land League organization, root and branch, into something larger. The outside world will sympathise far more with an op^n demand for Home Rule than with an organised war on landlords. The latter was necessary. It has achieved much for the tenants. It is unwise to continue it too far, to the loss of progress on the national line.

Ireland must have a government ; she cannot exist as a prisoner, chained on throat and limb, in the sight of civilization. The sight outrages and disquiets the world. It is England's interest now to have a settlement. Ireland is the weak spot, the dangerous spot of the Empire. Until she is satisfied, England dare not quarrel with any power stronger than the Zulus or Boers. She cannot safely keep up the strain. Ireland, ninety -nine years ago, was oppressed and enslaved as she was to-day. But one year later, in 1782, she demanded and obtained Home Rule. It is time to bend the entire organized force of her people to make the centennial of the Irish Parliament witness its renewal in College Green.

Mr. Parnell was preparing for this movement. Irishmen must take it up where he laid it down. Ireland has a tremendous interest in the British Empire. Its colouies are filled with her children. Its traditions, glories, riches have been worked out and won largely by Irishmen. But beyond this is the practical argument : her position on the Atlantic seaboard gives her an incalculable advantage over both England and Scotland.

With a home government even like that incomplete one which ruled her from 1782 to 1801, the prosperity of Irelaad would be almost limitless. The commerce that now is compelled to traverse the dangerous English Channel to Bristol, Southampton, and Liverpool, would enter the great safe ports of the South and West of Ireland. The unrivalled water power of the country would be utilized for mills. The industry of the people would be trained to lucrative manufactures instead of depending on rackrented agriculture. The certainty of such a demand being granted depends on its necessity ; and this is patent to every Englishman of intelligence. It was fully admitted by Mr. Gladstone in his speech at the London Guildhall, on Oct. 13, at which he announced Mr. Parnell's arrest. He said :—": — " With regard to self-government in Ireland, he should rejoice and hail with satisfaction the passage of any measure for such an end, always provided that there was one condition attached to it — that it should not break down or impair the supremacy of the Imperial Parliament." Give Ireland a home government and it will be her interest even more than it is Scotland's, to become a quiet part of the Empire. As Hungary entered into the life of Austria, and grew at a bound to be the moßt important part of the Empire, so Ireland, with a home government and a proper representation in an imperial council or parliament, can hold her own and grow rich and respected. Ireland has convinced England that she will not, cannot be ruled, except by her own people. England sees to-day the advantage of having Ireland at peace. She fears entire separation, and will coerce and lie and murder to oppose it. But a firm and intelligent demand for a federal union between the countries will now win its way with unprecedented speed among all classes of Englishmen, and will be supported by the public opinion of the world.