THE MEN OF THE HOME RULE MOVEMENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 29, 9 November 1888, Page 13

THE MEN OF THE HOME RULE MOVEMENT.

A lict»bb on " The Men of the Irish Party," was given by tbe Rev. William Burke on Tueiday night, November 6, in the Choral Hall. The appearance of the Hall on entering was very pleasing. All about the platform was tastefully festooned with evergreens and flowers and hanging on the walls were pictures, maps, and banners, conspicuous amongst which was the green flag of Erin with harp in gold. Beneath this hung a large picture of Ireland's Apostle. But by far the most brilliant effect of all was produced by the appearance of Bixty or eighty of the school children seated on a platform, dressed in holiday attire and wearing on the left breast a bright green rosette. These lads form the school choir and are known as " The Young Cecilians." Under the leadership of one of the Brothers, and with Harr Schweers'presiding at the piano, they very appropiately opened the proceedings by singing with much taste and Bpirit that fine old eong " The Wearing of the Green." In the absence of the Most Rev. Dr. Moran, Mr. J. B. Callan presided. The Yen. Archdeacon Coleman and many leading citizens of all denominations were present. The rev. lecturer commenced with a vivid description of Ireland during the famine period of 1848 to 1850 ; of tbe people dying in thousands and of the despair which filled the breasts of the people daring the dark and dismal times which followed the famine, and of the betrayal of their trusts by Keogh and the Sadliers. He gave a loving and fine outline of the life of the " noble and self-sacrificing A. M. Sullivan " ; his connection with the Nation, which was viewed by the Whigs and Fenians alike with distrust ; how Sullivan, when he left for his office in the morning, was not certain that he would get home alive. He briefly described the formation of the Home Rule movement, its chief aim being the restoration of the old Irish Parliament, and the difficult task which the Home Rnltrs had set themselves. Before them was the British Assembly, Btrong in majorities ; behind them was the Irish nation, the people hoping with their strong faith that something good would result from the movement ; and behind this great body of the Irish people was that small minority of Irishmen who stood by the sword alone for obteining their rights. The latter derided the Home Rulers, and prophesied that they wonld be voted down by the British Honse of Commons, and that the party would consequently fall to pieces without doing any good. That they were outvoted was a fact, and that even for their most simple demands. For Isaac Butt's bills there generally voted 40 Irish ayes and 400 British noes, and thus was the prophecy fulfilled. But throughout these defeats of Butt's bills there was sitting on the benches during 1875 and 1876 a pale-faced, quiet-looking man, noting the mockeries of tbe English members, an j reading their insolent attacks on the Irish party. His name was then little known — he was even received with hesitation as a member of the Home Rule party ; and after his first address it was predicted that he would be one of the many silent members. When elected for Meath in 1875 the people shook their heads, and contrasted him unfavourably with his predecessor, honest John Martin. But this man raised the most potent party of modern Ireland. It was now that this quiet, silent man, Charles Stewart Parnell (great applause) took his place, seized the cudgels, and tbe Commonß were made to give way. Next to Gladstone he was the best Parliamentarian of his day. During the session of 1877 Messrs. Parnell and Biggar proposed a new plan of action— the difficult task of subduing the entire British Parliament. These two men, in order to carry out their aim, had to overcome storms of hate and huiricanes of abuse. They felt that their first duty was to their own country, and they determined that the opening address of the Queen to Parliament should not be an address devoted only to the Ashantees, Zulus, and such like, and they succeeded. They turned, as Johu Bright says, " that House of free speech into a gagging assembly," and they turned out Governments. Obstruction had been kuown in the House bofore, but obstruction like theirs never. The pale-faced man and the ugly-looking man from Belfast had a Herculean task ; they had to understand all the by-laws of the House, and all its modes of procedure. They diseased clause by claure every bill that was brought forward, whether it was English, Scotch, or Irish. Irishmen in the House had never done this before. They talked and gave trouble, as they intended to do. Such audacity was before uubeard of. Division after division went on fast and furious for hours during the sessions of 77 and 78. But tha obstruction of 77 and 78' was as nothing compared to that of '80 and '81. A person entering tne House of Commons at 9 in the morning of February 3, 1881, beheld a curious sight — the Bpeaker holding; a paper in his hand vainly trying to read it, and before him some 300 or 400 English members with their mouths formed into concave circles hooting and yelling at some 25 Irish members, and these 25 Irishmen standing erect bold and defiant facing with clenched fists their bitter opponents vociferating with fury, aye, and even swearing as only angry Irishmen could swear in the face of their foe (tremendous applause). The new Parnell party was then understood in Ireland, and the cry went up that now they had the men who would curry out their policy. It was impossible, he said, to crowd into one evening's lecture even a hasty outline of the history of the Parnell party and of the stormy scenes which followed their struggles. Tha events of these past 10 years had had a revolutionary tendency. They had stirred the English people as they bai never been stirred before, and away over the bonny hills and dales of Scotland the spirit of the movement had gone and had taken deep root amongst the poor crofters of the Hebrides. Then what an effect had it on the land question ! Ten years ago the Irish peasantry were trodden down ; they were mere serfs, worse off than the slaves of the American planters The latter had an interest in the health of their slaves, but Irish landlords did rot trouble themselves whether their tenants lived or died. Better that their lands were occupied as sheep-walks or by cattle. But when Gladstone delivered in 1881 his lmh Land Bill, it was felt that a glimpse of better days was looming. It had many defects, but many of these deftcs had since been remedied. Ihe cry of the people now was " Tne land for the people." —

(Enthusiastic applause.) la Jane, 1876, little more than 10 years ago, Mr. Butt introduced one of bis Home Rule Bills ; the ayes were 43, the noes 291. In Jane, 1886, 10 years after, Mr. Gladstone introduced what was practically the same bill in a full House of some 600 members, and the majority against him was only 30 (great applause). And what had led to this 1 Mr. Parnell had ousted the strongest Liberal Ministry of the century. He saw his end was gained ; he saw he could turn oat Ministries as he wished. They saw that Home Rule must c«me. Mr. Gladstone saw this, and saw that the Irißh party could stop the Government of the country. The alternatives were : Either Home Rule must be granted, or the Irish people must be dieenfranchised. Th 3 latter could not be done, and so Home Rule mast bs given (hea 1 ", hear). It was not yet grantel, but it must come — if not during this septennial period of Parliamsnt, very shortly afterwards. Looking back to '48, ani '52, and '68, and 78— dark and gloomy periods, and then at '88 they must conclude that Parnell had been the saviour of his country. He had done wonders, but he had to go through fire and water to do it. He had suffered terribly in the causi of his country. His reward would be great. Even now when his character was assailed, his loving countrymen cluster around him, and not only they, but Englishmen and Scotchmen of all shades of opinioo, are subscribing liberally to the defence of his good name. A man, for the defence of whose character even his political enemiat subscribe, need not fear to have bit fair name tarnished by the Times. But Parnell has not done all the work. He has been aided by others. Ireland in all ages has had its poets, and the poet of the Parnell party was T. D. Sullivan, and its orator Sexton. The poet was a copy of his brother, A. M. Sullivan. His poems were on the lips of thousands of Irish people, and they- were like a beautiful ribbon drawing together Irishmen all over the world. The rev. lecturer here gave a masterly description of the poems of T. D. Sullivan. Father Burke now sat down for a few moments, when Mr. John Deaker advanced to the front of the platform and recited with much spirit, and with admirable effect, T. D. Sullivan's latest magnificent poem, " The Vision of Balfour's Ghost as Gaoler of Tullamore." fhe weird effect produced on the immense audience by the burden-line of the poem, '■ His rtply was— Tullamore." delivered slowly, in sepulchral tones, was something remarkable. Mr. Deaker was heartily applauded on resuming his seat. The Young Cecil ians then stood up and sang with great taste, and evidently with great heart, a new version, suited to New Zealand, of " The Song from the Canadian Backwoods," by T. D. Sullivan. The singing was highly appreciated. The rev. lecturer, continuing, said Thomas Sexton, the (present Lord Mayor of Dublin, was a pupil of the Christian Brothers' school, Mount Sion, Waterford. When about twelve and a half years of age, young Sexton and another boy from Mount Sion school were successful in a competitive examination for two vacant clerkships in the Waterfori and Limerick railway. This examination was conducted by a Government Model School master, and it is worthy of note that the first ten places were taken by the Christiau Brothers' pupils (applause). At the age of twenty-one, he went to Dublin, aad became a leading writer oi the Nation. In 1881 he was returned as member for Mayo, and members of tbe House soon recDgnised that a great orator had come into the House. He could do what he pleased with words, and next to GladBone he was considered the greatest orator in the British Isles. Parnell, the Sullivans, Sexton, Hdaly, O'Connor, M'Carthy, and Davitt were instances of bands of men with great ability, who had from time to time spruug up in Ireland to serve their country. Ie is extraordu.ary that no matter how Dotterel or how scattered Ireland was, she revived in these bands all the good qualities of the bands of men who had lived long ages ago. No historian need deplore that at any period of Ireland's history her spirit was dea i. From New York to Sa.n Francisco they found her sons ruling the great cities and possessed of great pow t. Their eloquence of to-day was worthy of O'Coonell, of Grattan. and of Sheridan. They possessed a courage which nothing could overcome, and theirs was a brilliaacy which no obstacle could obscure ; and for them there was a glorious future (immense applause) Mr, J. B. Callan, in proposing a vote of thanks, said :— Ladies and gentlemen, I beg to move a hearty vote of thanks to the rev. lecturer. Apart from the object of the lecture, I think Father Burke is deserving of our thanks for bringing under our notice the subject npon which he has spoken tc-night. As he says, the Home Rule movement is tbe foremost oue of the time, and it is only natural that the men who are the leaders of this movement should be objects of interest to us. If we were to be guided in our opinions concerning these gentlemen by the general tone of the cablegrams transmitted fiooi Home, we should came to the conclusion that they were rather a " bad lot." But most of us who have the opportunity of reading the Tablet, and other sources of correct information, kaow better than that. We know that the cablegrams do not represent the true state of the case. Hill we have not the time or opportunity of going into detail in these matters ; Father Burke has doae this fjr us to-night, and I think we owe him a debt of gratitude for the very full, able, and dramatic narrative which he has given us. I may say there is one thing which has always struck me in connection with tha Home Rule movement as unique in the history of any legislative assembly, and that is the wonderful unanimity and discipline displayed by the Parnellite Members o f Parliament. You know it is often cast as a reproach upon Irishmen that they are easily divided, that they allow their feelings to gain the mastery and sway them instead of reason and judgment and tbe intenst of the subject matter under discussion. If this be true, aad there may be some truth in it, tor Irishmen are more excitable than Englishmen or Scotchmen — but if it be true, then how marvellous must be tbe leadership of Mr. Painell, and how splendid the discipline of his followers when we see wnatan unbroken front this large body of men (as large as some of our

" We want the land that bore us, We'll make that want our chorus, We'll have it yet — tkough hard to get — By the heavens bending o'er us.' '

colonial legislative assemblies) present — and have presented for some years past — to the world. What a sinking of all personal feeling it evinces for the attainment of the great end. One word concerning tlSr object of the lecture. As you are aware it is in aid of the gymnasium attached to the Christian Brother's school. It must be very satisfactory to us all to see such a splendid attendance. It means a substantial financial result. Personally lam a great believer in the good results to be obtained from physical exercise. If not overdone, it meanß good health, and health, Carlyle tells us, is to be sought for before mental acquirements. If I am correct in saying that proficiency in physical exercise means health, then the puDils of the Christian Brothers' school ought to be very healthy ; for I noticed that at a gymnastic competition held lately in this city, where four schools competed for seven prizes, the boys of the Christian Brothers' schools walked off with four of these prizes (loud applaus-). I thought that an exceedingly creditable performance. So in coming here to-night lam sure we can say that we have enjoyed a great intellectual treat in listening to Father Burke, and that as far as the boys are concerned our help will not be thrown away, because in helping them we are helping those who have proved that they deserve helping. The Rev. Bro. Hughes said that he must, on behalf of the Brothers thank Mr. Callan for presiding, Mr. Schweers for kindly accompanying, to the rev. lecturer, and to the audience for attending. He took the opportunity of saying that in all his long: experiene in teaching he had never met with more teachable boys than those of New Zealand.

At the conclusion the lads sang (in four part 9) " The Minstrel Boy," and " The Village Choristers." The ever- varying wave of sound produced by the manner in which these songs were given under the leadership of one of the Brothers, had an extremely pleasiug effect.