AUCKLAND IRISH NATIONAL FEDERATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 22, 18 March 1892, Page 7

AUCKLAND IRISH NATIONAL FEDERATION.

THE SCOPE AND NATURE OF IRELAND'S CLAIMS. AN INTBBKSIIMO ADDRESS. (From our own Correspondent.) Auckland, March 9, 1892. 8t Patrick's Hall, Chapel square, was crowded on March 3rd »■ the nsual fortnightly meeting of the Auckland Branch of the Irish National Federation, when Mr William Duncan gave a lee 'u re on the subject, " Is Ireland's Demand for Home Bale Reasonable and Logical." Mr J. A. Tole presided. Mr Duncan, who was received with applause, said that he would endeavour to prove that the demand for Home Rule wbb reasonable. The subject should be one of general interest, offering attractions not only for those who, like himself, were desirous of seeing Ireland transformed into a self-governing country, but also for those who. while not sympathising with what is generally known as Home Rule, are anxious that the present state of poverty and discontent in Ireland should cease, and are willing to consider in the calm light of history and philosophy any scheme proposed for that purpose by responsible politicians. He would try and deal with the matter impartially and dispassionately, weighing arguments for and against the scheme to see whether the proposal had any solid foundation in theoretic reasonableness, practicability, and justice. He went on to define Home Bule to mean the restitution to Ireland of representative government, or in other words a government in accordance with the constitutionally expressed will of a majority of the people, and carried out by a ministry constitutionally responsible to those they govern. The internal affairs of Ireland should be regulated by a parliament composed of the Qaeen, Lords, and Commons of Ireland. At present there was even centralisation of government. There was no fear of separation. It was not probable that two countries having bo many social, geographical | commercial, and international ties would separate, or that the dismemberment of an Empire which Ireland has had such a large share in building up shonld take place. But he was just as ttrongly of opinion that no country Bhould continue to control the domestic affairs of another whose wants it had no time to attend to, and whose aspirations it confessedly did not understand (applause). He claimed that the proposal for Home Rule was neither j vague nor unintelligible, and that one of its essential conditions was the preservation of the unity of the Empire. It was neither communistic nor revolutionary, but simply preventing over-centralisation, and not violating one principle of the constitution (applause). He would now ask them to con&Uer whether the proposal would stand the test of common sense, as one likely to improve the present deplorable condition of things in Ireland, and if it would bear the recommendation of political philosophy. The lecturer went on to show how England and Ireland were different, not only geographically and socially, but in history, religion, and national instincts, and national natures. Ireland had been the centre of civilisation when England was but a barbarous province of the Roman Empire. Long eince the balance had, however, been reversed, yet mid unparalleled suffering Ireland had fought age after age for the preservation of her nationality. The agitation of tbe time of Grattan was then dealt with, when that statesman declared that no power on earth had a right to legislate for Ireland but the Sovereign, Lords, and Commons of Ireland, and citing hia memorable dictum, " They knew their duty to their sovereign, and they were loyal, they knew their duty to themselves, and they determined to be free." " Tbe voice of Grattan smote wrong's domination, The death of Emmett sealed the cause oE right." The conspiracy which was entered into to rob Ireland of self-govern-ment was graphically detailed. A union, said the speaker, which required for a period of less than & century 87 coercion acts, and an army larger than that required to fignt Russia in the Crimea, to maintain was surely impolitic and disgraceful. Tbe effect in Ireland bad been disastrous. She bad been pauperised and depopulated, and left very often a prey to men of desperate designs. During that time the Irish population has decreased from 8,000,000 to 5,000,000. During the last 90 years 4,000,000 of people have been evicted from their homes. In the seme period nearly 4,000,000 Irishmen have emigrated — have been forced to leave their native country, and driven t) find homes in foreign countries. One thing, however, had lived through it all and that was " Ireland's undying faith in the ultimate triumph of her nationality " (load applause). After dealing and , briefly explaining the principle of federalism, quoting Mr Truman and others, numerous instances were adduced from history to show its successful working in the world's history from the formation of the League of Ackaia down to the present time. The provinces of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Hungary and the colonial possessions of Great Britain, all warranting the assertion that Home Rnle was reasonable theoretically. With regard to tbe practical advantages to

be derived^ from it, many opinions were given, a good many Tories being amongst the number. The speaker then proceeded to answer some of the popular objections to the scheme, ridiculing the one of separation, and with reference to the statement that Scotland had prospered under the Uai m stated that she had done so n t because of the Union but in spite of tbe Union. He, however, clearly pointed ont tbe great diff rence between Scotland and Ireland in the matter of local legislation whicli w.lB all in favour of Scotland, aud he as h Scotchman would say tint bis connry wan entitled to a still larger measure of self-government (applause). The objection thit if Home Rule were conceded to Ireland the Protestants would be likely to suffer persecution from the Roman Catholics, he held in the greatest abhorence. It was cruel to turn it into a semire igious strife. Contemporary history shows such is not the case. Pointing out how many Protestants the Roman Catholics had assisted to raise to power and bow the best men of tbe Irish party were Protestan's, he asked whether his own faith as well as that of the Roman Catho'io did not teach them " to love each other," and if from this standpoint alone there was not enough when they looked the matter squarely io tbe face to urge them on to do something for the amelioration of the people of Ireland (applause). It wan evident the Liberal party wanted to push th« matter through, and when they had taken anything fairly in hand they had never known final defeat. Built up as this schema was on the principles of liberty, justice, and love, the final result must be victory. In concluding an interesting lecture Mr Duncan said that he thoroughly believed that there would be no hope for the pacification of Ireland until the quoation was finally settled. Ireland's malady must be cured by hersalf . When Macbeth asks the physician : — " Canst thou minister to a mind diseased," the physician makes answer :— Therein the patient Must minister to herself. This is Ireland's state to-day. Her malady hag baffled the most skilfnl political physicians of England. She must bind np her own wounds and cure her own diseases. The vital force which has lived through centuries of oppression still animates the race. The simple faith, kindly nature, and indomitable courage, which made Ireland in far off ages the centre of civilisation, still exist. Give them free scope, give them the bracing influence of a constitution, like that we ourselves enjoy, and before a generation has passed tbe long and dreary ages of persecution will be forgotten, and Ireland tbe Ireland of their hopes and prayers will have entered upon a uew era of liberty, prosperity and peace applause). After several questions bad been asked and answered, a vote of thanks was given to Mr Duncan. A vote of thanks to Mr Tole for presiding concluded the meeting.