BISHOP MOHAN ON HOME RULE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 42, 5 August 1892, Page 23

BISHOP MOHAN ON HOME RULE.

(Dunedin Star, July 27.)

At the conclusion of tbe interview which Bishop Moran was kind enough to grant to our reporter last week, his Lordship was asked whether he would say what his views were as to the outcome of the general election as affecting the question of Home Rule. The request was at once complied with, and

The Bishop said : It is clear from the elections that Mr Gladstone ha 9 a majority with him in favour of granting Home Rule for Ireland ; that is to say, that the majority of the people are willing to give Ireland power to manage her own internal domestic affairs ; and

I hold that it would be a wise thing if that power were granted at once. My opinion is that no one nation is in a position nor is it capable to legislate with regard to the domeatio affairs of another nation. The Irish and the English are two distinct nations— distinct, but not separate. They are both under one Empire. Ido not think that the granting of Home Rule would interfere with the unity of the Umpire in the least. lam an Irishman myself, and a strong advocate for the repeal of the Union ; but that doea not imply that I desire to see separation, and I am firmly convinced that the Irish people do not wish separation from England, but would regard the prospect of such separation sb a calamity, if only for the reason that England is a powerful nation, able to protect them. But the Irish are fully persuaded, as the result of long and bitter experience, that unless they are allowed to manage their own affaira the country can never be prosperous or peaceable ; and I see no difficulties in the way. The Irish are willing to cast in their lot with England and be loyal to the Queen, hut they feel and know very well that unless the conduct of their own affairs is vested in themselves the people must continue to remain as they are now, miserable and neglected to a great extent, and consequently discpnfented. It would be aa advantage to England also that Home Rule should be granted. Ireland is loyal to the Throne, and most anxious to remain a member of the British Empire. With Home Bule her people would be firm supporters of the Empire, and I am fully persuaded that England would benefit by ceding at once to Ireland the right that is asked. There is no need to fear ia tbe least that Ireland wouldjjbe disloyal to Eng. land. As to tbe Ulster affair, I cannot understand that that is any real difficulty. Ulsterjis notiProtestant. There are nine connties in Ulster, and in five of these the majority of the inhabitants are Catholics. But the existence of a Catholic majority would not imply a denial of rights to the minority. I have lived in a part of Ireland— I speak of Wicklow, Dublin, and Wexford— where the Catholics outnumbered the Protestants as ten to one, and there was never an injustice done, nor desired to be done, to the minority. The two parties live in the greatest peace and harmony. Those who professs to believe that the Catholics would use their numbers to oppress their neighbours can know very little of what they are talking. The Irish take no count of a man's religion. Wherever they find a good Irishman—that is what they want— they return him. Mr Parnell was a case in point. He was not 9 Catholic. Where Catholics are in a majority you never hear of religious questions at all. My experience is that the Irish Catholics are the most tolerant and liberal-minded people in the world. There ia'not the slightest risk that they would tyrannise over others or seek to do so. Oa the contrary, Tarn quite sare that the Catholics of Ireland woold most willingly give to the Protestants even more consideration than could be reasonably demanded. I feel absolutely sure of that.