Dublin Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 45, 26 August 1892, Page 11

Dublin Notes.

(Weekly Freeman, July 9.) CANADA bu come to the rescue of Ireland in splendid fashion. The Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario, has ordered a diocesan collection in his diocese for the campaign in Ireland, and it is certain to be a brilliant success. Thiß Bpeaks well for the sympathy which is felt even in far-away Canada with the leaders of the Irish race who are now warring against internal dissension as well as the hereditary foes of their country. Mr Lander, the Radical candidate who is contesting North Shropshire against Colonel KeoyoD-Slaney told his andience at Whitchurch a capital story on Monday evening. A Tory farmer was impressing on his labourers the horrors of a Home Bale system in Ireland. " The Irish labourers," he said, " would come over to England and compete with jou and lower your wages." "Ah, master," interrupted one of his hearers, " if that were so you would be the very first to go in for Ireland." There is no one fighting more bravely or more successfully for the Irish cause in England to-day than Mr T. P. O'Connor, who, in spite of his engrossing duties as a journalist, is making an extensive tour of the province*. Now he is in Liverpool, where the Irish are raising a fund to sweep out faction from their mother-land. Nearly £300 sterling has been collected since last Monday, and there is every prospect that the fund will reach £1000. This shows in the most practical way the determination and pluck of the Irish in England, Lord Mayor Meade has made up his mind that he is " the only possible " Lord Mayor. On Monday the election of Lord Mayor had to be postponed for a month owing to the resolve of himself and a section of bis friends to upset, with the help of the Tories, the decision of the Nationalist members of the Corportion to elect Mr James Shanks, a Protestant Home Baler, to the position, and thus give new force to the contrast of Nationalist tolerance with Unionist bigotry. The action of the Lord Mayor shows how far the dry -rot of factionism has eaten into the Nationalist strength. No man who has lost or who will lose his seat daring this contest will have so much sympathy extended to him by the Irish party, and by every Irishman who knows him, as Mi Bowntree, who was defeated on Tuesday at Scarborough. A Quaker in religion, he is in polities one of the sincerest men that ever espoused an honest cause. He visited Ireland more than once in the stormiest days of the Balfonr regime, and saw for himself the fruits of that disgraceful system, his recitals of which produced an enormous effect in England at the time. Mr Bowntree is a solicitor, and, not being a man of affluence, his constant and conscientious attendance to his duties at Westminster involved very considerable sacrifices. With characteristic maladroitness the Times to-day declares that Mr Kier Hardies return for West Ham cannot be regarded as a Home Rule victory. As a matter of fact his return was due entirely to the action of the local branch of the Irish organißation, Rcting under instructions from the Executive. Mr Kier Hardie has been wooing the constituency for some years as a labour advocate. On the death of Mr Hume Webster, the Liberal candidate, some months ago, a Mr Lester appeared on the scene, but the Liberal Federation declined to accept either him or Mr Kier Hardie as the Liberal candidate. In the meanwhile the Irishmen of the district, acting in accordance with the rules of the organisation, refused to commit themselves to either candidate until Saturday last, when they decided to support Mr Kier Hardie, who declared himself a staunch Home Buler and in favour of the immediate settlement of the question. On the Liberal Federation learning that the Irish vote — 320 Btroog — waß to be cast for Mr Kier Hardie they requested Mr Lester to retire from the field. That gentlemen complied, with the result that the seat has been won for Home Rule, as were it not for the prompt, praiseworthy, and effective action of the local Irishmen, a tbree-cornered fight would have ensued, and the Fury candidate would, for an absolute certainty, be returned at the head of the poll. And yet this victory, according to the Times, does not affect Home Bule. Preparations of an elaborate character are being made by the Excursion Committee to make the forthcoming pilgrimage from Dublin to the ancient capital of Ireland a great success. Last Monday the Organising Committee met at the Club Rooms, 87 Marlborough-street. The hon sec, Mr Eogene M'Donaell, read letters from gentlemen desirous of joining the pilgrimage on Sunday, 17'h inst, also correspondence as to the programme of proceedings. The Dublin bands and the local bands will join in the great historical procession through Tara's old hallß, and lead the musical entertainment in the Druid's Grove. At the historic " Stone Chair " used at the King's coronation, the president of the Antiquarian Historical Society will deliver the opening address. It is proposed to hold a commemoration at the grave of the 350 Wexford heroes who fell fighting at the battle of Tara in 1798. A large number of Wexfordmen will be present. Great efforts are being made to induce Irish speaking at the Fris or Parliament House, in order to give an impulse to the preservation of the

Irish language, and with a view of holding an athletic festival in. the King's Banqueting Hall, where athletic sports peculiar to the Celtic people, and music, poetry, oratory, and other kindred accomplishments might be held. Arrangements were made to invite the leading literary, athletic, and other organisations to co-operate with the committee to insure success.