LORD RUSSELL ON THE IRISH IN AMERICA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 33, 18 December 1896, Page 29

LORD RUSSELL ON THE IRISH IN AMERICA.

Lord Russell of Killowen, Lady Russell and their party sailed from New York by the Cunard steamer Etruria for Liverpool. Lord Russell was entertained at the Catholic Club the previous night at a banquet, and was subsequently entertained at a reception given in his honour. Judge Daly, the president of the club, welcomed the Lord Chief Justice in an appropriate and graceful speech, to which Lord Russell suitably responded. In the course of his remarks he said :—": — " lam glad to find myself face to face with so distinguished a body of men representing the profession of the ancient faith, for the Catholics have suffered martyrdom for centuries. You prove that men are not worse as citizens because they are good Catholics. T am especially glad to know that I am face to face with men of my own race — men who are Irish by birth, parentage or descent — and I am glad to know that you have sprung from the old land and in face of prejudices against your race and religion ; yet bit by bit, slowly but surely are asserting the genius of our race which needs only fair play to secure great developments. The story of the early emigration from Ireland was a sad one, and almost shameful and cruel, so 1 prefer rather to dwell on the brightness of the present and the future of the Irish in this land who, bit by bit, are assuming 1 their just position. I need not suggest that the first duty of every IrishAmerican is to the country of his adoption. It is given to few to have the chance of making great sacrifices for their patriotism, but to everyone the chance is given to do something to raise the name and character of the race to which he belongs by the honest discharge of his duties, both in public and in private, and by the uniting in the development of the people of which he is a unit. Judge Daly, in his speech, made some allusion to my public life. I have ceased to be a fighting politician, but I have not ceased my political opinions. I hold the opinions I have always held, and when the legitimate time comes for the assertion of my principles, I shall assert my principles in a legitimate fashion. I have not ceased to be an Irishman. With regard to Home Rule for Ireland I desire to say that I have always maintained the right of self-government for our people, not with a view of the separation of Ireland from England, but the development of our country — because I believe Home Rule would be for Ireland's good, and for the best interests of the Empire. Surely the Irish have some right to a word about the Empire. They have given governors to its colonies, leaders to its parties and generals to its armies, and, more important still, have given armies to its generals. I will conclude by saying on behalf of my wife and myself that during our visit of six weeks' duration, every day has been marked by some unexpected act of courtesy and kindness whicn we can never forget."