Canada and Home Rule

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 21, 21 May 1903, Page 29

Canada and Home Rule

The following cable message appeared in the New Zealand newspapers of April 3 • fnSEo^MS*. the llish land oi-tiE^iSi It is somewhat strange that the cable agent forgot Ho,np"lV,?£ th \ th ? P"""^ 1 resolution leJerred g?og ?o Home Rule, that relating to the land question being onl.v of secondary impoitanco. The Ottawa correspond SuS't 1^ ' **« 'o«owli Res^tlof £ s&t^o^oi wonted excitement. It is a debate that will remain memorable in the annals of the Irish question. It has^Jforded opportunity lor expressions of sentiments that as a rule, are not generally voiced abroad.. On the one hand it has given an opportunity to' members of the House, of different races and creeds, to state their, cherished views in favor of justice to Ireland ; on the other hand, it has afforded an opportunity to a few, whose ideas a,re antagonistic to all that is Irish and-for some of them —to all that is Catholic, to find a ventilation. It was a curious scene and a remarkable discussion ■ it RI \I" S ? fu lr ot the sentiments throughout Canada The followinlw^ 10 " 8 in Which they are Stained.

The Resolutions — ' Thai an humble address be presented to his Majesty as follows : We, your Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, Xhe Commons of Canada, in Parliament assembled desiie most earnestly in our name and on behalf of the people whom we represent to renew the expression of our unswerving loyalty and devotion to your Majesty's pei son and Government. J"^ *» We would respectfully represent to your Maiestv that m 1882 the Parliament of Canada adopted an humble address to her Most Giacious Majesty the Queen expressing the hope that a iust measure of Home Rule would be granted to the people of Ireland, and that in the >eais 1886 and 1887 by resolution of the House of ( Diiunons the sentiments of the said address to her Most (.rations Majesty weie earnestly reiterated and the hope again expressed that such a measure of Home Rule would be passed by the Imperial Parliament. ' That the ,\cais that ha\e elapsed since the adoption ol the atoresaid address and resolutions to your Most (iianois Maiesty's illustrious and e\er to- be lamented predecessor have but served to emphasise the blessings which accrue to this Dominion from the federal s\stem under which the people li\e, the benefits of which the Commons of Canada reioices to see are about to be Mia red in by their fellow-subjects of the Australian I oinmonwxMlth. and, theiefore, this extended experience which \our Most Gracious Majesty's subjects have had oJ the inestimable 'benefits resulting from the said (■o\ernment bestowed on the whole of British North Ameiua but intensifies their desiie to affirm through their representatives in Parliament the sentiments expressed m the said address and resolutions with regard to th" hostowal ol solf-gov eminent upon your Majesty's sublet is m li eland

We hewu observed, may it ])lease Your Majesty, with leelmgs ot prolound satisfaction, the evidence afloided in debate in the House ol Commons of the United Kingdom on t h<> speech fi om the throne, of a sincere d$M1(l on all sides to usher in a new era of lasting peace and coodwil! in Ireland , and this House congratulates lilr peo 'h' <>i the mother country on the legislation, just and equitable, which it is belimed will follow the recent conference on t lie land and hopes for an early and lasting settlement fair to all of that long-vexed and 111 1 o.iblesome problem, the solution of which has for so long taxed the powers of British statesmen '

The resolut ions weie mo\ed in a s pooch of great power by the Hnn Mr Cos! igan, and supported by the I'lemior (Sir Wilfiid Lautier). the Hon. Mr Fit/patrick, «iiid others, whose emit i ihutions to the discussions were distinguished tor their lo\al. lofty, and patriotic character, and were in threat conttast to the narrow and preuidict d tone adopted <hv the opponents of the motion.

r l'he result of the debate was that 102 voted in favor and 11 against the motion th(> maiority being 61. Tndtided in the majority wete t\vcl\e membeis of the Opi o-.itum