The Irish Delegates

New Zealand Tablet, 27 December 1906, Page 11

The Irish Delegates

SPLENDID MEETING IN CHRISTCHURCH

Mr. Joseph Devlin, M.P., arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday afternoon of last week from Timaru.^ On the journey he was joined at Ashburton -by Rev. Fathers- O'Connell and liiokson, and Messrs. P. Burke - and J. Barrett, repiesenting the Christchurch reception committee. At -the Chribtchurch railway, station the visitor was received by the Vicar-General (the Very , Rev. Father Le Menant des 'Chesnais),- Rev, Father . Cooncy, Mr. G. Laurenson,- M.H.R.j Mr. E. O'Connor, and a number -of the members of- the reception committee, and was driven to the Cafe de Paris' Hotel. He dined with a number oi prominent local sympathisers "with the Irish cause. _ THE PUBLIC MEETING. In the evening Mr. Devlin addressed a public meeting in His Majesty's Theatre, and ' made a brilliant and forceful appeal on behalf of " the cause of " se^f-govern-ment for .Ireland. The member for West Belfast (says the" ' Lyttelton Times ') is a natural orator, imbued with a fervent love of Ins country and a passionate desire to see Ireland enjoying the freedom and independence lhat is accorded to the great colonies of the Empire. He asked not for sympathy, tut for a' full recognition of Ireland's right to freedom. Tttr. T. Gapes presided, and ' there were also on the platform the Very Rev. Father- Le . Menant des Chesnais, Messrs. G. Laurenson, G. Witty, and W. W. Tanner (members of the House of Representatives), many representatives of the Catholic clergy, and the members of the reception committee. There was a large attendance. The speaker had evidently the sympathy of his audience from the first, and the applause .was loud -and frequent. The' chairman apologised for the absence of the Hon. W. Hall- Jones, Father Kennedy, and Mr. T. H.. Davey, M.I-I.R. He said that he. had consented to preside, with very great pleasure. .In New Zealand all the people enjoyed freedom— freedom of the person and freedom of speech — and it would not be necessary to ask a coloiAal audience J,o give Mr. Devlin a careful and impartial hearing in regard to the^ Irish national cause. MR. DEVLIN'S SPEECH. ' _ . Mr. Devlin, _after the applause that greeted- him when he rose, said that his -first duty was to express his profound obligation to that very large , and representative meeting for the public spirit and the kindly interest manifested in the cause., of Ireland. He felt _ the "great honor that had been done to him. as the representative from Ireland, because, in view of the variety- of local attractions and the many fascinaifcons offered by this great city, it was no small testimony to the value which the people placed upon his mission when they attended in such large numbers, first of all to hear the Irish question stated, and, second-

ly, he trusted, to show their practical sympathy and their moral support lor that cause which he had come to humbly plead. His second duty was to express his deep , and heartfelt gratfcfcude to the chairman for the promptitude, and spontaneity with, which he came forward to preside at the meeting, and to show that in Christchurch-, as in gtlier parts of New Zealand, there were public men, enjojing tile confidence of the" citizens and secure in thai courage and -devotion to liberty which inspired Mr. "Gapes to occupy the posit-ion. Since he armed in Australasia, Mr... Devlin continued, until he addressed a great meeting in Dunedin a- few nights back, not only Mayors, ot -cities but also^Premiers o,f States, had extended to him a friendly and hospitality and a waim-hearted greeting. In both - Australia and New. Zealand, Mayors o.f ' cities had 'had the courage and the public sxririt to,' extend a welcome to the envoy, "and to sympathise with the cause" that - envoy represented. It was only - ;in -the nature of things that . . _" " Intelligent Leaders of Public Opinion in these fands, men who' had watched the wonderful growth and the mighty advance which these great selfgoverning colonies had made under, the priceless glory of free institutions, inejn who had Vthe courage to act,, as well, as .the intelligence 1 , to think, and who enjoyed freedom and self-go ventment themselves, should be' sufficiently enlightened and patriotic to manifest an anxiety to see similar rights "and privileges extended to another " people. About - six .^months ,ago he had had the privilege of heading the last speech delivered by New Zealand's honored and respected late Prime, Minister, Mr. Seddon. (Applause.) He had been honored with. an invitation from Mr. Deakin to attend a dinner organised by the Victorian Government -in honor of. »jthis Colony's great first citizen. . He freard Mr. • SeddoircdeVi liver, what, to his mind, was /tine" of th£~ most^'im.—pres&ive speeches he had heard in favor of tlfe'V un-t ' trammelled right of 'the self-governing colonies to direct _ their own fortunes, and to advance their own interests without interference from any class or section. Mr. Seddon had concluded his speech by ..saying ; that he was going back with pleasure and joy Jboi"; ' G-od's own country,' and he" could not help feeling that it was profoundly- impressive for' an Irish member to. see that gathering of the guides, and directors of the free colonies of the Empire. He could not help . thinking that there was- another land thgTl', might ,well- - be styled ' God's own country.' •_ 'It was; -the cradlelantl o,t his race, Ireland. His mind went_pack to"his dear Home-land, 16,000 miles from whiclfthat. gathering took place. He, thought of 'God's own country' here, enjoying its splendid material advantages, and he -thought of another land, gifted with -superb moun Itaias, exquisite scenery, fertile soil, great rivers, and every material advantage Providence cpuld bestow .upon a nation. lie as^ed himself, What was the meaning of . - , : The Marked Difference ? One land _was . flourishing and free," splendid in its institutions, progressive in its power, with, the luxury of a contented and a happy people. He saw that although God made this country great, man assisted Him. _God also made Ireland a splendid country, but - . man denied the Irish people the advantages that had made New ■ Zealand a great and powerful land. In coming to this great city of Christchurch to make an' appeal to New Zealanders • for their sympathy and cooporaiion, he .could not do * better .than state- in clear arid lucid terms ths demands made by Irishmen, arid _*to do so -in a way that would be well understood by New- Zealandets, irrespective of creed or political persuasion. He would simply say that the Irish Nationalists were working for c Ireland for the Irish,' as people in New Zealand enjoyed l New Zealand for the New- Zealanders.' Irishmen simply claimed for their country the rights and privileges held by the people of this land. They asked that their people should be allowed -to apply their genius to the adjustment of those .economical and industrial reforms that would make for moie prosperity amongst the' people and for the greater achievements of the nation. They asked for the . right of the Irish people to conduct their own purely domestic and internal affairs according to their own ideas and aspirations. ' On that foundation, he - ought to receive the sympathy and co-operation of all freedom-inspired citizens of this country. In coming 1 to _ Christchurch to-j»lead the cause of Ireland, Be might make h,is claim for" the right of his country to manape its own affairs, and guide its own destinies, , upon high ■ sentimental, historical, and traditional grounds. The remainder of Mr. " Devlin's speech was mainly on Ihe lines of those delivered in other centres, and its conclusion was marked by prolonged applause.

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THE RESOLUTIONS. Mr. G-. Laurenson, M..11.R., then moved the following motion—* That this meeting of the citizens of Christchurch is in full sympathy with the people of Ireland in their efforts to obtain constitutional government on similar lines to those' which England has freely granted to all her self-governing colonies.' He said that it was with peculiar pleasure he moved' the motion. After hearing Mr. Devlin's speech, he, realised how it was that the Irish representatives in the House of Commons had brought Home Rule within the sphere - of practical politics, and had gone far to solve - the Irish land problem. ' 1 advocate Home Rule for Ireland, because I love the British Empire,' said Mr. Laurenson. ' Ireland cannot be prosperous without Home Rule, and Great Bn'ain cannot he truly great- - while indignation smoulders in the hearts of the Irish peojfle. 1 would like to ch'e a word of cheer to Mr. Devlin. History records many long and bitter struggles between the classes and ' the masses. In every instance the masses have won, " and in every instance time has shown that the- masses, were ■ right.' Mr. Laurenson mentioned that he had always adyocated Home Rule for Ireland, from the platform and elsewhere, and had never wavered 'in his^ conviction that freedom was the right of the people. Nearly.; every « great thinker who had visited Ireland had come to t<he conclusion that the only cure for Irish sorrow was 'a national system of government. Mr. J. Bair seconded, the motion, and expressed strong sympathy with the Home Rule movement. The great majority of the New Zealand workers, he said, believed that- Ireland should have the freedom accorded to other portions of the Empire. ~ The motion was carried unanimously. Air. J. Bairctt moved — l That t-his meeting now takes up a collection to assist the Irish Parliamentary Party in. the Home Rule movement.' He said that the Irish cause needed money, and he hoped that the peo;-lo of Christchurch would show their practical sympathy. He himself proposed to contribute '"£2o. Mr. E. O'Connor seconded the motion, which was carried. A collection was taken up, and realised .a handsome sum in cash and promises.