ORATORY OF JOHN REDMOND

New Zealand Tablet, 8 December 1910, Page 2008

ORATORY OF JOHN REDMOND

By common consent (says the London Onlooher) Mr. John Redmond is the finest orator in the House of Commons at the present time. He possesses to the full all the poetic eloquence of his race. In his soft rich brogue, \v liiclv, if not so pronounced as that of some of his followers is, at least, more pleasant to the ear. I have heard Mr. Redmond deliver more than one speech that is quite worthy to rank with anything that the House has ever listened to. As he warms to his subject he assumes a dignity of bearing and a restraint of language that becomes him well, and even the most casual observer realises that he fully believes in every word, he is uttering; that he is exerting himself to the utmost to convince his auditors of the justice of the cause to which he pleads. It may be said that Mr. Redmond never resumes his seat without havin' done something to advance the well-being of his beloved country. To hear him emphasising the disadvantages under which Ireland labors, to paint her aa'ocs, and to picture her wrongs, would move the most inveterate Unionist aa’lio ever waved a pocket handkerchief at a Primrose League demonstration. In all parts of the House Mr. Redmond is popular, even with his hereditary foes—the Irish Unionist members. And speaking of this, I recall a remark made to me by the late Colonel Sanderson only a short time before his death: ‘lf there were many more Irishmen possessed of the eloquence and ability of John Redmond, it would n e before Groat Britain was Avon over to the side of Home Rule.