MELBOURNITES CHAMPION IRELAND’S CAUSE

New Zealand Tablet, 13 February 1919, Page 35

MELBOURNITES CHAMPION IRELAND’S CAUSE

The annual demonstration of Irish citizens, held at Mornington (Melbourne) recently, was attended by about 2000 people. This year the function was under the auspices of the Celtic Club, which chartered the paddle steamer Weeroona for the occasion, and the arrangements were well carried out. 'At a public meeting in the reserve Mr. T. J. Ryan (president of the club), who presided, said a letter had been received from Archbishop Mannix expressing approval of the objects of the meeting. Mr. F. Tudor, M.P., the first speaker, said the Federal Parliament had carried resolutions affirming the principle of Home Rule for Ireland, and he felt sure that the same sentiment still prevailed on the subject. The champions of liberty should be thorough in their views, and there should be no limitations of country or of creed on the question of self-determina-tion for the nations. If the world was to be made safe for democracy it should be made safe for all democracies. About the time the war started the British Parliament passed a measure giving Ireland the right of Home Rule, but the Act had never been given effect to. Mr. H. Mahon moved the first resolution—“ That this meeting of Australian citizens affirms (1) The sole right of the Irish people to determine the form of government to be established in Ireland ; (2) in view of the repeated perfidy of successive British Governments in relation to Ireland, approves of and endorses the action of Irish members in refusing to sit in the British Parliament and (3) impresses on the Peace Conference that any racial readjustment of European countries which fails to endow the ancientnation of Ireland with the same right of determining its form of government as is granted to other distinctive races, would be a violation of the fundamental principle* of democracy, a repudiation of the high professions of the Allies in the late war, and must ultimately provoke another armed conflict.” He said he regretted that Archbishop Mannix was not present to take charge of the resolution. They had all read the statement that the Archbishop was about to forsake Australia. At first the statement appeared to be absolutely incorrect, but it was vouched for by Mr. Snowball. (Laughter.) It might be that he had special information from the Vatican on the subject, or he might be a Jesuit in disguise. It was undeniably true that no British Government had ever kept faith with the Irish people when it suited British interests or when a breach of faith solidified the privileges of the foreign garrison in Ireland. The refusal of the Irish members to take their seats in the House of Commons was the logical out-come of what Great Britain had done in regard to Home Rule. Apart from the inherent power indicated in the act, the decision had value, in that it exposed in a flash to the civilised world the sinister attitude of the so-called champion of small nations. The Sinn Fein policy was ratified by one of the greatest British Parliamentarians of the nineteenth century.

John Bright denounced the Irish representation of thb day as a fraud. He said “I believe it would be far better if there was no Irish representation at all, Because the Irish people would not then be deluded by the idea that they had a representative Government to protect their interests.” He forecasted 60 years ago what the Sinn Feiners had to-day put into force. There would never be any permanent peace until; the Irish people had the same rights and ideals as the . free people of other lands. \ (Applause.) Mr. F. Brennan, M.Pi, who seconded the motion, said he was proud to feel as a member of the Labor party that he could join hands in cordial. thankfulness with the members of the British Labor party for the support they had given to the cause. The people of Australia governed themselves in their own way. (A voice: “Sometimes.") If they did not, it was their own fault. They appealed as a party to the people at the last election, and the people returned a reac- - tionary Government. It was, perhaps, good for them that many of their politicians were in London. The demobilisation of the Government was going on rapidly. (Laughter.) The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. G. M. Prendergast, M.L.A., moved—“ That this meeting views with abhorrence the continuance of martial law in Ireland the unprovoked outrages inflicted on its people by a foreign soldiery; the suppression of public meetings, of the press, and of the Irish language; the imprisonment without charge or trial of members of Parliament, and thousands of persons of both sexes and calls on the Peace Conference representatives of France and Belgium, whose peoples have been subjected to similar outrages, to support the demand of Ireland for reparation from the English Government.” Mr. Solly, M.L.A., who seconded the motion, said it was no wonder the Irish revolted. If he had been in Ireland he would, in the circumstances, have been one of the greatest rebels among the Irishmen. Mr. F. Cotter, M.L.A., who supported the motion, said he was an out-and-out supporter of the Sinn Fein policy. The motion was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. J. F. Hannan, M.L.A., seconded by the Mayor of Richmond, Councillor Barcello, it was resolved that a cablegram be despatched by the meeting to the President of the United States of America, in the following terms;—“To President Wilson, Paris, —Australian National Parliament by overwhelming majorities on several occasions passed resolutions favoring Home Rule for Ireland. Australians still practically unanimous for settlement of Irish question on terms demanded by majority of Irish nation. Your powerful support to this small nation’s claim to self-determination earnestly solicited.”