MONSTER PUBLIC MEETING

New Zealand Tablet, 20 November 1919, Page 18

MONSTER PUBLIC MEETING

The monster public meeting which took place on the Richmond Reserve on Monday evening, November 3, was attended by between 70,000 : and 80,000 people. When his trace Dr. Mannix, accompanied by the visiting prelates and representatives of the various States of the Commonwealth, mounted the platform, they were received' by rounds of applause, cheering, and waving of flags. ;,: His Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne, who presided alter apologising for the absence of the Hon. T J ' Ryan the chairman of the Convention, who was engaged that evening on Commonwealth business, said: —lf I had a voice ten times as strong as the voice I have I could not hope to reach the confines of this immense gathering Why are we gathered in such numbers to-night (Cries ? f rj m 8 / C T aUSC I °* Ireland >" and "For the sake of old Ireland. ) (Loud cheers.) We are here, said his Grace, because they have been trying to conquer and trample on Ireland for 700 years and more, but they have not trampled the life out of her yet—(a voice,-"They never will and,,as you say, they never will. (Loud and continued cheers.) Continuing, his Grace said:—We will be asked, probably, "What right have we to talk for Australia?" My answer is, "If these thousands of people here to-night have not a right to talk for Australia, who has a right to talk for Australia?" (Cries of 'Billy Hughes," and laughter.) "He is never likely to have a crowd like this around him," remarked the Archbishop, amid cheers and waving of flags. We are! entitled to speak for a very large section of Australia, continued,his Grace, and the voice of this Richmond Reserve gathering will reach not merely Collins Street, but London, and .when it reaches there the message carried oyer the. waters, will be a message. that they probably: have .been; expecting, but that they will never like to -hear:'J- (Loud, ".applause.) We had a great meeting to-day at the Convention. It was the most representative "gathering ever witnessed in Australia, '■ and at that Convention to-day. there was not a single dissentient voice when it was < proclaimed from that platform—on which Australia and New Zealand \ were represented—that we stand behind the Irish people in the claim they made at the last general election, and that wo stand behind de Valera and everything for .\. which he stands. (Loud and continued cheering.) It is for: us to stand, behind them or else to hold our tongues. J, (Loud applause.) We are going to stand by them, and it would hearten de Valera and every man 'in Ireland who loves Ireland If they could only look out on this great gathering. It would hearten them to know that <■:here, -,. at the other end of \ the world, there are hundreds and thousands of .people whose hearts are beating in harmony with their own. (Loud cheers.) " <_j ?'\ V-i'-C"

'ARCHBISHOP SPENCE MOVES FIRST RESOLUTION. The Archbishop of Adelaide, in submitting the resolution, said that the- gathering before him that: night was the largest he had ever witnessed. I We are proud that here in Australia—over 12,000 miles away— are sending our sympathy across the sea. We shall be prouder still, in a short time, to send not merely our sympathy, but something more substantial, .in the shape of funds. (Loud applause.) Ireland has every right -to be recognised amongst the world's nations, and we are here to-night to show that: we sympathise with her in that demand. I feel sure that you will identify yourselves to a man and •to a woman with the resolution which was passed unanimously at the Convention to-day, and : which I now submit for your endorsement. (Cries of "Every time," and loud cheering.) In concluding, Archbishop Spence said: As there was no disunion or dissentient voice-at the Convention, neither will there be disunion or dissent here to-night,' but that you will all with one voice— in love and sympathy—send home to the dear little isle our love, our affection, and our endorsement with the claims they are making for the right of self-determination, and that we, moreover, promise our fullest and largest measure of help to attain that right. (Loud cheers.) MR. D. RYAN, M.L.A. (QUEENSLAND), SECONDS THE MOTION. ' Mr. Ryan, in seconding the "resolution, said that the sentiment of Irish nationality cannot bo confined within the Avails of an English gaol. (Applause.) Ireland still maintains her nationality, and she is entitled to her place among the nations of the earth because she has earned it by what she has done for the progress of civilisation. We, descendants of that grand old land, are here to-night, beneath the Southern Cross, to raise our voices, in unison with de Valera, that Ireland shall have her way in regard to self-determination, in spite of English statesmen's opposition. (Loud applause.) VERY REV. J. A. O'CONNELL, S.M. (N.Z.) SUPPORTS THE MOTION.

In supporting the motion, Father O'Connell said that representing, as he did, a large body of New Zealanders, he desired to say in their name and his own, he was proud of Australia for the splendid lead she had given in the matter of Irish self-determination. Australia is New Zealand's brother, and we looked to you for the lead you have given us to-day. (Applause.) It is a great pity, indeed, that all men do not understand the claims of Ireland. Ireland is not of yesterday, nor of 50 nor 100 years ago. She' has sent from her schools, from her convents, colleges, seminaries, and universities the best of her nationhood and the most intelligent of her men to the uttermost bounds of the earth to plant in the hearts of Australians and New Zealanders a love of that race which has ever been loyal to God, and faithful in every way to the highest ideals that could be set up. (Cheers.)

MOST REV. DR. BARRY SUPPORTS. In supporting the resolution, the Coadjutor-Arch-bishop of Hobart, in the course of a stirring and eloquent address, said they were present that night to honor the sacrifices of the living and pay tribute to the memory of the dead. (Applause.) We are here to see that the Allies fulfil in the great country of Ireland the principles and ideals of the people of young Australia. (Applause.) We ask them to honor their words, and we give them the choice between honesty and hypocrisy. (Cheers.) There is no need for any Irishman to say hard words against England. First, because the hardest words ever said against England for her treatment of Ireland have been said by Englishmen themselves. (Applause.) Secondly, because the great democracy of England acknowledges the impeachment. (Hear, hear.) For 700 years Ireland has fought on single-handed and alone through a long night of Egyptian darkness. She was isolated from the public opinion of the world by England; her voice stifled, her ideals perverted, her representatives misinterpreted. Her enemies poisoned the very well of truth, perverted history, •and, worst of all, created oppression as a justification. But, thank God, that day is done. (Applause.) The great ;young men of Ireland, by their intelligence and force of ■character, have brought Ireland from her obscurity and iplaced her in the market squares of the democracies of the world. Dr. Barry . concluded his eloquent address by asking: Are the young men of Ireland too Irish for us? ("No, no!") Is their love for Ireland deeper and stronger than ours? ("No.") Is their march into the dawn of nationhood that is drawing nigh on the hills of Ireland too fast or too strenuous for us? ("No.") Are we now in the hour of Ireland's destiny, are we to fall out of the ranks and stand by the wayside with merely a pleasant "God bless you, boys!" as the nation of Ireland, the youth, the strength, the manhood of Ireland, steps on to the goal

( No. JlDr. Barry, ..went on to say: If we are therefore as Irish as the Irish "at home or as Irish as the Irish in America, if .we love that country well, then we, like them, will pay the price and make the sacrifice. (Loud and ' continued cheers.) ,". ; .ii-i'rr-.:

SENATOR O'LOUGHLIN (SOUTH AUSTRALIA.) Senator O'Loughlin, in supporting the motion, dealt with the history of the Irish movement in. Australia, and referred to the first Irish Convention held some 36 years ago in St. Patrick's Hall to welcome the Redmond brothers, at which it was his privilege to be a delegate. Now we are standing, said the Senator, here to-night as free Australians engaged in sending a message of sympathy and hope to the people of our race in the cradle of that race, and that message is going to de Valera to assure him that we are with him in the great fight for self-determination, and that we are prepared to assist him in every possible way until that great fight reaches a successful conclusion. (Loud applause.)

VERY REV. M. J. O'REILLY (SYDNEY). Father O'Reilly, in the course of an eloquent and at times humorous address, said:—lt appears to me that this gigantic gathering that night is in itself an impeachment of British rule in Ireland. (Applause.) I take it that the great bulk of those who are here to-night are children or grandchildren of those who never would have left their native land had they lived under a tolerable or civilised government(hear, hear)and therefore it is that John Bull's chickens come home to roost. (Laughter.) In the case of Cromwell, that elegant and accomplished soldier—(laughter)— gave a choice to the Irish people that they might go to Hell or to Connaught. As a fact, their preference was a strange one —they went to Connaught. There was such a rush in the other direction, that the Irish people, neither then nor ever since, have been able to secure accommodation. (Loud laughter.) Those, however, who were not accommodated in Connaught were spread all over the world where the English language is * spoken. If Ireland had been properly governed there would have been no Irish in Australia. In dealing with the campaign of slander and obliquy to which Dr. Mannix has been subjected, Father O'Reilly said that the more they maligned him the more his people had rallied round him. (Loud applause.) These maligners have mistaken the temper of the Irish people. (Applause.) In concluding his address, Father O'Reilly said: "We are all with de Valera, and I take it we are all Sinn Feiners." (Loud and continued applause.) The resolution, when submitted by the Archbishop, was carried amidst rounds of cheering. THE SECOND RESOLUTION: ARCHBISHOP DUHIG (QUEENSLAND). In submitting the second resolution, dealing with - the, pledge of financial assistance to the Irish cause, Dr. Duhig, in the course of his address, said : —We have been brought together by the sacredness of the cause of Ireland, but the magnet that has brought us to the city of Melbourne is none other than your own illustrious Archbishop, whose voice is not confined to this continent, but is ■ heard with respect all the world over in the cause of Ireland. (Loud applause.) I have, been asked to propose a resolution to the effect that a fund be established to aid the cause of Ireland at the present juncture. It is not Ireland that appeals to us in this direction, but the Convention which was spontaneous on the part of Irish-Australians themselves —(applause)—and there will be no need to beg subscriptions for the Irish cause. Thank God, the Irish people in Australia are more united to-day than they ever were before. (Renewed applause.) I trust, therefore, that we shall all return to our homes inspired with what we have seen in Melbourne to-day, and determined to push on in every State until Ave witness the dawn of Ireland's freedom. (Prolonged cheering.) MR. JAMES SCULLIN (BALLARAT). In seconding the motion, Mr. Scullin said: This is the practical resolution of the evening, and while we endorse unanimously the sentiments expressed by every speaker from the fearless Archbishop of Melbourne right alongwhilst we are endorsing the principle of self-deter-mination for Ireland — must be prepared to back this lip with solid cash to help the people of Ireland to attain their ideals. (Applause.) I trust that when you carry this resolution unanimously you will begin getting busy, and that with your customary generosity you will send by some means or another to de Valera the solid cash — not in non-negotiable bonds, like Mr. Hughes's. (Laughter and applause.) ,

HON. KIRWAN, M.L.C. (QUEENSLAND).

v Mr. KirAvan said he had never experienced a prouder moment in his life than on that day in having the privilege

of taking part in the great Irish Race Convention Here id Australia to-night we are mourning for 8000 of our gallant dead who are lying on the hills of Gallipoli or in Inlanders, : and who died for the one glorious ideathe liberty of democracy and the right of small nations. He desired to heartily' congratulate the Irish citizens of Melbourne on their splendid manifestation of Irish national spirit. (Applause.) The resolution was ; enthusiastically carried. THE MAYOR OF RICHMOND. :;V After the second and third resolutions had been enthusiastically carried, the Mayor of Richmond (Cr. H. J. Robinson) said he desired, on behalf of the democracy of Richmond, to extend to the Archbishop of Melbourne and the visiting prelates and delegates the heartiest welcome possible for democrats of one country to extend to fellow-democrats of Ireland or any other country. He could not speak as an Irish-Australian, but he spoke as an

from Mrs. Ryan for £IOO, another £IOO from the Arch r bishop -of Sydney, and since I mounted the platform I have had another one from the Mayor of Bundaberg. I I have also received others here, and it gives an indication of what our people are prepared to do if they get the opportunity, as these people have done? this without having the opportunity. Now, I congratulate" those present here fori being associated with such a splendid demonstration, and I congratulate myself upon being associated I with people who have given such a proof of their national spirit today. If I live to be as old as Methuselah I never shall forget the gratitude and good,;faith shown by the people of Australia to myself and others who have come here ever since I arrived. I assure you I feel exceedingly grateful for the reception . that has been given me here tonight and the delegates also who .have come such long distances for the Convention and the meeting. I p am sure they appreciate the warmth and fervor of the welcome

Australian when lie said ho hoped that, the glorious dawn Irishmen have been looking for for hundreds of years is about to break, and that the golden sun will shortly rise over Ireland, bringing wealth and prosperity and freedom to that land. (Loud applause.) i THE ARCHBISHOP CLOSES THE MEETING; - In closing the meeting, his Grace said: thank you for the manner in which you have supported the resolutions, and the effects will be felt right throughout the length and breadth of - Australia and New Zealand. The subscriptions are already coining in, and we had one to-day

Victoria has given them, and they will never forget it. I desire especially to congratulate the honorable prelate hero who represents New Zealand. He has come here to do us honor in spite of the fact that -he is an Englishman, and he has shown that he, like many other, honest Englishmen, can see the true side of .this Irish question. ifl thank him again, and I also thank the Bishops, and the priests and the delegates, one and all, for coming here, and my only regret ,is that we cannot always have them with us. (Tremendous applause.) ■; ~'\.,'■'■ •'•"■ -

The'••'" meeting then terminated with the singing of "God Save Ireland." Sfgfi [gh'ffJßH M M§