LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

HOME RULE,

Sir,—"Union .lack" present:; his.romplimi'iils In ■'.Non-R-ii-lionist," --Mid asr.ures him that his letter of Tuesday was rend with interest and amusement. At- (lie same I into, I am after the other fellow. 1 am reeking information from Hie envoys themselves, and when that st.-ige is disposed of 1 shall ho pleased to. hear what the lesser lights have to Siiy. 1 will keep "Noii-Knelionisl's" letter "steadily in view." I would like lo assure him Iliat 1 have in no wise exhausted my stock ol' quotations, taken from "past" speeches of (lin /ris/i .\'ntioiKilJKfs. 1 am compelled to (junto from "|):ist" speeches, for ivh.it Die "future" speeches of these gentlemen will be not- even the "grand old man of Australia" knows. It is evident from the tone of "iVon-KiicUonistV letter that the fate of the Kmpire is in the balance. • "There is a real danger," says he. "I find that 'Union Jiic-k' will not allow Irehml k> haveHome Rule (because of his quotations), and I trust the people of Great Britain will not allow themselves to bo turned aside by 'Union Jack's' letter of last Saturday." Really, I am exalted tojt-lu; skies; not even in my dreams at 7.30 a.m. had I the remotest idea that my letter would he so far-reaching in effect. 1 can only hope that Great Britain will hold together for a, few days longer at least. —I am, etc.,

UNION JACK

Sir, —On reading the letter of your correspondent, "Unionist," one at once spcs. that ho is stressed with i ho same, idea, tho same "nightmare" is heavy upon him, as that of your other correspondent, "Lictor," viz.—the fear, tho all-absorbing dread, of an implied certainty of separation of Ireland from England, in the event of Homo Rule being granted to tho former countrj. Ho gives us an array of extracts from speeches of Nationalists, mado in Ireland and America, to show that tho goal they are aiming at is "cutting tho painter" with or from England; that a different gospel of Home Rule is preached by them at Homo to that given us hero in New Zealand.

Now, assuming even that these extracts quoted aro correct, I fail to sco what great, material is to bo found indicating any' real intention, any real danger, of reparation. Oh, no I'But tho truth is, and it would ho well for "Unionist" to ponder seriously over it, that Irishmen have often been driven to desperation and to saying many things not indicative of ultra-loyalty to her big sister across tho Channel, and who could wonder on reading tho dark chapters, of English mis-rule in Ireland —a history recking with confiscation, spoliation, and oppression, acts and deeds perpetrated, aiming at the degradation and demoralisation of tho Irish i/iv? I would ask "Unionist" —a man of letters as he evidently is—to read "Lecky's History of Ireland," also that of Bryco, Lawless, Towle, Hassenchamp, and other English writers (those named aro not Irish) ami ho will find recorded therein of dealings with the Irish people by their oppressors too black, too inhuman almoilt, to find a. place in tho clean pages of history. I do not, indeed, intend to go into it here. A hotter day has dawned, notwithstanding that tho "planters" of Ulster and their descendants are still striving to hold and retain what I would call tho sceptre of domination, intolerance, and bigotry which i\as implanted with their forefathers; following tho confiscation of the lands of the Irish. And here I may mention that tho Irish people have no grievance with tho English nation as a. whole, but against the making and administration of tho laws relating to Ireland, and the ignominy and oppression that has been heaped upon them by those who robbed them of their lands and birthright.- But English statesmen are now seeing, even at the eleventh hour, tho wisdom, as well as the justice, of making some amends for tho misdeeds and misgovernment of the past, and meeting tho Irish people in a spirit of .conciliation and goodwill. I have, Mr. Editor; stated in an article in your paper, bearing dato December. 17 last, "that though strong and fiery speeches have, often town made by members of tho Nationalist Party, still they are at all times ready to accept and welcome a policy of conciliation and goodwill, as accompanying a fair treatment of the Irish people, oven lion , .it tho eleventh hour." And I added, "That is the all-important point that a great many unconsciously, others purposely and deliberately, lose sight of." And I take the opportunity now of repeating the same or similar statement, notwithstanding "Unionist's" extracts from speeches., I know I am only giving expression to the feelings of the. great and overwhelming majority of tho Irish people, And now one word to "Unionist": Does he not think that English statesmen have seen those speeches that he quotes from? and who are, I presume, as capable to form an estimate of their real value as your correspondent, and that they can bring a moro impartial and less biased mind to bear on ,iho whole question than "Unionist 1 '? Would tho Boers be what they aro to-day if they wero not met half-way, in a spirit of goodwill and consideration, and a freo and independent Constitution given them and to the country? Hut fortunately for the Boers they had no bitter, irreconcilable party amongst them, such as tho Irishmen of N.E. Ulster, whose avowed policy always has been to try and make out that tho groat majority of their countrymen are disloyal, intolerant, and therefore unworthy of any consideration or any justice being shown them, but they themselves are tho "pillars of the Empire." Oh, yes, it suits them to try ■and be for all time the dominant party in Ireland, claiming; and getting the. "big loaves ant] fishes" as their right inheritance for the past two or three hundred years.

Finally I would say this: Let England remove Ireland's discontent-, and I can safely say there, will bo no danger of Patrick Ford Mowing up the British Empire with powder and dynamite, or nf Ireland's separation from England.— I am, etc.,

May 8, 1911

P.S.—Mr. Hazleton stated the. other liiftht, in renly to tho taunt of being disloyal—"When you pivo us some-thing to bo loyal for, we will chan.ee our attitude." Quito so. That is only human nature.