"THAT HOME RULE QUESTION."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1162, 24 June 1911, Page 3

"THAT HOME RULE QUESTION."

Sir,—ln yours of June 11, my opponent K.JJ. lias • given us his final remains on tiiis Homo. Kuic question, but iu doing so, ho has gone out of his way, and introduced somo of his ancient Irish history instead of answering'somo of my questions. In looking over this discussion, lv.U. started out with some rambling statements about the huge Irish debt. I think I proved to him there was no Irish debt. Then ho. went on about the mineral resources of Ireland. Why, one cf the recent Irish delegates supported my contention that Ireland was practically an agricultural country. Then when ho was driven out of this position he wanted to end this argument with mo iu his Irish fashion by force. Now, he has taken up his position to try and heap all the mud he can on me, though I don't mind, lie can throw away as much as he likes, as far as I am concerned. Now, let us look at his lalost and last. He challenges me that 1 did not'advance one. argument against Homo Itule, With your permission 1 will give him one now, though 1 think, to any fair-minded reader. I gave several before. However, let that pass. U.D., I suppose, is aware that Ireland enjoys on Act known as the Urban v. District Act. This mcasuro conferred a great responsibility on ils members. Xow, on the passing of this Act it was thought that somo of the best men in the country would be elected to the Council, irrespective of their creed or politics, as the business to be done had a purely local aspect. What was the result? The Nationalists immediately made all questions a political and religkn.s question, and all otlicers were appointed on a creed basis. Nut only that, but some of the older oflicers who were appointed previous to this Act coming into force, were forced to resign owing In their difl'erence of creed with the majority of the Council. It is from tactics like these that the Unionists' draw their conclusions in opposing Home liulc. Again, R.D. refers to the small section of the population opposed to Home liulc. He estimates (bom about one-sixteenth of the whulo. f wonder how he arrives at these, figures; I know he does not like figures except when tliev are his own, but. I cannot, help that. According to the census (1001)— I have not the latest returns by whole population was 4.455.775. Out of these there were 3,308,661 Kenan .CatJio-.

tics, 581,189 Protestant Lmirch ot Ireland, 113,276 Presbyterians, and 62,006 Jlcthodisls. ..This would leave about hall' a million of oilier denominations. It is from tliv.-« that most of the Protestant Homo ltulers.com..., though the-o are lilets "angels' visits'"—few and far between. Now, K.D. should know that these three denominations are Unionists, n1m0.4 to a man. Alio, it is a well-known fact there urn not a few L'oimii) (Nathalies al.-<> Unionists. 1 suppuiii K.D. will say he does not mix politics with religion, hut they do in Ireland. Then again, K.D. misquotes me. Why docs he not quote an opponent correctly!' 1 did not say that tile first. Irish emigrants to America went after (he year 1317. Let him look at my letter again. li.D. says he does not :?et his knuwlcdgo from the same source as I do; all I have to say to that is, his source does not seem to he a very reliable one; he ,-ccms to have a habit of adding a cypher or (wo Ik his figure.-. K.D. gloats over the way some of his countrymen dofc.-.lod tho British. Of course, that is usually a time for jubilation with some Irishmen whenever Britain meets a reverse. It was so in the South African war—lrishmen cheering the Boers. So much for their boasted oyalty to Britain. K.D. quotes a long ist of Irishmen who have helped to build the Umpire, but few of them came Iran 1i.8.s party. Few of these gallant men have declared for Homo Ifule. Indeed, most of them arc against' it In passing, I might remind K.D. that Butler did very little fighting in South Africa. 1 might also remind K.D. that some of tlie loyalists of Ireland took a very prominent part in (heso campaigns. K.D. wants to know where this loyalist camp is. U hen the time comes to form (he camp it will be formed all right as it was formed before by the loyalists of Usler, as his friend James II found out. in LV% ! '[Mining of that "accomph:hed fact '-Home Kule. It is not hero )M. lime enough to shout when they liave got it and put it in working order. In conclusion, 1 was not trying to a«.pcr<=o lie memory of any man, much loss an Irishman but I might remind K.D. when 1 see such statements that come from the • i i " ,cn } lV '°, K - D - nml his friends 1 IV '7 a '!' l >,ac <> before your readers done °i f th ° .'"W " n«™ done m this discussion. I leave your readers to jiu!ge.-I am, etc., T <. T. M. MILLIGAN. June 15, 1911. .^w-i->.