HOME RULE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1702, 19 March 1913, Page 7

HOME RULE.

NATIONALIST BANQUET.

OVERSEAS SUPPORT.

SPEECH BY SIR JOSEPH WARD

By Teleeraph—Press Association—Oopyrlsht (Eec. March 18, 10.50 p.m.) London, March 18. Mr. John Eedmond, in presiding at the Irish National League's St. Patrick's Day dinner, proposed the toast "Ireland, a Nation." Ho said the opposition to Home Eule was dead, and thero was universal regret at the Parliament Act delaying the passing of tho Bill. , Sir Joseph Ward attributed the remarkable success of Irishmen in tho Overseas Dominions to tho fact that the insult to their manhood was, not oven, before them. It would be a great thing if Britain gained the. goodwill' of tho twenty-five million Irishmen outside of Ireland. The needs of tho Empire required that the festering soro near the heart should bo healed immediately./ It was a thousand pities that the Ulstermen differed, but a majority has rights equally with a minority. There were many Ulstermen in New Zealand living in amity with other Irishmen. If there was any interference with the JJlstermen's liberty or religion the British Government, which gave self-government, could take it away, and in this it would bo backed by the public opinion of the whole world.

Sir Joseph Ward, eulogised Mr. Redmond's wise and courageous leadership. He emphasised that the oversea Premiers at the last two Imperial Conferences, wherever born, and whatever their respective creeds, were' i trenuous supporters ol Home Knlo. He believed | that Irishmen at Home were equally as I loyal as those overseas. Incidentally ho j remarked that every , Irishman, in New I Zealand willingly bore his share of the ! cost of the gift Dreadnought. He concluded by anticipating a great struggle making for unity and strength (rowned with peace. - Mr. W. A. Holman, Attorney-General of New South Wales, said the denial of selfgovernment to Ireland was a 'big blot on the Englishmen's reputation for honesty and fair play. The history of the selfgoverning colonies had shown that they were ready to support the Empire every time they were, needed. It was .wrong that should ruthlessly be withheld in the very heart, of the Empire. The speaker concluded by hailing Mr. 'Redmond as the true leader of self-govern-ment, and declared that hp was so - regarded in Australia.' ■ I Prior to the banquet, the cooks at tho : Hotel Cecil put down their dishes and demanded holidays, which the management granted.

MR. BRYAN JUBILANT. (Bee. March 18, 11.55 p.m.) • /Chicago, March 18. Mr. W. J. Bryan, Secretary, of' State, in speaking at the St. Patrick's Day banquet, said the victory for Home .Rule meant the end of aristocratic rule, iand a victory for the whole, world. Ireland's part would be remembered by every people engaged in struggling against an aristocracy. The victory of Home Rule would probably be unacceptable at first in England and Scotland, but in the end they would find it immensely to their benefit. • Th» American press is criticising Mr. Bryan, for his interference in the internal affairs of a foreign country. I