THE IRISH ENVOY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1955, 11 December 1906, Page 3

THE IRISH ENVOY.

ARRIVAL OF Mlt DEVLIN.

PRESS ASSOCIATION. Invercargill, last night. Mr Devlin, the Irish envoy, arrived today, and was welcomed by the Mayor and sympathisers with Homo Buis. Odd would not pick Mr Devlin out on sight as the leading spirit of a potty. He is of medium sizs, squarely built, with a kindly Irish faoe, but he haa the gilt of eloquence, and while speaking ia transformed by earnestneaa and enthusiasm.

Mr Devlin waa presented with a sympathetic address of welcome, and in returning thanks said the mission in Australia had been a triumphant success. He had been instrumental in some degree in removing aome of the prejudices, miaunderatandings, and misrepresentation a whioh constituted the only opposition to Ireland's claim for the essential right of self-government. Coming to New Zealand, a country endowed by Providenco with beauty and enriohed with the pricelees gift, possession of freedom, he thought he would receive tbs same impartial hearine and sympathy of its people. In the evening Mr Devlin addressed a meeting and had a splendid reception, there beiog about 500 present. He referred to the Irish party as the principal egeni in securing reforms for the working classes in England, suoh as workmen’s compensation, an eight hour day for miners, etc. H 9 said hia party wanted for Ireland what New Zialandhad. Sir H. Campbell Banuerman bad laid down the diotua on the Irish question that good government was no substitute for selfgovernment. Ireland demanded selfgovernment for bad government, Ireland's demand for home rule was not mere sentiment. Although defensible on that ground alone he advocated it from a view of national existence, industrial welfare, sgcioultaral development, intellectual advance, and spirit of enterprise that wont hand in hand with grestoess. There never WO3 in the tragic etory c.f human wrong a more appalling story of ruin, imprisonment, and tyranny brought to a bravo and gallant people, or snob disaster brought to an empire as a hundred years of lti-h history. At one time Ireland had a Parliament of its own, and though Protsetant, privilrged, and undemoora'is, it was responsible to Itl-bmen, and was responsible for unparalleled progress along the lines of industry and agriculture, and economio and artistic advance. That Parliament was robbed from Ireland by a poiioy of corruption ana fraud. The Act of Union and the imooaiiion of a

system of ignorance and folly led to an appalling story of ruin. Empty mills and factories testified to the destruction of Ireland’s industries, power, and resources. Prosperous villages had disappeared, the inhabitants having died of starvation or disoaso, or ilod to America. Tho produce, instead of satisfying tho hunger of tho people, wont to till tho rapacious maw of Jandiords. Ireland’s life-blood was ebbing away to the extent of 40,000 annually, and the condition of Ireland was a blot oa Christianity. Wages were low, laborers lived in hovels, lunacy, cancer, and consumption wero increasing appallingly as the result of general gloom, squalor, poor clothing, and bad food. Ireland was overtaxed. He denied that Home Eule would mean dismemberment of the Empire. Quite the rovorse. Tho argument that Homo Eulo would mean Eomo rule J was a phantasy of disordered minds. It was also absurd to argue that the Irish were not capablo of managing their own affairs. Mr Devlin concluded a brilliant appeal by saying the mission was part of a fight for tho preservation of the last remnant of Jiis race. A resolution was carried in favor oi #9me Buie,