MR. DEVLIN., M.P., IN GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1984, 21 January 1907, Page 2

MR. DEVLIN., M.P., IN GISBORNE.

AN ADDRESS ON IRELAND AND BRITISH MIS-RULE. . A. largo and enthusiastic audience assembled in His Atajosty’s Theatre, Gisborne, on Saturday, to welcome Mr Joseph Devlin, M.P., tho Irish Envoy and champion of the Irish Home Rule cause. It had been announced a few days previously that Air Devlin, who lias been touring the colony, on behalf of Ireland, would call at Gisborne on liis way to Auckland and deliver an address at half-past ton in tlio Theatre. Owing to the unpropitious state of the weather he was somewhat late on landing. Having met the town and country committees (who organised the meeting) in tlio Farmers’ Union Club Air Devlin almost immediately proceeded to tho Theatre, where lie was cordially welcomed by tlio Mayor (Air John Townloy), tlio Hon. Jus. Carroll, and others. Tho Mayor presided, and ho was accompanied on the platform by tlio Hon. J. Carroll, Alessrs. E. P. Joyce, AV. L. Rees, R. M. Birrell, (lion, secretary of the local coinmittoo), C. Noonan, P. Alalono, J. C. Parker. P. McLaughlin, and many others.'

The Mayor, in introducing the distinguished visitor, siiid he was sure they were all very pleased to see Mr Devlin. He was sorry that the weather was so unfavorable for the visit, hut glad that notwithstanding the weather they had a well-attended mooting. In this country they sympathised with every country that was badly governed. They wore governed by a Government of their own construction, and they coidd not understand why other countries should not enjoy tho same privilege. Mr Devlin would tell them why Ireland was so dissatisfied notwithstanding that she was represented in tho House of Commons. To many people it was a mystery why Ireland coidd not bo so well-governed from the House of Commons as if she had a government of her own. Mr Devlin had to leavo shortly, so, without further remarks, he would call upon him to address them. (Applause.) Mr Dovlin, who was cordially greeted, said ho thought he ought to apologise to the friends of Ireland present for tho inconvenience which had been caused and for the necessity which existed for holding the mooting there that morning. He should have much preferred if arrangements could have been mode for him to address a gathering of citizens in tho evening during his stay in Gisborne, when ho would have been enabled to explain tho true genesis of this Irish question, and the reasons for making those demands and for the establishment of a responsible government on her own side. But he was exceedingly thankful for the limited opportunity of addressing tho friends of Ireland who enjoyed freedom for themselves in New Zealand, and. who were anxious to see that freedom extended to every part of the British Empire. The Mayor had stated in the course of his speech that lie, or, rather, some people, could not understand why Ireland was so dissatisfied though represented in the Imperial Parliament. Well, Ireland had 86 representatives out of 670 in the House of Commons, but he did not think that Ireland had gained anything by that representation which was given her in 1884. During those 21 or 22 years/the increased representation in the Imperial Parliament had not resulted in Irish questions being adjusted according to the wishes of the Irish people. Now in coming here to discuss the Irish question they might ask him why were the Irish, people fighting with .the same tenacity, the same persistency, and the same never-ending energy for an Irish Legislature. It was because the government of Ireland by England during tho last hundred years had boon a long record of disastrous failure and of ruin to every Irish vital''interest, and because Ireland had thus been unable to retain her population :it homo to develop her resources and her industries. They demanded a Legislature on Irish soil in order that they might undo the wrongs of the past, and develop tho resources of the country, which was rich in fruitful soil and with ever}' advantage tho Almighty had placed upon it. (Applause.) Now, when they had a Parliament of their own in Ireland some hundred years ago, an eminent member of the House of Lords, grandfather of the present Governor of New Zealand, Lord Plunket, declared in a speech delivered in Dublin that during the time Ireland had a Parliament' in Dublin her manufactures prospered and the general prosperity of -the country was beyond that of any other country. In the few years of Ireland’s existence under a • Parliament of her own the country advanced with a. rapidity that astonised not only other nations hut even herself. Lord Clare had also admitted ±his great prosperity of Ireland during the eighteen years she was blessed with a Parliament on her own soil. Dublin, he said, became one of the most brilliant capitals in Europe, her society the most witty and refined, painting and sculpture advanced, and tho Irish Parliament had at least twenty men of such great intellectural power that they would have won distinction in any of the great assemblies of Europe. Well, that Parliament was taken from Ireland, that Parliament which had so largely inspired the intellectual progress, the indusrtial advance, the agricultural greatness, and tile widespread prosperity of the nation, that Parliament was taken from Ireland by a policy of corruption and fraud. Mr Gladstone, one of tho greatest statesmen of the last century, to whom they owed the democratic progress of the last fifty years, Mr Gladstone had placed his opinion on record that there was not in British history a blacker page than that which recorded the destruction of the Irish Parliament in 1800. During tho existence of the Irish Parliament industries sprang lip in every part of Ireland. If they now visited that country, and travelled east and west they would see empty mills and factories standing as monuments of the industrial progress of Ireland one hundred years ago. Ireland was at that time able to maintain peaceful villages with a strong and virile population. If they now visited Ireland they would find that nearly fifty of those villages had disappeared, -and their populations had gone God knew where. In 60 years Ireland’s population had declined from nine and a half millions to four and a half millions, and every year for the last five years 40,000 of tho population left Ireland for America, to add to the intellectual power and the democratic glory of one of the mightiest countries on God’s earth to-day. In those years of the Irish Parliament Ireland had a population three times as large as Scotland, a population half as largo as that of England and Wales combined. Now, England had a population ton times larger than that of Ireland, and Scotland had a population precisely similar to that of Ireland. In one year Ireland had lost one and a half millions of people, through hunger, pestilence, and extermination. In that year strong men died of hunger, innocent women died of disease caused by want, and little children were crying for bread: and in that year while her population were dying of hunger and starvation, Ireland exported to England a million head of sheep, a million pigs, and a million bags of Hour to, satisfy tho ruthless demands of Irish landlords, and to enable the peasantry to exist upon the soil of their own country. (Applause.) It was in that fateful period in the night of Ireland that an Irish Protestant poetess’wrote : “They are dying, they are dying. where golden corn is growing;* They arc dying, they are dying where the guarded herd is lowing; They are gasping for existence where the streams of life arc flowing, And they perish of the plague where the breath of God is blowing.” Not only had Ireland lost four and a half millions of population during the last 60 years, not only was she losing 40,000 of her population every year; but it was recorded in the Blue Books of the. British Parliament that of these 40,000 persons who were leaving Ireland yearly for the United States 95 per cent, were between the ages of 12 and 45. It was only the powerful, the useful, the economically strong and the industrially powerful who were leaving Ireland every year; and the weak and useless were left behind. They went to America to assist tho United States in their great industrial advance. He turned to the statistics of the British Blue Books, an deli found it resolved there that tho Irish agricultural laborer worked from six in the morning until eight in the evening, and for a wage of 8s per week. (“Shame!”) It was also recorded of those Irish peasants who were earning the splendid wage of 8s per week that they were living in houses with one single room. They acre not houses as wo understood houses; they were mud hovels, compared with which the dog houses of tho landlords were castles. They were simply called houses for tho sake of English statistical records. In these hovels these strong and virile peasants were compelled to live on Rs a week, and" rear up their children on Christian and humane 'conditions. And then, it rvas further recorded j that out of every hundred persons one rvas living in an Irish workhouse. ■ Olio out of every 44 was living on j the charity of neighbours, or on out-

door relief. Lunacy, cancer, and consumption wo.ro on the increase in Ireland more than in any other coun-. try in Europe. The Medical Commissioner sent over to Ireland had attributed! the increase of lunacy, to tho gloom and misery of the peoplo. and consumption and cancer were attributed to poor food, and to the horriblo hovels in which these poor Irish peasants were compelled to live. (“Shame.”) The statistics ho had submitted had not been prepared by himself, nor by any other Irish authority. Those statistics, which, in his .judgment, were a most terrible impeachment of English government, were prepared by a department of the English Government in London. It might ho said that this state of things was duo to the poverty of Ireland, lie pointed out that as tho population decreased their financial burdens were increased. It was recorded that Ireland was paying £1,000,000 more for their police syst'om than Scotland with tho same population, although there wore 20 per cent, less population, and a million more for the cost of their law courts. . They wore also paying three-quarters of a million for their local government, and had as corrupt .and inefficient a government as was to bo found in any part of the world. Since Ireland had lost her Parliament, she had lost half of her population, the burden of taxation trebled, and ruin and chaos were in every part of the land. Then people asked why they promoted discord and created scenes. He put it to them as free New Zealanders how long would they hear it? He asked them not to listen to the deductions of interested and vituperative Irish politicians, but to disinterested speakers. Mr. Devlin quoted Lord Dunraven’s condemnation of tho Government of Ireland, which was an uncontrolled bureaucracy, uncontrolled by any Parliament in either England or Ireland, but by a department controlled by clerks, not one of whom had ever seen Ireland in his life. (Shame.) Let him give them the opinion of an eminent British statesman, Mr. Chamberlain. Speaking on Ireland some years ago, he said: “I d ) not believe that the great majority of Englishmen have the slightest conception of the system under which England attempts to rule the sister country Ireland,” and Mr. Chamberlain went on to compare the government of Ireland by England to that of Poland. When Mr. Gladstone commenced his great policy for tho pacification of Ireland twenty years ago, he said that lie had tried coercion, and it was a failure; and, after forty years’ experience, he had come to the conclusion that force ws no remedy for Irish discontent. Owing to a movement againt him by a number of men, prominent amongst whom was a -,r. Maguire, and by means of a successful propaganda amongst the British masses, Mr. Gladstone passed away without seeing his work on behalf of the freedom of Ireland brought to a fruition, but leaving an undying remembrance in the hearts of every Irishman. Yet after 20 years this same leader of the Orangemen, Mr. Maguiro, had been converted and had condemned tile administration of the country in unmeasured terms. After tho opinions of the men lie had quoted was it not the duty of the speaker to come out to distant colonies and place the facts before them, and ask if they should not assist in the work of obtaining justice for an important part of the Empire ? An argument against Home Rule was that it would lead to the dismemberment of tho Empire. How could this be done without a single rifle, and surrounded by the trained forces of England. It would require all the energies of Irishmen to recover from all the wrongs they had suffered in the past. Free government did not inspire disloyalty. In New Zealand with a million peoplo they had a free government, and Australia seven. He had been told that Australia and Canada were too far away to serve as an analogy with Ireland, but if that were admitted he would point out that tho Isle of Man, with a quarter of a million people, had responsible government. Again the British Government had given a free government to tho Boers in South Africa. Treat Ireland as the colonies were treated, and Ireland would bo as loyal as any part of the Empire. Time did not allow of other points to he touched on in connection with this great question.

■ To-day they had in England a great party. pledged to Home Rule. Of Scotland’s 70 members 67 were pledged to Home Rule, and every member from gallant little Whiles was pledged to the same object. The English constituencies at last elections returned a party to Parliament which favored Home Rule, bu the Home Rule Bill could not be introduced immediately, because the House of Lords would throw it out, but the party were prepared, when the time came, to use the great voice of the British democracy declared at the last election, and were determined to see justice done. Home Rule was supported by the opinions of the free republic of America, and Sir Wilfrid Laurier had declared that no true Imperialist could be anything but a Home Ruler. Mr. Deakiu, the Commonwealth Premier, had said that Home Rule was not only a democratic commonplace, but it was a constitutional proposition which no thinking man could question. Sir J. G. Ward lent not only his great eloquence, but the prestige of his great name, to the cause of justice and self-government, and when they had the opinion of the English- masses, American and colonial sympathy behind them, he was confident that this wonderful combination of forces would compel, the Briitsh Parliament, if only for expediency sake, to give Ireland the right to manage her own affairs. In this spirit 1m thanked the great meeting that day for having assembled in such largo numbers to pay this testimony to tho causo of liberty, and he ventured to say that when an Irish delegation next came to this country it would not he to plead the cause of a wrong and oppression that should he righted, but he believed it would be to carry the proud message that the war was over, the battle ended, and Ireland free. (Applause.) Mr. W. L. Rees, who rose to move a resolution, said Mr. Devlin had come to these colonies to see how liberty worked, and he would go back to his homo and tell his people that liberty makes freedom and loyalty. Years before their distinguished visitor was horn there was a great man who had shaped the destiny of this colony, who had oyer been an ardent supporter of the cause/ of Ireland—the great and good Sir George Grey. The speaker said he had cause to well remember the evils attending tlio misgoverning and tyranny which made that unhappy country so unhappy, for big own people were compelled to leave Ireland. The delegates would go back and announce that tho one voice of the colonies.was “Liberty for Ireland.” He had been asked by the commitee to move the following resolution : “That this meeting tenders its hearty thanks to Mr. Devlin for his presence and address, and gives unqualified support and sympathy to the great -cause which ho represents.” (Applause.) Mr. E. P. Joyce, seconded the resolution. Jlo said he did so on the broad principle of liberty. Tliev wanted freedom given to this unhappy country that they, themselves enjoyed. (Applause.) The resolution was carried liy acclamation,

Tho Hon. Jas. Carroll, in a strong speech, proposed a vote of thanks to Me. Devlin, declaring that their visitor had charmed tho cause to their hearts. He had only asked to have conceded to Ireland those rights and privileges which wo ourselves enjoyed. In Mr. Devlin they had a worthy son of old Ireland. Freedom and liberty were our watchwords all tho world ,over, and why lie asked, should there he a distinction, with Ireland)' 'J’lie claims of Ireland were paramount, and their interests were ■saturated with the tears of ages. He was sure the noble appeal which had been made was responded to by the audience with a whole soul. It was not considered prudent by some for public men to take an active interest in such movements in the distant parts of the Empire, but to this lie could not subscribe his opinion. The Native Minister went on to say that it had been declared that tlie facts showed a turn of the title in regard to this movement. Tho majority in Ireland were now in favor of Home Rule and then it was a significant fact that those religious orders which had hitherto opposed each other bitterly were now standing on the same platform pleading for justice to their country. Tlio sister country, Scotland, and also Wales, were in favor of justice being done, whilst in England they were only waiting a favorable opportunity when circumstances would allow of their moving in this great question compatible with the interests they served. There was a great longing to see that day of prophecy fulfilled, when tlio envoys would visit these colonies, again, carrying tlie message of victory that- Ireland was free—(applause)—and to join with them in the universal congratulations. When Mr. Devlin arrived back in bis own homeland ho would tel! of how they in this colony loved their freedom and liberty in their present self-government, and he had no doubt that he would unquestionably give the message there was only one system of government this people would .L/lerate at; the present time. They did riot V-'aiit coercive government, and how could they expect loyalty to flow free from the heart safe and pure by compulsion.

There would never be harmony at the scat of Emjiiro otherwise, and the authorities would always be concerned in trying to settle this great question. On behalf of the people of this community, he thanked Mr. Devlin for his visit here and the pleading ho had given for the cause of Ireland. From tho minds of some great men had conic the expression of a desire for a strong link around the Empire, and he hoped that that little adjustment of affairs would lm made, and Ireland admitted into partnership of Empire ere their visitor reached his homo. Such was the hearty wish of New Zealand, together with a voyago back to the bosom of his people. (Loud applause.) His Worship the Mayor said they heartily appreciated Mr. Devlin’s presence there that day. He (his Worship) had been pained at the sad picture of distress which their visi-tor-said did exist. He hoped that when Ireland did attain Home Rule it would bo as happy and prosperous as New Zealand. Mr. Devlin said be wished to move a vote of thanks to tho Mayor for tho ability and dignity with which he had presided over the meeting, and expressed a hope that he would long be entrusted with tho confidence of the people, but ho wished particularly to thank their worthy representative, .and from all he could hear, their beloved member —(applause)— for . bis great and eloquent speech, which had greatly encouraged him. He had been anxious to come here, if it had only been to hoar the eloquence and. charm of the utterances of Mr. Carroll, but that bon. gentleman bail conceded him a great liquor in coming all tho way from Wellington to be present at the meeting. Mr. Devlin thanked the people of Gisborne for tlioir sympathy in tho cause of old Ireland, and expressed a hope for prosperity and abiding grace upon tho community. (Applause.) The proceedings then terminated.