HOME RULE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 341, 17 September 1875, Page 3

HOME RULE.

(To the Editor of the MoUHtlda Chqonicle.) Sib, —Now that the Abolition Bill lias been read a second time, and that the Government seem determined—in the face of the cry which has been raised against it in Otago—to press it through this session, I think it is time the peoplo of this Provinco bethought themselves as to the course they intend to take should it become law. It appears to me, sir, that there are two courses, and only two, open —either a repeal of the Act at. the first session of the new Parliament, or separation. That the people of this Province will calmly consent to be governed from Wellington appears tome absurd; and that any honest Otago member can be found supporting the Bill seems inexplicable.; I would strongly recommend those Southern members who are assisting to force this measure through an expiring Parliament to study the history of Ireland and the Act of Union, and if they have one spark of patriotism left they will start back hor-ror-stricken when they contemplate the miseries and misgovernment to which that unfortunate country has been subjected since the passing of that nefarious Act by a corrupt Parliament. But, sir, some of our members, like those who supported Castlereagh, have no doubt an eye to ISo. 1, and prospectively see comfortable appointments under a paternal and grateful Government. Let Ministers study the history of 1782, when Ireland, awaking from a long night of degradation and sorrow, r'ose brilliant and fair 03 thenuruing star, radiant with new-born freedom;

when Liberty spoke the word, up rose c.t her call 1500,000 armed volunteers, owing no allegiance to the Government, and fully equipped wiih arms and all the munitions of war; silently occupied Dublin in overwhelming force, and coerced a corrupt Parliament to pass Grattan's celebrated resolution. " That the .Kingdom of Ireiand is a distinct Kingdom, with a Parliament of her own, the sole Legislature thereof; ill at there is no body of men comp l ." enfc to make law's to bind the Nation but the King, Lords, and Commons of Ireland, nor any Parliament which imth authority or power of any sort in this country save only the Parliament of Ireland." Let, I say, Ministers study those things, and if they are wise in their goneration they will allow tho people of this Island to elect their own representative;;: to inake their own internal laws in their own capital, leaving all matters affecting the Colon}' as a whole to be settled at Wellington.- The Irish people have on more than one occasion been called aliens m the House'of Commons; and, sir. I hold that the people of this Island stand in the same relation to those of the North that tho people of Ireland do to those of England, and I am confident, should tho people of this Island submit to bo governed from Wellington, the day will come when they too will be called aliens, and when, tho Southern members who assisted in passing this Bill will bo execrated as traitors by our children. It is a. fact worthy of notice that many of those supporting this spoliation Bill are men whose chance cf re-entering Parliament is indeed remote, and who have been rejected by the people as unfit to represent them in the Provincial Councils. Our own honorable member had the cool effrontery to state from itis place in Parliament that it was on this question of Abolition he was distinctly elected. .Cut that- honorable gentleman knows that with this Parliament ceases for over his political connection with Mount Ida. As I .have, I fear, taken up too much of your space already, I may, with your permission revert to this subject again.— I am, &c.,' Home lluls. Hyde, September .12.