"IRELAND AS A NATION."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 63, 19 March 1913, Page 5

"IRELAND A S A NATION."

INTERESTING St. PATRICK’S DAY SPEECHES.

'By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright.) (United I’ress Association.)

London, March 18.

j Mr Redmond presided at the hanfiuet at the Hotel Cecil. He proposed the toast of “Ireland as a Nation.’' The opposition to Home Rule, he said, was dead. There was universal regret in Parliament at the Act being delayed in passing. Sir Joseph Ward attributed the remarkable success of Irishmen in the overseas Dominion to the fact that they trusted that the insult to their manhood was not ever before them. It would ho a great thing if Britain gained the goodwill of twenty-five million Irishmen outside Ireland. The needs of the Empire required fostering, while Ireland’s hear! required to ho healed immediately. It was a thousand pitie's that Ulstermen differed, but' the majority had their rights equally with the minority. Many ! Ulsteimen in New Zealand were liv-l ing in amity with other Irishmen, it there was any interference with Uls-| termen’s liberty or religion the Brit-1 ish Government, which gave self-gov-j eminent could take it away, and ho hacked by public opinion the whole world over.

Mr Holman said that the denial of self-government was a big blot or Englishmen’s reputation for honesty and fair play. The history of selfgoverning countries showed that they were ready to support the Empire every time they were needed. If was wrong that a boon should be ruthlessly withheld in the very heart of the. Empire. Ho concluded by hailing Mr Redmond as the true leader of self-government, and said that he was so regarded in Australia. Prior to the banquet the cooks a‘ the Hotel Cecil put down the dishes and demanded certain holidays, which the management granted.

MR BRYAN SPEAKS OUT,

Chicago, March 18

Mr Bryan, speaking at the St; Patrick’s Day banquet, said that the victory of Home Rule meant the end of aristocratic rule and a victory for the whole world on Ireland’s part. It must be remembered that every peo pie was engaged in struggling against the aristocracy. The victory 0 t Home Rule would probably bo unacceptable at first i n England and Scotland, but in the end they would find it immensely to their benefit.

The American press is criticising Mr Bryan for his interference in the internal affairs of a foreign country.