PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 419, 19 October 1889, Page 4

PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE.

Auckland, October 16. The usual meeting of the Progressive League was held last evening in Robson's Rooms. Mr T, White (president) occupied the chair. Mr Henry re-opened the debate on " Home Rule." He thought the subject a very important one and should not be treated lightly. The changes it would bring about were so great and of such vital importance that every true Englishman should consider it his duty to look carefully for himself into the question. He asked (1) For a definition of i Home Rule— what it really means 1 (2) ' What would be the results ? (3) Who were the people that wished for it? (4) What the members thought of the methods used to bring it about? At present there was no definite scheme before the people. Home Rule advocates should prepare a comprehensive scheme before they asked people to support them. At present people hardly know what they were supporting. Some advocated a constitution like the colonies enjoy ; others, like Cardinal Moran, go in for national independence. What safeguards would be adopted to prevent separation ? The result he thought would certainly be separation. As for the union of hearts spoken of, how could that be, when the English element was called the foreign garrison, and everything English was hated ? The Catholics, Fenians, dynai miters, and agitators wanted Home Rule. The Catholics wanted it in order to secure the religious ascendancy of their church, and the agitators wanted it to secure good positions for themselves. With very few exceptions, the Protestants were in favour of the Union. With regard to the methods employed, he couldn't understand anyone sympathising with a cause which neeeded such cowardly murders, boycottinge, and maiming of cattle to make it succeed. Ho surongly protested against handing over the prosperous part of the community-' the Loyalist minority — to the mercy of the ParnelHte, party. Most of Ireland's wrongs about which people were so fond of talking had been redressed. The others would be very shortly.