SIR THOMAS ESMONDE ON SAMOA.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 470, 10 May 1890, Page 3

SIR THOMAS ESMONDE ON SAMOA.

A ludicrous example of the blind prejudice and the rank bigotry of the opponents of Home Rule for Ireland occurs in a sub-leader published by our morning contemporary yesterday. Alluding to Sir Thomas Esmonde’s speech in the House of Commons upon the Samoan question, the writer remarks : “ There must be some good in him after all.” We should like to ask, and wo do ask, after all what ? Let us inquire. Sir Thomas is the direct descendant of the first baronet, whose title was created in 1628. The name, amongst all classes and creeds in Ireland, from north to south, is stainless, revered alike by the rich and tho poor, the peer and the peasant, regardless of creed or politics. In blood he is certainly nob of the Celtic race alone, but with a happy and wholesome admixture of another bub not a nobler breed. This young fellow, seeing the wants of the country which he claims as ins own, chooses to throw in his lot with those true patriots who have for years laboured against fearful odds to secure the abolition of grinding class laws which were enacted by a legislature having neither knowledge nor sympathy to guide it in redressing the flagrant wrongs under which the people laboured. Sir Thomas Esmonde was in 1885 elected M.P. for South Dublin, which seat he now holds. He is a man of considerable literary ability, and since his election has given close attention to the policy of the Empire. As a member of Parliament he cannot have failed bo observe the vacillating and subservient policy of the Salisbury Cabinet whereever theinterestsof Germany wereconcerned. We all know what Germany would have done with Samoa had not America said “Hands off,” and is it remarkable that a member of the House of Commons should on the spot satisfy himself by a personal visit to Samoa as to the actual position of affairs there ? If any other M.P. had done this, and had expressed views akin to those which were given utterance to in the House of Commons by Sir Thomas Esmonde the other night, our contemporary would doubtless have beslavered him with praise; bub the fact that an Irish member feels an intense interest in the concerns of the whole Empire, and is as jealous of the national interests and honour as the rankest Tory here or in Britain, is evidently a cause of amazement and chagrin to our conternporary, and is therefore considered the fib subject of a sneer. Our contemporary opens his leaderette with one sneer and closes it with another, remarking that “ lb is satisfactory to leairn that a Parnellito declares that it would be for the advantage of the native people were English rule to be extendedover the Pacific.” We gauge precisely what the writer intended to convey, viz., that if Sir Thomas Esmonde considers that English rule is good enough for the native peoples of tho Pacific Islands, it is good enough for the Irish people. Now, what is “ English rule ” in the sense in which the term was doubtless employed by Sir Thomas Esmonde ? Is it a rule which excludes the influence of Irishmen and Scotchmen ? The “ Herald ” evidently uses the term in its narrowest sense, utterly blinded by Dolitical bigotry or sycophantically bent upon pleasing its Tory supporters. It really cannot understand, or will not admit, that the advocates of legislative and agrarian reform in the United Kingdom would be found quite as ready to defend Imperial unity from serious assault, either from within or without, as any of those persons who talk so blatantly about loyalty and union. There is no true unity in the British Empire now, nor can there be while one important division of the empire is held in subjection by force of arms. The object of Home Rulers is to establish a unity resting unon the solid basis of sympathy and justice. And men like Sir Thomas Esmonde, who have risen superior to class prejudice and landlord interests, and are devoting their talents and their means to the advancement of this noble cause, are especially worthy of our admiration and respect. “ Auckland Star,” April 30.