Mr Redmond's Visit.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4460, 21 April 1883, Page 1 (Supplement)

Mr Redmond's Visit.

The advent of a member and canvasser of the Land League haß been announced and accepted by a small number of the community with very little enthusiasm. This gentleman has travelled through the other colonies, and his mission has been the cause of no little dissension amongst the people, especially in New South' Wales. It is not of the individual,' who is an estimable and able man, that we wish to spoak, but of the business which he has in hand. We have no desire to attempt to turn the beliefs or sympathies of any of our fellow colonists in the matter, but we must in the interests of psace and amity enter a protest against the introduction of old world feuds and dissensions to a people whose interests are not divided, by the separating influences .which exist at Home, and which no lover of peace and harmony could wish to see made a subject of discussion among a happy and . prosperous people.^ When Irishmen leave their native land they do not forget the "old spot," nor is their love for it shown to be less because they do not attempt to " raise a ruction " about Ire land's grievances in every land wherein they may reside. Here, we are virtually governed by ourselves, and any disturbing element ' introduced amongst us in the direction of nationality or religion is likely to interfere with the successful working of that Gorernment, by dividing the people against each other. Here we are- all colonists, and odr desire iqxt'o promote the welfare of our adopted land' and its inhabitants by every means in our power. Although our sympatbers should be with the land of our birth, and although that land may be suffering, it is not with us to remedy the evils that exists; we are powerless to do it, and any attempts made to lead unthinking men—by appealing to their feelings—to discuss questions which have i proved to, invariably, lead to dissensions, personal recriminations, and a division of the people, should be met with the sternest opposition from all right-tbinkingmen. That Ireland has suffered, and is still suffering grievous wrongs, no one who has the smallest knowledge of history, and present law, will venture to contradict, but this is not the battle-ground on which her grievances should be fought over. The colonists are mixing'with each other in perfect concord, and no such thing is known of the. strife and bitterness which is always existent where national divisions take place. Therefore, we say, let as maintain our colonial unity, and repudiate any desire to be divided in our adopted land. Let us give no encouragement to political agitators from other countries—we have sometimes, enough .of our own to put down,— but encourage the hope that long may continue that true cosmopolitan spirit which has marked British colonisation from its , very inception ., y