THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MAY 27, 1912. "IS HOME RULE ROME RULE? "

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10644, 27 May 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MAY 27, 1912. "IS HOME RULE ROME RULE? "

This is the title cf a work which has just been' issued iby Joseph Hocking,, one of the most popular authors of jthe day. Hodcing is a Nonconformist, and a bitter opponent of all that emanates from «he Papacy. A few ■months' back he visited Irelaind to "gleam for liimself, on the spot as it ■were,, the fealing6 of the Irish people north and south concerning the problem which iia ,isdriously -engaging -the attention of the British Parliament at the present time. He did not..confine his investigations to Ulster, ;but went all through the Emerald Isle, interviewing Magistrate*, and clergyman, and editors and otliors concorning the absorbing topic of the hour. It is not surprising to find that in Ulster lie discovered ta, violent hostility to Home Rule. In the isoutih, however, where the Protestants ana i in a minarity, >less hostility was shown. The dediiction drawn from this phenomenon is that .the fears ictf the persecution of the minority should Home Rule become an established | fact • are not . well-groiinded. It might .be argued, on' the converse., however, that the -reason there is less hostility .among the -Protestants of ■tine? south ;t;hau among those of the north- is that the former are afraid to express their opinion lest they be Subjected to, intimidation. ( jHbcking found that the opposition to self-gov-ernment twins not based on. constitutional, but on 'l'oligious grounds. The people of Ulstrir are. fearful le6t Home Rule would place them completely amitier the domination of Rome. Against this, the author argues that Ireland is 'already controlled by the Vatican, and that the priesthood dominates every form of politics and .education. He is somewhat disingenuous, however, for -While lie -claim* that Ireland at present lias Rome Rule, ho quotes statistics and figures; to show that alll the, Important positions in the land arc hold byP'rotestan.ts. After summ'iugnp the evidence, Joseph HoHeking arrives at .the somewhat remarkable conclusion that Hume Rule would be a good thing for .Ireland. And the •reason ho gives for arriving at this conclusion is that .it would be the first sbqp In the direction of destroying the .power of the priesthood. H:e claims thait once the peasantry becomas enlightened and (feels a sense of responsibility it .will refuse ito 'be dominated by tbe Vatican. In 'support of this contention he quotes the experiences of Portugal, France and Italy. This

lino of argument is ingenious, 'but it is douibitful whether it wild a.ppen-1 to e:-t-hor tthe imi;ii df Ulster or the ipeasaiitis uf ttalwa.y. .Homo Rule should be regarded cis an cooncmie questitr.i, pt-'i'c. and simple, and the. effect it won!'.! have 'noon r.uo .or other form of religio.ii' should nut be allowed to enter into (the discussion. .Lf self-govern-ment f(.r Iceland .is economically •right, it shculd.be givJn.ted irrcispectiw} of whether it av:l'l banc-fit Ronviifn Ositliohe or Protestant. If it is wrong, thoa .no considerations of political advantage <.;• personal aggrandisement should permit, u to be 'brought about.