Home Rule for Ireland.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3290, 23 August 1889, Page 2

Home Rule for Ireland.

Public Meeting.

4 meeting called by'advertisement was held in the Temperance Hall last night (Thursday.) His Worship the Mayor, Mr A. W. Eenall, occupied the chair, and was supported on the platform by Messrs A. Keese, J.P., A, E, Bunny, G. W. Woodroofo and Rev. J. McKenna, and about sixty settlers in the body of the Hall. The Chairman read, the notice calling the meeting, which he said was for the promotion of the object for which the Irish delegates are visiting the Colonies. He said he need not remind his audience of the trials and struggles of the sons of old Erin-go-Bragh to gain which none here would deny them. From his earliest recollections, agitations were going on for amending the laws of Great Britain for the relief of oppressed Ireland. He had a vivid recollection of the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Bill, He referred to the gross ignorance there was amongst the mass of people in England on the question, and yet the strong feeling they displayed m favor of granting Ireland this measure of freedom. The same

stirring of tho multitude occurred over the Keform Bill, 1882, It was soon after that he first heard the celebrated Dan O'Conuell (Applause.) He lived then only a few minutes walk from the residence of that patriot who had done so much to forward tho cause of Ireland, and he had bequeathed his heaK to friends like Father McKenna, and if any. present had the curiosity no doubt that gentleman could show it them. (Applause.) He had himself read a good deal of the early history of Ireland, and was well acquainted with the life of Robert Emmett who had offered up his blood for tho liberty they were now contending for. Robert Emmett loved his country and died for it. What man among them could do more? (Applause.) The liberty to choose those who make the laws under which thoy lived: what honest man would be unwilling to grant that ? England had for years denied them that right. The great struggle

was now going on under Paruell and the delegates were now visiting those colonies to strengthen his hands. All battles required the sinews of

war, and'what they wanted was help from those who so greatly appreciated that freedom so cruelly denied to Ireland. He would not trespass on their time further just then, but would now introduce the first speaker, the Eev Father MoKenna, (Applause.) The Eev Father McKenna, who was loudly cheered on rising, read a circular he had received from the Secretary of the Wellington branch of the Irish National League. He said in accordance with the desire of support expressed in that circular, he had. convened the present meeting over which his Worship the Mayor had so kindly consented to preside, and it remained to be seen whether they would.kindly 'give to the delegates that support which they were now seeking to obtain,

Those delegates were expected, by latest advices, to arrive in Wellington about the Ist October, and it behoved those who were willing, to take steps to show their sympathies were with the object of the delegates, In order that the meeting should be representative he had sent invitations to people in all parts of the distriot. He had several apologies for inability to attend, and hearty expressions of co-operation amongst others, one was from Mr Henry Bunny, Peathorston, another from a civil servant in this district who was prohibited from attending, by the stringency oi the laws of the service. Another writer said several people living iii his district, including himself would heartily support the movement by their presence and subscriptions in Wellington. It was plain to be seen, therefore, that the appeal for assistance made to this district would not be in vain, He had obtained from] the railway authorities the promise of concessions for a train to Wellington on the day the delegates would hold their public meetiug. He did not think they should separate without those present expressing their views on the great question of Homo Rule for Ireland. (Applause). Mr A, W. Hogg said the resolution placed in his hands that evening contained sentiments which he fully endorsed. They would strike a cord of sympathy, not only in the present meeting, but in the breast of every civilized being in New Zealand wherever read. He moved that this meeting expresses its heartiest sympathy with the claims of the people of Ireland to Home Rule, He had frequently heard the question debated by enthusiasts, lovers of Home Rule, and by others, who simply because they too not acquainted with it were its opponents. He had often wished when .he had listened to the latter that they might get just a little taste of what oppression meant. It would change their feelings. He had felt surprised that England would not grant what Ireland asked, and asked himself the reason. He found that the question of Home Rule for Ireland had been grossly misrepresented, and many people were in ignorance of its true meaning. If some were asked why the privilege demanded should not be granted, the reply was the people of Island were not fit to govern themselves, Others would tell you there was only ono remedy for discontent in Ireland, and that was what the Duke of Wellington recommended, to sink the island under the sea for a time, and then thoy would have peace, (Laughter). It was a singular thing when these same people who are set down as unable to govern themselves were forced by circumstances to seek aliving outside of their own country, thoy were to be found in many of the highest positions in other lands. Not only the highest positions but the highest honors were conferred upon them, and the very men in England who recognised their ability were the ones who were at the present timo declaiming that the people of Ireland wero unfit for Home Rule, There were many in the G'olomos who, in the enjoyment of their own freedom, did not understand what its absence meant to others. Before he had left his own country ho'ra struck with the jaqt that all the wealth concentrated' ifjjglf ifi Lpndqn'." All the greatest men in'the United Kingdom were attaohetl to'this great centra He contended it was a great injustice the wealth and ability of the four quarters of the Kingdom should flow to its centre leaving all other parts o|' tjjo dominion thoroughly impoverished, "(jne great fear of ! England "granting 'the' demam) of Ireland was that'it would he'fotlowed up by a similar one by Scotland I and Wales. Home Rule could not be'worse than the present system of

■Government by coercion. It wag a 'cry "Britons never shall be slaves," and it was a disgrace to England that so large a population should have to be governed by soldiers, rifles, policemen, gaols and prisons. The light was not between Englishmen and Irishmen, but between Tories and Liberals, and Ireland was the battle ground. Tho Irish were simply leading the way iu one of tho grandest movements over undertaken. (Applause), Theorists were afraid Home Rule would disturb the Union, Ireland was at present held by the bayonet's point, armed polico, bailiffs, and imprisonment; by persecution, even to taking the lives of her greatest men, Such a union was not creditable, and if it was only to be maintained by coercion the soouer .it was disturbed

the better. (Applause.) If Home Rule was once conferred the Uniou of England and Ireland would be found to be real and lasting, cemented bylove and mutual interests, He concluded a lengthy address by asking the meeting to show their sympathy with Ireland by unanimously carrying the motion be had moved. ■ Mr Bunny seconded the motion, and briefly touched upon the history of Ireland from the invasion by Cromwell to tho present time, and the effect of the exactions of the absentee landlords. The object of tlie visit of the delegates to the colonies was to open the minds of the people and let them know the true position of affairs in Inland at the present time, He was in entire sympathy with the motion, and felt that all present were also. (Applause). Mr A, Reese followed and strongly supported the motion, and stated his belief it would receive the favorable consideration of every thoughtful colonist, He quoted figures to show that the feeling in favor of Home Rule for Ireland was rapidly gaining ground throughout England, as it had already in Scotland and .Wales. The motion was then put and carried unanimously, The Rev J. McKenna moved that

this meeting thoroughly endorses the object for which the delegates visit to New Zealand is being made, and that a subscription list be at once opened in connection with the evicted tenants fund, He said when they carae to consider the difficulty in the way of obtaining thoroughly reliable information of the affairs of Ireland they would see how desirous it was that delegates like tluse gentlemen about to visit these shores should be obtained. They had received support in Australia, and would obtain equal favor in these free colonies. He then went into the history of oppression Ireland had suffered at the hands of England-How her trade had been crippled,, her lands confiscated, and her people evicted, and left to starve by tho road side, As times' grew had so did the number of evictions increase, and instead of the landlords coming to tho assistance of the distressed people they became more persistent in their domands. He referred to the periodical famines, and quoted several pathetic passages from "New Ireland by A. M, Sullivan,'' that brought tears to the eyes of many of his hearers. He named land tenure as a great factor in the course of the present dissatisfaction, also landlord

absenteeism and taxing industry. When a man improved his holding his rent was raised accordingly. The trade of the country having been destroyed by the action of the former government of England the people were thrown back on the land as their only chance of living. For these lands they had to pay enormous rents which they could barely do in good times, and utterly failed to when the periodical bad times came round. It was in order to remedy this state of things the Land League was formed in 1879 to change tho system of

land tenure, They asked for uotliing but just rents, but for that they were subjected to every kind of unjust tyranny, and coercion laws were established, He paid a hightributetoMr Gladstone, which was received with loud applause, He asked were they to be denied an expression of sympathy with their sulking brethren, and of extending them help, because some people took up the cry of bringing Old World troubles into this colony. (Applause), Ho concluded an able and touching address, by formally moving the resolution, and resumed his seat amidst applause. Mr J, W, Woodronfe. very ably seconded the motion and confirmed, from personal knowledge' many of the statements of the last speaker, He said he formerly resided within a few miles of where Mr Pan.ell was born, and he knew the family well, and if anyone told him that Mr Parnell could commit a crime he would not believe it, no, not if ho told it himself. (Laughter). Ho fully sympathised with the movement, and trusted the delegates would succeed in their mission.

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. MrHoggmovedandFatherMoKenna seconded, That a committee be now formed to take stops to co-operate with the Branch of the Irish National League in Wellington to give the Irish Delegates a hearty reception on their arrival, and that the following be members of the committee: The Eevs J. and T. McKenna, Messrs Eenall, Beese, Hogg, Woodroofe, and A. E. Bunny, with power to add to their number. The motion was carried and a vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.