THE IRISH QUESTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2704, 9 November 1889, Page 2

THE IRISH QUESTION.

Sin Thomas G. Esmondk, Hart, M.P., one of the Hume Rule delegates now visiting the colonies, addressed a meeting of sympathisers with the agitation in the Oddfellows' Hall, Hamilton East, on Thursday evening. Although it was a tine moonlight night, there were only about eighty persons present, including visitors from seveial other parts of the district. Mr Jones, actingMayor of Hamilton, occupied the chair, and on the stage were Messrs J. Parr, Redmond, Corboy, Murphy, and Dr. Kenny. Sir Thomas Esmonde was warmly welcomed. Mr Parr read an address expressing in glowing language admiration felt for the Irish leaders, and for Sir Thomas Esmonde in devoting his youth to the cause. Sir Thomas G. Esmonde expressed his thanks and gratification for the address and the conviction it conveyed that there were so many sympathisers with the Irish people. He specially referred to the fact t.hat the address had been read by an Englishman, as a proof that Englishmen knew that their policy was not inimical to England. It was agreed that the Irish were a different race to the English. But they had no dislike or hatred to England and Englishmen as England or Englishmen. but only for their unwise interference in their domestic affairs. Their best supporters were in England and Scotland. There was 110 ground for hatred except this interference in their affairs. Ho had come to explain what Home Rule means. He made every allowance for those who disagree with their views, and asked for generous treatment and fair play. He would first say what Home Rule does not mean. It does not mean that Ireland would have power to create an army or navy, or levy a protection tariff, or interfere in Imperial affairs. The Irish are credited with being a warlike race and fond of fighting, but Home Rule would not enable them to indulge in their warlike proclivities. Thoy would not have power to enter into treaties of trade and commerce. It meant only domestic legislation. (Applause.) It meant this and nothing else. It asked for power in an Irish Parliament and local Legislature to do everything requisite in Irish affairs. For instance, such matters as railways, mines, waste lands, fisheries, t-ichnical schools, justice and the appointment of judges, and the local police. That is the control of all local and municipal affairs, Lhe same as the New Zealand Parliament possessed. Their opponents asserted that Home Rule aimed at separation, the creation of an Irish Republic and that the Pope would be invited to reside in Ireland. (Laughter.) They are told that the Irish | cannot speak the truth, and he may not believed, but lie declared that the Irish people do not want separation. They wei e an unarmed people and harl no knowledge of military science and discipline. If Home Rule was granted theßiitish troops would remain in occupation of their fortresses and the Irish could not have much show against the British army, which was one of the best equipped in the world. The matter was an impossibility. They were not a nation of lunatics. From his experience of the world he thought they could be credited with possessing as much common sense as other people. (A voice: "They have, and a d d sight norc." —Loud applause). The speaker said ho was pleased to be supported even in such forcible language. Ireland was absolutely an agricultural country ; the value of her productions was £20,000,000 per annum. Almost all was exported to England. They could not eat their own produce ; they had to sell it to the English, who eat it for them, and that, ho thought, was one reason why the English were such a fine race of men. (Laughter and applause). If there was separation the Irish would lose their only market and starve; therefore it was ui'desirable, and a physical impossibility. He then referred to the religions grounds of objection. It was said that a persecution of Protestants would happen. He could scarcely refrain from losing hip temper when he heard such statements. He could say that no sectarian idea ever entered the minds of any ordinary Irishmen. (Applause). All they wished was that they should strive for the welfare of Ireland, and didn't care a straw if they had any creed or not. Protestants were always at the head of their national movements, for inst'vnce, there were Grattan, Tone, Eminett, and latterly liutt and Parnell. Irish Protestants had no fear, and the majority were in favour of Home Rule. He had won his own seat, South Dublin, a very aristocratic suburb, by the exertions ot the Irish Protestant Association, who had largely increased his majority. Protestant Ulster returned a large majority of Parnellites, aud if representation was worth anything, this shows that, the people are in their favour. Even the Tory Government had moved the Pope to denounce the Plan of Campaign. Things had changed in Ireland ; these were no longer the days of faction tights, and the Irish of to-day are too conccrned in the building up of the future of their country to ask about a man's religion. They had come to the colonies to ask the support of all their friendu in getting self-government.- They knew that a large sectiun in New Zealand sympathised with them, and would help them to get the same rights as they enjoyed here. The money given them was used for one object. They only cared for the opinion of their friends, and such who thought them honest. He could assure them the money was solely devoted to aid evicted tenants. They did not help dishonest tenants who can pay their rents, but those poor tenants who cannot pay the exorbitant rents. They took cure of these, built houses for them and gave them a weekly allowance until such time as Parliament could remedy their grievances. Sir Thomas Esmonde then described the conditions of tenant farmers, which, he said, was worse than that of Caff res, Mexican peons, or Indians. It was all nonsense to talk about the benefits of the Land Courts ; they were the friends of the landlords, and did not act fairly to the tenants ; they were officered in the interests of the landlords, and had not a decent regard for the tenants. They were not an unmitigated boon. There were over (100,000 tenant farmers in Ireland, and the Courts were utterly incapable of getting through the work. Whilst tenants were applying to the Courts, they we.ro being evicted. Therefore, they had too good a cause to help dishonest cases. The speaker referred to the agitation and the business of agitation, and claimed .'that it was conducted in the interests of peace and order. It was shown by the evidence before the TimesParnell Commission that they had absolutely reduced crime in Ireland since they began their agitation. As it increased crime decreased in an extraordinary degree, owing to the conlideuce of the Irish in their leaders; the National League had done more than the police and the Coercion Act, and were more concerned for peace than they were. (Applause). They did not look to dynamite, etc., for assistance but to the votes of the English people, and felt certain that in less than three years they would obtain their desires. Their object now was to win England over ; therefore, they kept quiet and endured all with patience in order to win her sympathy ; therefore, they were anxious to preserve order. The former irritation and crimes of the Irish were due only to the Coercion Act. He referred to the rights of search of the police, the imprisonment of members of Parliament, and gave two instances in which drunken policemen fired their revolvers at some children, for which they were only lightly punished. After quoting the opinions of Sir Rodver Buller, and from the report of the Cowper Commission, he concluded, amidst applause. Mr Parr said they had over sixty subscribers, and had collected about £50. He proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Sir Thomas G. Esmonde for his lucid and instructive lecture. He was sorry there were not more present, and said this was a noble cause. Mr Corboy seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Sir Thomas Esmonde responded. He thought they had given a very generous support, and he would not fail to tnako the success of the meeting known when he returned to Ireland. He proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor, which was carried, j and the meeting terminated.