HOME RULE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2708, 19 November 1889, Page 3

HOME RULE.

TO THE EDITOII.

SrR, It is said by Home Rulers that we colonists have Home Rule and that it works well, iind that by Ireland having the same amount of separation, the relations of Ireland to the Empire would be also equally satisfactory. I deny that it would bo ao. I say it is foolish and unthinking to suppose booause one state of circumstances works well, which apparently are the same, I say it is foolish to think the results can be the same. To appearance, bat only to appearance can Ireland be made to have the same relation to the empire as the colonies have. Tho material to work upon is different, an must the production bo also different. To have the same result the cause must be the same. I deny that there is anything in common between Ireland and the colonies in their relation to the Empire of Great Britain and Ireland. Great Britain and Ireland in the integral homestead and integral foundation of a great many young offshoots, these offshoota are not a part of the old empire. In name they are, but a name is nothing— practically, and to all intents and purposes these offshoots are foreign independent nations, and to suppose that Ireland, like these colonies, which are not a part, of the foundation, to suppose that it can remain a part of the structure without being a part of the foundation is to suppose an absurdity. If Great Britain and Ireland were to-morrow free of the colonies the Empire would Rtill be a strong healthy body sound in wind and limb, the Empire weuld still be whole and entire ; take Ireland away and the Empire is only part of a whole. Mr Editor, just suppose that Ireland was an off-shoot like the colonies. Why it would be impossible for the Empire to carry on foreign relations with other countries. Suppose Ireland was to decide to not allow a Chinaman to land in Ireland, what would be the upshot? Why the Empire would cease to have relations with China. It will be said these colonies have decided against the Chinese and still the Empire has not broken relations with China—but these colonies only being a part of the Empire in name, neither the people at home nor d;> the Chinese pay the same attention to it as if it had been Ireland which had excluded thn Chinese. We, the colonies, are outsiders, and we may put on tariffs to suit ourselves; but how long would Great Britain and Ireland stand if she was divided against herself. Ireland putting on tariffs to keep out English goods as it they were two foreign hostile nations. How long would New Zealand last as a country or people if Canterbury was to put on a tariff against Auckland, or vice versa. Mr Editor, we will take a farmer with a dozen big sons and these sons want an outlet for themselves. Suppose the old farmer had lots of land, eay ono hundred miles away, and he was to give one of his sons a, transfer from the grant of one of these bits of land, the eon with tho assistance of his father starts on hi 3 own hook on this bit of land, the son is hia own master, he does what he thinks proper for his own benefit, he has all liberty to do as he likes for his own profit, his whole interests are in his own farm, his interests are not in the old homestead, he does as he thinks proper and as he pleases. Now, suppose, the remaining sons on the old farm were to demand this same liberty and everyone of them do as he thought proper and like the son who was away, be all of them bosses, and tell the old man to go to pot, I want to know how long that homestead would last ? Why, the old homestead would soon be rack, ruin, confusion and disorder, and all in it would soon be brought to the hammer. Sμ would it soon be with Old England, Ireland, and Scotland if each of them were to act as if they were a colony. Canada, a dozen years ago was composed of some half dozen independent provinces, now she has federated under one Government. Canada East cannot have a tariff against Canada West, one province cannot now. be cutting the throat of the other. Australia is going to follow in the same direction very s.wn, at least in the near future, you will see a dominion of Australia. What Canada has done, and Australia will do is in direct opposition to the principle of Home Rule. —I am etc. Habaitpi.