THE '98 CENTENARY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 29, 19 November 1897, Page 19

THE '98 CENTENARY.

TO THE EDITOR N.Z. TABLET. Sir, — Your i correspondent, Mr. Lynch, deserves praise for reminding Irishmen of their duty towards the martyred of '98. Surely every country remembers with gratitude its great rnon. If America delights in honouring the men who fell at Gettysburg and Antiedam by placing wreaths on their graves on| Decoration Daj r , if Scotland glories in the deeds of Wallace and Bruce, why should not we Irishmen remember with pride the heroic achievements of our departed heroes ? Mr. William O'Brien, in one of his characteristic speeches, said : •'Thespirib exhibited at New Ross and Vinegar Hill by Father Murphy and his comrades was necessary to secure the ultimate triumph of Home Rule." Out, then, upon the foolish notion that by celebrating the centenary of our patriots we shall be imperilling the cause so dear to us all. From all lands we hear signal notes of preparation for this great event. May God grant that in this union of Irishmen over the graves of her purest and dearest sons a determined National spirit will be evoked before which the mighty power of I England must bow in acknowledgement. The erection of a statue in Dublin to Wolfe Tone, one of the boldest, most fearless and most capable of the insurgents, is a strong demonstration of the truth that this celebration will not be of a religious character and that it matters not at what altar the patriot kneels : he is worthy of our reverence, admiration and gratitude. I trust, Sir, the New Zealand Tablet in this matter will voice the National sentiment of Irishmen as it has hitherto done when occasion demanded, that the branches of the Irish National Federation will take an honourable part in the celebration, and that all our countrymen without distinction will heartily join in doing homage to the memory of those gallant men who sacrificed everything in defence of honour, home and country. Whenever you sound the trumpet the North is ready to help in this noble work. — I am, etc., A Clare Boy. Auckland, November 4, 1897. [Our correspondent evidently wrote before last week's Tablet had reached Auckland. We do not think it necessary to add anything to our leader of last week. We are sure that so far from beingashamed of 'DS. the Irishmen of the colonies are proud of it. and are ready to a man to unite in honouring the memories of those noble spirits who "rose in dark and evil days to right their native land." The call has been given, and it only remains for representative Irish bodies to give matters a practical turn, by calling public meetings in all the large centres. String and representative committees should then be elected to report to a later meeting as to the most suitable way of carrying out the celebration. Ed. N.Z. Tablet. l