The Commonwealth and Ireland.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 16, 17 April 1902, Page 1

The Commonwealth and Ireland.

Senator Stewart, a Labor Member in the Commonwealth Senate, has given notice of a motion which, although it has been conveniently ignored by most of the daily papers, is yet undoubtedly of distinct and far-reaching importance. It is a motion protesting against the recent revival of legalised tyranny in Ireland by the Imperial Government and is worded as follows :—: —

i. That, in the opinion of this Senate, the suppression of public meetings in Ireland at a time when that country is practically free from crime of an agrarian character, and more especially at this most critical period in the Empire's history, when every endeavor should be made to cement all sections and denominations in a union of hearts, is not only a serious invasion of the free speech which is the birthright of every Briton, but is highly detrimental to the best interests of the British people.

2. That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland.

The importance of the motion lies not so much in its subject-matter as in the question of principle involved. The resolution has been objected to, strangely enough, by certain ardent Imperialists on the ground that Australia has nothing to do with the Irish Question and that it is presumption on the part of the Commonwealth to suggest to the Imperial Government what they should do in the matter. Coming from men who call themselves Imperialists this is certainly very remarkable. The very essence of Imperialism is that all the parts are interested in the welfare of the whole, and now that the parts are called upon to share in the burdens and responsibilities they are surely entitled to some little say, at least by way of respectful suggestion, in the management and government of the Empire. This principle has been already clearly and emphatically recognised in connection with the present war. When Mr. Seddon sent his famous cable, on behalf of the people of New Zealand, endorsing the Imperial policy in South Africa, it was recognised on all hands that the message was a historic one, and Mr. Seddon gained great kudos for having done the right thing at the right time and in the right way. Precisely the same principle applies as to the right of the Colonies to express an opinion on the present state of things in Ireland. It is sutely the duty of all parts of the Empire to resist disintegration from within as well as from without, and a policy of coercion in Ireland undoubtedly tends to disintegration from within. According to a true Imperialism, therefore, the Colonies are clearly entitled to give voice to their feeling, in a respectful and constitutional way, as to the present action of the Imperial Government towards Ireland. If Mr. Seddon was justified in endorsing the Imperial policy in South Africa, the Commonwealth Senate are equally justified, so far as the principle is concerned, in condemning that policy in Ireland. To say otherwise is equivalent to saying that the moral influence of the Colonies must only be exerted in the direction of supporting, and never in the direction of checking or restraining, Imperial policy — which is surely absurd. Senator

Stewart s motion has unfortunately been placed at the bottom of the Order Paper, and so may never be discussed, but if U should come to be debated the result will be awaited with great interest.