MELBOURNE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 30, 24 July 1902, Page 4

MELBOURNE.

i. M-ll «2 P erßOn * w ere present at the Home Rule meeting held in the Hibernian Hall, Melbourne, on July 4. All clas.es and creeds Oays the Advoeatr) were repreee ted m that great, and enthusiastic gathering of both sexes-the question of creed, and even of iraHonahty, being apparently forgotten in the one, great, and absorbing desire to protest against the re-introduction of the Crimes Aot, and to demand for Ireland tha inalienable right of every nation— self-Government. A glance around that vaht assemblage revealed the fact that interest in the queation of Triah autonomy w not confined to men and women who had the privilege of being born in Ireland. The sons and daughters of these were there in their hundreds to demand that the same freedom to manage their own legislative affairs, as is happily enjoyed in the Australian Commonwealth, shall be given to Ireland. It would have been difficult, if not impossible, for even the most indifferent spectator of that great demonstration-palpitating as it evidently was with enthusiasm for the cause of Home Rnle, and imbued with the resolve to protest against coercion— not to be powerfully moved with a feeling of genuine sympathy for so worthy and ennobline a twin cause. In proof of this, it may be said that there was not bo much as a single discordant note heard from start to fini 8 h of that great meeting, whioh laßted for three hours. Several apologies for non-attendance were received from prominent citizens, all of whom expressed their sympathy with the object of the meeting. Dr O'Donnell, who presided, read the following letter from his Grace the Arohbishop of Melbourne :— ' I shall not be able to attend to-right, but the object of the meeting recommends itself to me very Btrongly. Now that the Irish Parliamentary Party are united and all are working for the common good of Ireland, they desire both moral and material support from Iriehmen the world over Long experience has shown that no substantial conceseion can be obtained from the British Parliament except as the result of continued and vigoroue agitation. While the British Constitution is in itself one of the highest efforts and most matured produota of statesmanship, and while England is jußt and even generous in tho dealings with other parts of the Empire, Ireland has no share in that generosity which centuries of misrule should have elicited and but soant measure oJ justice to which she is striotly entitled ' If England had trusted the great body of the Irish people instead of the favored few, if she had legislated for the people instead of for their oppressors, long since Ireland would have been contented, peaceful, and prosperous. Coercion laws would not have bo often disgraced the Statute Book, nor would thousands of young men and women be annually flying from their native land and building up in America a tradition of hostility which ia a perpetual and formidable menace to England. Hitherto only one English statesman has arisen to a just conception of what is required as a reparation of the past and a sure means of reconciliation for the future. Mr Gladstone failed in his well-intentioned effort to weld the whole Empire into one harmonious whole. But he has left behind him the solution of the political problem. The Irish Parliamentary party are following in his footsteps, and the Liberal party, with some defections, are still faithful to his principle*. Time and patience and conciliation will be required before Ireland' is granted what the different States in Australia have long possessed— Home Rule. Mrantime, the Inch Parliamentary Party must be sustained and encouraged. This, I understand, is the object of your meeting, and towards that object I enclose a Cheque for ten guineas. ' Tbe reading of his Grace's letter was punotuated by applause. Mr H H. Higgins, M.P., M A., LL 8., moved the first resolution, which affirmed ' unswerving fidelity to the principle of Home Rule.' One if the most tolling: points in the hon. gernleman's speech was a quotation from an address delivered in Leeds (Eugland) by the late (irami Old Man's son (Mr Herbert Gladstone), who declared that if his hearers were treated as the frith peopl were by Eugland they would become n bels. Mr Piendeiga-t. M L A , in supporting the resolution, advanced pome mterc-bting statistics showing the blighting influence of Dublin Cabtle rule on Ireland. Tbe Chief i-ecretary and Minister for Labor (Mr John Murray, ML A.) was the subject of a popular demonstration, thp entire audieuoe cheering him repeatedly. In the course of a chnracteristica ly sjreaxtic and humorous speech, he ridiculed the vain attempt to govern Ireland from Downing street. The o her speakers included Senators Dawson and Stewart (Qufeiisiand). M-Gregor (South Australia), O'Ke. ffe (Tasmania) Mr J. U. Ronald, M P., Rev. Dr. Rentoul, and Dr. Maloney, M L.A. ' One result of the meeting was a large accession to the ranks of the United Irish League, some hundreds of new members being received. The gathering of over 2000 persons included many ladies.