THE IRISH QUESTION.

New Zealand Tablet, 17 March 1921, Page 28

THE IRISH QUESTION.

To the Editor. Sir, —As an Englishman,—a fact of which lam not at present particularly proud, —and, as a non-Catholic, 1 admire the attitude you take up on the above question. It goes to show that you at least have the courage of your convictions in demanding as you do in such outspoken terms justice for that poor unfortunate country ; but I cannot say I admire the attitude of the great majority of the Catholics, at least those of Irish birth or extraction, in this country. Contrast their attitude with that of those of the same religion and extraction in Australia. Here, especially in the little place in which 1 vegetate, they won’t discuss the question, or if they do, it is with ! bated breath, as if theywere fearful of being dubbed disloyal or unpatriotic, both of which terms to-day “stink in the nostrils” of decent, honest people. Apropos of this, I read an article published, I think, in one of your issues of December last year, in which you stated that the only religion which was non-materialistic was the Catholic religion. I regret to state, sir, that my experience has been the opposite. I have no wish to criticise any religion, but I do contend that the Catholics here have displayed, and do now display, a lamentable lack of that grand attribute, moral covror/e , inasmuch as they, as well as people of other denominations, refrain from discussing this most important matter of a full measure of justice to Ireland, so fearful are they that in so doing they might’ injure themselves from a material ami pecuniary point of view. Such cowardice and lack of moral courage are to me, as one who has suffered much for my outspokenness on this as on other matters, most deplorable. — am, etc., Joseph Goss. Waitara, N. Island, March 10.