MANNIX'S FAREWELL

New Zealand Tablet, 25 August 1921, Page 33

MANNIX'S FAREWELL

(By Shane■ Leslie, in tlio New Witness.)

On Wednesday, at the Jennyn Court Hotel, Archbishop Mannix made a farewell speech to the roomful of Irish bisho'ps and prelates, who, since he could not come to them, had crossed the Channel to bring him the good wishes of the people of Ireland before he set back on his journey for Australia. The Irish hierarchy, conservative or progressive, had united to pay him this honor. The Archbishop of Cashel was present with the Bishops of Killaloe and Cionfert. The Bishop of Clonfert sang a touching melody with a rich operatic voice as an introduction and .then the Archbishop spoke. His face has sunk considerably in the eight months of his enforced sojourn in England waiting for the opportunity to go to Ireland, which has never come. There were tears in Irish eyes as he bade farewell to men he never expected to see again. His dark eyes still flashed from their cavernous sockets. The grey hair and the purple sash made him as ever picturesque. For half an hour he poured, forth molten sentences restating the Irish position strongly no doubt. He disclaimed the idea of a Republic qua Republic because only Ireland can self-deter-mine a republic or a kingdom for herself. He asked candidly if the offer of Dominion Home Rule meant what it meant in Australia. He pointed out that no offer had as yet been made worth considering. He insisted that Ireland was behind de Valera, and offered or rather challenged the Government to choose and test any five seats in South lieland. He poured scorn upon the many whisperers and negotiators with or without goggles. He touched logic and he touched sarcasm. But he was never personal and never utter. He concealed his own disappointment. Anxious as he was to see Ireland, he said he preferred not to see her than to sell her, and he would not go to Ireland to do the work of the Government. Thus spoke the old defiant, unrepentant Mannix. But he desired peace, and desired it deeply. He advised the Government to keep to the main road and not try and negotiate in the byroads. He laid great emphasis on the accord that could be reached between the questions of Irish independence and English safety. Whether the settlement took one form or another, it would be possible for Ireland to hve at friendship with England, Scotland,, and even Wales, he added with a. solitary ■ touch of humor. It was a strong speech, but it was a peace speech. It meant business and conveyed logic. There were no fine words or compliments. He asserted that peace could be had the same day that the Government realised that only British crime and aggression blocked the way. He begged tie Government to deal with ' the only representatives of the Irish people. He left the impression of a peacemaker lying to make smooth a very rock-strewn road for another o use. There was no rancour or self-seeking. He seemed to pm down the rulers of England to the question, “Is it peace. and to those Englishmen who are faithful to Ireland he seemed wishful to.leave the blessing of the Southern v-/1 OS-V.

He is gone now, leaving only Sir John Lavery's fine purple-clad impression of him behind-in some' ways the most modern and in others the most mediaeval of prelates. He seems to be straying between two continents, to be lost between two eras. His lonely and consistent voice has certainly been heard in the ends of the earth: Modern times W not what to make of him. In mediaeval times Henry's IPs black-and-tan knights would have poleaxed him. A future time will see him right. ■ © m