National Republican., 1873-12-13
Ing platform of the proposed 'IIomc.rulc

ing platform of the proposed 'TIomc.ruc
League" .
!. That, as the basis OF the proceedings of this
conference, VIC declare our conviction that It s
scntiAly necessary to the peace and prosperity Of
ireland that the right Of domestic legislation on
all Irish affairs should he restored 60 our country
q That, solcninly rcasserttna tho nalienablo
right OF tho Irish people to sclEgovcrnmcnt, we
declare that tho time, In our opinion, has come
when combined and energetic effort should be
made to obtain the restoration Of that right.
.. That, In accordance with the ancient md con.
slitutional rights Of tho Irish nation. We claim
the privilege Of managing our own affairs by a
Parliament assembled In Ireland, and composed
OF the Sovereign, the Lords aud tho Commons OF
| ireland.
4, That, In claiming these rights and privileges
for our country, We adopt tho principle Of a fed.
| eral arrangement, which would secure to the
Irish Parliament the right OF lcglsating for and
regulating all matters relating to the internal
affairs Of ireland, while leaving to the Imperial
Parliament the power Of dealing with oil qucs-
| tions affecting he Imperial Grown unh Govern
mcnt, legislation regarding the colonies and other
dependencies Of tho Crown, tho relations Of the
Empire with foreign Stntos, an all matters per-
tanning TO the defence AMI sahlity Of the Empire
At large, rs well as the power ur granting and
providing the supplies necessary for imperial pur
poses
g. That such an arrangement doe. not Involve
any change In the existing rsitu ion of the I'm
perial parliament, or amy interference with the
prorogativcs Of tile Crown disturbance Of the
principles Of the constitution.
O. That, to secure to the Irish people tho nd.
yantngos Of constitutional government, II Is essen
tal that there should be in ireland nn admins.
tration for Irish affairs, controlled according tO
constitutional principles by the Irish Parliament,
and conducted by Ministers cOnstiiutiOnally re.
sponsble to that Parliament.
l. That, In the opinion Of this conference, Fed.
eral arrangement, based upon these principles,
would consolidate the strength and maintain the
integrity Of tho empire and add to tho dignity and
power Of the Imperial Crown.
8. That. while We believe that in an Irish Par.
Lament the rights and liberties e all classes Of
our countrymon would And their est and surcst
protection, we are willing that there should be
Incorporated in the FEDERAL Constitdtion articles
supplying the amplcst guarantees that us change
shall be made by that Parliament In the present
settlement OF property In ireland, and that no
legislation shall he adopted to establish religious
asccndcnncy in ireland, or to subicc, amy person
to disabilities on account his religious opinions.
These resolutions were separately dis.
cusscd, and adopted with great unanimity.
Among the persons who addressed the con.
ference were Mr.. Ronaync, NJ. p, Mr.. John
Martin, NJ. p, Mr.. Blcnncriiassctt, NJ p.
for Kerry; Mr.. O'Connor Power, of st.
Jarlath's College; n. ID. Murphy, NJ. p,
Mr. Digby, NJ p, Mr.. I. Sullivan, Rev.
Professor Galhnith, Rev. Thomas O'Shca,
The O'Conor Don, Captain J. p. Notn,
Mr. James Esmondc, Mr.. A. NJ. Sullivan,
Major O'Rilcy, NJ p, Mr.. Ferguson, Sir
John Gmy, Rev. Dean O'I}ricn. Mr.. sLtor,
]. p. Mr.. Francis O'Donncll, Rev. Isaac
Nelson, ard many others.
The firm. earnest, but moderate tone
which characterized the speeches, together
with the absolute rcpudaicn of all ilcu Of
ultinai" sclaruiou from Great britain,
argues well tor the final surc"ss Of the move.
mcnt.
II appears to an unprciudiccd mind that
the claims put forth in this platform are so
simple and just as to meet with tfifling
opposition upon the part Of those Brit.
ish statesmen who have any real desire to
paclfy Ireland and give it stable govern.
msnt. BY according the privileges asked,
they will stimulate in men of all crceds
desire to remain in their nutivc land to aid
In restoring II to its ancient glory and re.
nown. The tide Of emigration which has
carried her best blood to ifccr lands would
not only thus be stayed, but many of her
absent sons might he lured back with the
splendid fortunes that have rewarded their
enterprise and toll in foreign climcs to be
invested in the development Of the mate
rial resources Of Green Erin" Under this
proposed Federal arrangement ireland would
in every sense become as free ns one of the
United States, and yet would be portion
of the British Empire. and her sons entitled
to all the privileges OF full citizenship Re.
lgions Of every faith would have gtlaran-
tee of freedom and protection. tits needed,
then. to add a uniform system of free cdu.
cation for all, both rich and poor, and en-
tend the elective franchise, in accordance
with the diffusion of intelligence, to consti.
tutc Ireland one Of the irecst States of the
earth. The success OF all popular govern
ments depends upon the intelligence and |
clf.control of the individuals composing |
them. Sclfrcliancc is the offspring in a |
great measure, Of an education acquired |
through tribulation. Adversely stimulates
Invention and enterprise in the brave to the
achievement Of success. Pupils who sue.
coed under such tutelagc become the sagrst |
of counSclors. The oppression md adyer.
siiy which the Irish have suffered have
bcgottCn courage and caution that may he |
the precursor OF victory. They seem in
this movement to have arrived at the Jack
-.
nothing but what is right, and submit, to
nothing which is wrong" The sagncious
and enlightened policy pursued by Glad.
stone, in the discStablshmcni of the Irish
Church four years ago. gives the l,opn fl,a,
lic will lend his inilucncc also 10 this Crown.
ing mcasnrc Of modification