The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-13
IRISH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
LECTURE NJ o'coxNoR POWER. n. ?.


Last evening the hall Of the Cooper Institute was
well filled by respectable audience hear Mr..
o'connor Powers lecture Irish Members in the
British Parliament The lecturer was introduced by
Judge John r. Brady. There were present on the
platform Major Haggerty General Bourke 0'Donovan
Rossa Charles Underwood O'Connel, Major p. NJ.
Haverty, Major conyngham and Rev. Fathers Kelly and
BREMEN.
Tho speaker began his address by saying that many
people in England were not aware that less than a
hundred years ago Ireland possessed Parliament OF
which she was proud History records what great
things that free Parliament accomplished for Ireland
within the limits Of its brief existence Within the
last seventyfve years the affairs Of Ireland
aged by alien Legislature and all the hope the Irish
people cherished that justice might be done them
rested IN the virtue, honesty and Indepen-
dences2of their representatives Within the past
decade powerful element had sprung up in
Irish politics. He was ANXIOUS to vndicate his posi-
ton as an Irish nationalist in the English Parliament
and he desired to address word of remonsrance to
such OF his countrymen we're disposed to question
the patriotism Of Irshmen who thought proper to
fight for the constitutional rights of Ireland on the
floor of the English Parliament AS fact he should
say that Ireland win never be ut peace until Irshmen
are Entrusted with the management of their own
affairs and the truth is that the destruction OF Ire.
nativenParament.
The old struggle for Irish nationality against English
supremacy ~ as rife to-day as ever, and will never be
closed until England restores what she has taken
The last election in Ireland gave the home rule party
sixty out of 105 members in the British Parliament
Those who are dissatisfied with the progress of the
home rule party should bear in mind that
they are not very long organized and
that the task they have undertaken is formida
BILE in the extreme A majority of English
and Scotch members by sheer force of numbers voted
down The motion formally brought forward for the
curing OF home rule for Ireland When 0Connel
brought forward his motion for the repeal OF the act of
union he had only onethird the number OF followers
that the home rule party embraces to-day
The speaker admitted the question was beaten by
constitutional majority, but he contended that the
home rule party had larger constitutional majority in
favor of native Parliament than Mr.. Disraeli
had in favor of conservative policy Those
who object TO revolutionary scheme of
emancipation for Ireland but who desire to elevate her
present wretched condition must TO stand the
same platform with him. Some people held that the
regeneration of Ireland could only be achieved by an
exclusively Catholic hisses-but there
be anything the national spirit OF Ireland to-day alb
horredit was
A sEcrARIAN POLICY
in working out the nations redemption Great cheers
There are those who despair OF any settlement be.
tween England and Ireland and there are individuals
of the Irish party in the House of Commons who be-
lieve in the absolute independence Of Great Britain
As for HIMSELF he believed that if the English
would only meet the Irish people half way-(a voice
"Neverl land he did not hold the English people re
sponsbe for the acts OF their govcrnmengreat results
might be hoped for The Irish members in the Eng
sh Parliament propose that the Irish people should be
in the enjoyment OF the control their affairs
as the people OF New FORK exercise over theirs Had
Ireland held this degree of freedom since the opening
of the century her population to-day would be three
times greater than what II is and the thousands of her
people who are now scattered the globe would be
happily placed on their own native soil
THE HOME RULE
claimed fair trial for thcir constitutional proposal In
the last days OF the Irish Parliament half dozen Irish
made up their minds to withdraw in disgust from the
Irish Parament but this withdrawal did not prevent
the English Minister from carrying his scheme of
destroying the Irish Parliament. Persons have adyo-
Gated the withdrawal of the Irish members from the
English Parliament, but he dlsapproved OF any such
movement until Ireland was the same time ready
to proclaim declaration of war; What the
speaker desired TO SEQ the union OF all
classes in Ireland and earnest constitutional
effort win back the legislative independence OF the
country. He referred the revolutionary or Fenan
party and insisted that every party that honestly
sought to elevate Ireland and promote its welfare
should have the and support OF all lovers Of the old
land Whether the happiness OF Ireland through
the golden link OF the through the medium Of
repubcanism let IL be equally welcome, but let sim
core undertaking TO advance the countrys interests or
its freedom be despsed or magned.
lie said he was hopeful Of the progress of the ma
tona The assertion of republican principles in
the democratic land of France augured brightly for hui
msn freedom, and the day he believed was not far dis
tant when the influence of republican principles will so
pSmeat England that the nationality and the rights OF
ireland VIII be recognized and both countries will march
forward to q common destiny.
Remarks made by Judge Brady Major Hag.
Ferty Father McAlear aud General Bourke, aud then
the audience separated