The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-03-11
WHAT THE HOME RULEBS WILL DO
THIS SESSION.

| lnLC 01COxONs
| In an address delivered shortly befor'
Parliament met, Mr.. Isaac Butt, the leade
views as to the policy of his party during
the present session
Then there is the Land question and the
Education question. We may have dine
rent opinions on the means by which tbe
condition of the Irish occupier Of the soil
is to be rooted to- that soil; but no man
| who honestly looks at the state of land
tenure in Ireland can avoid the conviction
that something must be done to give seeu-
rity to the cutivatOr of the soil. have
framed measure, and our members are
perfectly at liberty to canvass it's merits or
dissent from details I may not have fran
ed a perfect measure; but do believe it is
essential to the peace and prosperity OF
Ireland that fur her security should be
given to the Occupiers Of the soil. And
times are comm when, perhaps, it may
become of more Importance still. There
are indications of importation of foreign
provisions from America, and that q revC
luton Is close at hand that may transfer
the pasture lands of the country again into
tillsge. l am not sure that it will not be q
most happy change for the country, but in
the change believe me the social question
between landlord and tenant mHst arise,
and if the Legislature does not in tiMe pre-
pare for that great change in the relations
between landlords and tenants you may
see again the heartless evictions of I647
repeated to adjust that change in the inter
ests of the landlords, unless the Legislature
interfere meanwhile to protect the tenant
and only hope you will not see again the
terrible retribution which the crimes of the
do not hesitate to say, have
provoked in other times. This question
q a for ho nf <ha
an enormous Importance. That question
we will prese upon the attention of the
we will at all events do one'
duty. For the Education question, every
day and hour deepens my con vietion of the
vast Importance of that question. 1 was
going to cay to the Catholic community,
because the Catholic community cannot
suffer without suffering to the nation. 1
don't think the importance of this question
Is realized. A monopoly of educational
lnstit0tous for Protestants (fog it is prac
tically thie) is Protestant ascendeney in it's
wOrst and most destructive shape. Every
day the Catholic young man 10 placed st
Il disadvantage, because he has not the ed
iDstltatioDs in which he can com
pete on perfectly eqaal terms with his
Protestant countTymen. l don't go into
any question of what control the clergy
should have over education. That ID for
the Catholic people tbemselyes. Bot what
|, as an 1rishman, cay ls that every Irish
map-whether he congregates with his own
with Englishmen, Scothmen,
Frenehmenr or Geymars-ought to have an
opportunity in his own land of acquiring
the education that would fit him. for that
competition on equal terms without being
called on to sacritsce conscientious con-
victlon OF the heart.
There are great msny other enestions
which Twill net take up your time by emu
meratiDg, hut which it will be our duty to
press on the English Parliament-nos,
repeat, ss substitutes for Home Role.
Never in the English Parliament in press
ing those measures did 1 utter, or will ] |
utter word that would imply that we
we're waving, or abandoning, or modifying
the greas demaad of the Irish psople for |
self government. The first attribute of
legistatioo that would be successful is TO
press apon the people the idea that it |
springs from Themselves and not from any |
other souRoe. Any other form Of govern
ment might make wise lavs-a tyTant |
might make wise laws-but as long as yea
crush down every feeling of independence,
nf nationals energy, every instinct of ma
'iop al selt respect, be our laws ever so wise !
hey are bat the gilded chains upon a peo
pie. They cannos bat confne the national
energy, and it is only by giving them self.
government you car give them that patton
Il self respect-that national self-relianee
that caa. cOnduee and insure national
1t is true with nations as with
ndivid uaas, and give him all the Wise codes
# Justinian-all the wisest laws of the
Visest despots that ever goverheA--they
annot 'oe weighed for one moment in COM
'arison with the spirit of energy, respect,
nd self reliance that will distinguish a
,eoPie governed by themselves. These are
he principles upon which I intend to take
ny stand, and on which know there are
lany near me who will take their stand.