The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-09-02

representatives today every district has its repre-
sentaon and by the conduct of those representatives
Ireland has proved her capacity for government IN
land where she has been given the right to enter
politics, Ireland has shown that capacity.
These reforms of which 1 have spoken are import
ant but there is great wrong which overshadows
Ireland STILL and that is the lack of the power con-
ferred by self-government Why is it that in every
country where Irishman has been given the right
to show loyalty he has been distinguished Tor MS
great qualities of head and heart while in Ireland
alone he is known for disloyalty and dissatisfaction
1t is because everywhere he finds freedom except in
Ireland He feels that there he has no voice i'll the
government of his country. He has no control over
the laws which his land nor the appointment OF
those who administer its laws.
Home Rule Not Religious Question.
1t has been said by adversaries that home rule
is only effort establish religious ascendancy and
the supremacy of Rome. deny this charge. 1t is not
visible in the County Wexford native place, that
spot of Ireland drenched with the blood of patriots.
Today represent the strongest Catholic constituency
in all Ireland the County Clare the county that sent
the great Q'Connell to Parliament. L can say for
those people that mans patriotism in Clare is not
measured by the creed he processes the church he
belongs to- Many of the leaders of the Irish national
party today of the faith opposed to the religious
belief of the large majority of the Irish people 1t is
not question of the supremacy of the Catholic faith
but of the continuance of the attempt to Irish
men Englshmen in sembance at least The Irish peo-
pie have say in the election of their representatives
put they have nothing to say to the appointment
of their rulers OF the judges who handle the affairs
of Ireland in four is of them. The whole body
alien in faith alien in sympathy and in feeling with
the body of the people, and they chosen by the
ruling power because of this quality. How
try develop under such government? She is taxed
shilling for shilling England is taxed, though the
resources not in proportion. With her industries
langushng, her people despoiled she is yet compelled
to stand in the matter Of taxes shoulder shoulder
with a country whose industries at their best.
no
control
And in asking for home rule we are asking nothing
new One hundred years ago Ireland had parliament
or her own which she lost by England'S force fraud
and corruption There are ample reasons for the dis
loyalty and discomfort of Ireland In the past sixty
years she has seen than half of the best her
countrymen go, and with the decrease in population
has come increase in taxation. Her industries have
vanished, her government has become thing of the
past But the heart people never been
enchanted Never have they suffered enough to give
up the hope that some day they would regain their
rights.
There are two great hopes for Ireland today First
the efforts of England divide Irishmen have never
been so far from successful they today There
is united sentiment in favor of the right, despite
creed or other interests.
There is feeling that an Irish parliament is the
only solution of the question second great ground
for hope for the of Ireland lies in the sentiment
of the English people. The rich and powerful are
against US but the bread winners England believe
IL JuStAOS VI ouI MOI long ago prominent
Englishman, discussing the proposed alliance with
Japan pointed out the mistake of and the
possibility of Christian nation like England being
called upon to support waged by Asatics upon
Christians How much better would it be- said this
gentleman if England made alliance with Ireland
1t is we'll known that with all the majesty of the
British parliament there is inefficient body
polite in the world. This must of necessity be So
To $40 entrusted affairs OF 421 900 900 of
people. For twenty-five years their record with a
few exceptions has been fruitess one One hundred
years have passed since any changes were made in
the body and yet affairs have changed greatly in one
hundred years So the hope for national self-govern-
ment for Ireland is well founded and Ireland is pre-
pared May the great body of Irishmen who have
found peace and contentment in your be prepared
to help Ireland with their enthusiasm and their best
powers in this which believe to be the final strug-
gle in the cause of her freedom