The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-10-30
A PLAIN EXPLANATION Of HOME RULE
TO THE DEMOCRACY BY J,E REDMOND
Speech Recently Delivered in Lancashire by the Irish Paraen
ary Leader Which Elected Cheers from the EngshnenBy
Home Rule is Meant the Conng Upon the Irish the Right
of Managing Irish Affairs.

The following able address to Eng
lishmen on the subject of Irish Home
Rule, delivered by John f. Redmond,
M. p, at Ashton-under-L Lyme, Lam
cashire, appears in the Dublin Weekly
Freeman of Oct. 16:
Mr.. Redmond, who was received
with rounds of enthusiastic cheering,
said-I thank you for your kind and
cordial greeting. This is a somewhat
unusual kind Of meeting. 1t is a meet
ing of Englishmen, called together Tor
the purpose of hearing the case or
Ireland stated by an Irish representa-
tive (cheers). 1 am here tonight to
discuss with you the position Of
Irish self government. to explain it's
meaning, and also to insist upon it's
urgency. Let me say, in the first place,
am grateful to the Liberal Assocl-
alton in this district for having af-
forded to me the hospitality Of their
platform. / am here as the guest. l
| am not member of the Liberal
Party. I am member of no English
party. I am a member of party
which for thirty years, in the House
Of Commons, has held itself, aloof
from all British parties ,Achearaa. ANA
which has, at the same time, in the
past rendered, I believe. great service
in support Of every reform instituted
in the interests of the masses of the
people of this country. Still. it is n
party whose members are always in
for themselves from the return TO
power of any English party, Liberal
or Tory; who stand Independent or
all British political combinations, and
who have gone to the House of Com
mons with the single object OF en-
deavoring to obtain justice and free
I am here because I am one of those
who have been convinced for many
years that the bitter hostility to Ire
land which once unfortunately existed
in this country has entirely dsap-
peared (cheers). ! don't believe there
ia any race feeling against Ireland
or Irishmen in Great Britain (cheers).
/ believe all the old prejudice with
reference to Ireland has disappeared
from the hearts Of the masses of the
English people, but I recognize that
the obstacles in our path are formid-
able ones. They spring from what
may call, without offense to you
British ignorance of all the details OF
the Irish question, and British apathy
and Indifference, am here tonight to
endeavor to combat those obstacles
to show you that the settlement of
this Irish question concerns the we'll
; being Of Great Britain and of the
> empire at large, as well as OF Irn-
land, and have, therefore. been anx.
ious to seize every opportunity I car
in Great Britain to speak in any as
|
what party, on this question of Ire.
land 1 have spoken on Liberal plat.
forms, on labor platforms, and have
? even spoken at high Tory assemblies
like the oxford Union, and wherever
can get the opportunity in Grear
3 Britain, I will go amongst the peo.
t pie and speak upon this question, be.
s cause I am convinced that once thu
people of this country understand th'
, question all obstacles will be removed
: from its settlement.
e When this meeting was original!
: fixed neither Mr.. Scott nor had an,
g idea that when the meeting came Il
e be held it would be in the midst o
= an acute political crisis like that tha
r exists at this moment. The presel
: situation is not only acute, but is full
Is of uncertainty. No man living cal
Y tell what may be ahead Of us in tn
e next few weeks. No one can tel
e what the House Of Lords will do wit
t reference to the Budget. There is,
4 seems to me, only one thing in tn
: present political situation that is Ger
4 tain, and that is that we are on tn
l, eve of a general election, when tn
i great issues at stake will be submit
ted to the people Of this countr