The Irish standard., 1909-11-06
ANOTHER SPEECH Of JOHN T, REDMOND
TO THE ENGLISH ON HOME RULE
The Maintenance Of the Present System Ireland Brings Dscred
the Empire in the Minds Of the Nations Of the World and
Especially Se]fGoverning NaonsW Within the Empire ITSELF
His Address Greeted with Cheers.

At a mass meeting of Englishmen at
Cleator Moor, Cumberland, on Oct. ID,
John E. Redmond, NJ. p, delivered the
following address on Home Rule to an
audience of $500 in Market Hall, whilst
almost as many more were excluded
for want of room:
Our demand for Home Rule has the
unanimous syspathy of the whole
American nation. l have met presl-
dents, leading statesmen Of America,
Republican and Democratic leaders.
tell you there is not an American
statesman of any party who does not
consider your government of Ireland
disgrace, and is not in favor Of our
demand for Home Rule. 1t is almost
the same in France and other Contin-
entail countries. You admire and envy
Germany, some of you, yet you are
perhaps accustomed to regard Germany
as a great automatically governed
country. Nothing of the kind. 1t is q
great Home Rule empire. There are
some thirty different states in the Ger
man empire, and they all have their
local parliaments and local institutions
When, after the Franco-German war,
the new German empire was declared
by Bismarck, and all the smaller
, princes came in and swore their alleg-
lance to the new emperor, each one of
, them did so on the condition that their
own Home Rule institutions should re-
main intact Go to Berlin. There
you will find the Imperial Reichstag.
which is the imperial parliament and
alongside of it the parliament Of Prus-
sia managing all purely Prussian af-
fairs. What is the public opinion Of
your own empire? Every self-govcrn
ing colony in the British empire is in
favor Of Home Rule for Ireland
(cheers). I have the best reason to
know that in Canada and Australia.
both parliaments have passed resolu
tons in favor Of Home Rule for Ire
land. The Australian commonwealth
parliament petitioned the king in fa-
vor Of Home Rule for Ireland. l my
, self have met all the leaders OF pOiti-
cal life in these colonies. A short time
South Africa, and met the South Af-
rican leaders in London. Before that
an imperial conference of representa-
, tives of all the colonies took place in
:. London and l met all the prime min
listers Of your colonies and dominions
Sir Wilfred Laurier from Canada,
others from Africa, Australia, New
Zealand. They all came to US. 1t was
remarkable occasion. They accepted
: the invitation Of the Irish party. All
= the prime ministers Of your empire sat
round q table, and they all expressed
their sympathy with our movement and
their desire to see the Irish people get
, the same Home Rule that they en-
joyed (cheers). Am I not right in
, saying that the maintenance of the
present system in Ireland brings dis
credit on the empire in the minds of
: the nations Of the world, and especial
, ly on the self f-governing nations within
the empire itself? (Cheers). Have I
not shown to you that in its unity in
its public credit, in its military
strength, its moral strength, and even
. in pounds, shillings and pence the set
tlement Of this Irish question would be
the greatest blessing to England and
to the empire (cheers). What is the
objection? 1t is some undefinable fear
Of the Irish character and Of the Irish
people. II you ask an Englishman-
this is my experience-who is hostile
or doubtful about Home rule that is
= what he will say. He does not trust
= the Irish people. He does not trust
especially the Irish members of parlia-
ment Qaughter). Ask him exactly
: what he fears. He cannot give you q
definite reply. He cannot put this fear
and distrust into words. Do they fear
Il intolerance? gave facts and figures
at Barrow last night, and they are in
y today's newspapers, and I will not re.
peat them. That is the fear in theil
secret hearts, though they don't like tt
. admit it. They fear that the Protestant
minority will not get fair play undel