The Irish standard., 1911-08-05
HOME RULE DURING
PRESENT PARLIAMENT
So Says John E. Redmond in Let
ter Congratulating a Colleague
on his Election.
Irish Leader Does Not Conceal his
Hope for an Early Victory in
the Long Struggle.
Says They Will Win if Protected
From the Enmity of Their
Fellow Countrymen.

When the High Court for the trial Of
Election Petitions rendered decision
recently unseating Captain Donelan,
Mr.. John E. Redmond asked MIR. John
Muldoon to vacate his seat in East
Wicklow and to become candidate
for East Cork, the constituency in
which Captain Donelan's election had
been annulled, and thus permit Cap
tain Donelan to become a candidate
for East Wicklow. Mr.. Muldoon con-
sented with the result that both men
have been reelected, the only differ
ence being that they have exchanged
constituencies. In congratulating Mr.
Muldoon on his election Mr.. Redmond
wrote this significant letter:
My Dear Muldoon-Pray accept my
most sincere congratulations on your
triumphant return for East Cork. We
are all under debt of obligation to
you for the public-spirited manner in
which you withdrew from East Wick
low, where you were so honored and
trusted, in order to provide a seat for
our friend Captain Donelan, and to
frustrate the dastardly attempt which
was made to drive out of public life
one Of the most respected of our Prot
estant public men, Ne all rejoice that
your action has SO promptly met with
it's reward at the hands of Captain
Donelan's late constituents in East
Cork. This proof of the strength and
solidarity of our movement is of spe-
cial value at this moment when the
Home Rule cause stands in a position
of power which it never occupied be-
fore.
So far as the people of Great Brit
ain are concerned, l fear no rock
ahead. l have been, as you know,
closely in touch with British public
opinion recently, and l am quite con-
vinced that Home Rule for Ireland has
at its back The good will of the over
Whelming majority of the British peo-
pie, anu by Home Rule do not mean
any cowardly or grudging measure,
but bold measure of Self-government
which will give to the Irish people con-
troll of their own purely local affairs,
through the agency of a freely elected
Parliament in Dublin with an Execu-
tive responsible to it, subject, of
course, to Imperial supremacy. Such
measure will be introduced into Par.
lament at the commencement of next
year, and will be carried by an over
whelming majority in the House of
Commons.
The only trouble that seems to
threaten us comes not from the British
people, but from certain section in
Ireland. Recent declarations by the
leaders of this section on the subject
of Home Rule, if they were taken seri.
ously in this country, would no doubt
constitute a danger.
The public have been told that Home
Rule is for Ireland merely "a matter
of e s. d." More complete heresy,
from a Nationalist point of view, it is
impossible to imagine than this declar-
alton. The finance of the Home Rule
Bill is no ~uubt of supreme import
ance. No government in its senses
would propose to set up system Of
Self-government which would be bank
rupt, and there is not the smallest
.anger of this happening. But if the
National Movement had been a mere
question of 6 S. d., there is no ques-
ton LAT it would have been settled
long ago; as everyone knows that by
attorning to lne Union ireland would
have reaped a golden harvest all
through the century. If our demand is
mere question of G s. d., then the
best course would be for us to cease
talking about Nationality and to make
up our minds to cling on to the present
system of government in the hope of
obtaining doles from time to time as
the result of persistent begging at the
British Treasury. The National ques-
tion is not a matter of 6 s. d., but a
| matter of freedom.
Another statement that has been re-
Gently made is that Home Rule was
! not before the electors at the last Gen.
sral Elecuon, and that another Gener-