The Irish standard., 1912-03-02
John Redmond Says Powers Confer
red on Irish Parliament Will
Not be Abused.
Expresses Hearty Concurrence in
the Sentiments Expressed by
Winston Churchill.
Says Ireland Will be Loyal to the
Empire Only When her Rights
Are Recognized.

Following is the speech delivered by
Mr.. John Redmond in Belfast at the
memorable gathering Of Feb. g.:
After over thirty years Of labor in
the Home Rule cause. 1 can say with
absolute sincerity that l would not
have been absent from this meeting
for any earthly consideration, and if
l have to make a claim on your in
diligence by reason Of the fact that
cannot speak to you for more than
few moments, feel that no words
really are necessary for me, except to
say, with the full sense Of my respons-
Utility that in the name of the over
whelming majority of the people of
Ireland I return to Mr.. Churchill our
warmest and deepest thanks for his
magnificent advocacy of our cause.
There are many of us in Ireland who,
for long time past, have looked to
Mr., Churchill as a man who. by tenn
permanent, by experience, and by his
sense of craftsmanship, seemed spe-
cially singled out to bear a large part
in what I may call saving Ireland for
the Empire. l we'll remember almost
lis 9rst official work Il ain q. she Honse r.
Commons, when, under the leadership
of Sir Henry Campbell -Bannerman,
Mr.. Churchill was responsible for saw
ing South Africa to the Empire. And
from the moment that I heard his
speeches on that question, I. for my
self, have always looked forward to
the day when he should be in the very
front rank Of those who would extend
the same principles of freedom to Ire
land. Ladies and gentlemen 1 have
listened with the utmost care to the
speech which Mr.. Churchill has de-
livered; 1 accept every word Of it. He
has delivered noble appeal to the
bette+ nature of the Protestants of Ul-
ster. I in my lifetime have never
szoken any other than words Of con-
ciliation to the Protestants Of Ulster
and of Ireland.
accept all that he has said; and
with reference to the safeguards that
he has announced will be inserted in
the bill, 1 accept every one Of them.
When you give an Irish Parliament to
the Irish people it will be en- the clear
condition and understanding that the
powers conferred will not be abused.
And the very moment that an attempt
were made to abuse those powers by
inflicting injustice upon men because
of their creed, not only would the Inn
perial Parliament be justified, but it
would be it's tounden duty to interfere
and assert its authority. There are
no lengths, therefore, in the nature of
safeguards, which personally - and
speak for my colleagues also-we are
not willing to go. But I must enter
this caveat, believe that the Home
Rulers of Ulster are in a majority in
the province. I am convinced that
there are many, many thousands of
Protestants in this province, who dc
not approve of the tactics and the
principles which we have recently
! witnessed, and who would be quite
| willing to let the dead past bury its
| dead and join hands with their fellow
countrymen throughout Ireland. There
fore, in my opinion. the anti Home
| Rulers are in ridiculous minority ir
the Empire. And enter this pro-
test, whatever be the result Of the ap.
peals made to the good sense and bet
! ter nature Of the Protestants who are
opposing us. I do enter this protest
against what must term the AFRO.
giant and intolerable claim on behalf
of a small minority in Ireland-a min.
ority in Ulster, in Ireland, in Grea'
Britain. and in the Empire to over
ride the will Of Ireland. Great Brit
ain, and the Empire. With Mr.
Churchilps Imperial argument I abso
lutely agree. We want to make /:
settlement with out Protestant fellow
countrymen, and one of our chief rea
sons for wanting it is that we ma,
come at last into our rightful place II
the Empire. which we built az well a
they Ireland has been q weakness I