Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-05-02
Majority of Irish Protestants Are
For Passage of the Home
Rule Bill.
Catholics Rise Above Religious
Prejudice I'm Political
Matters.
FOLLOW PROTESTANT LEADERS

Last week the Kentucky Irish
American commented upon the abb
surd statements of Mrs. James A.
Leach, made in an interview with a
reporter for the Louisville Herald.
Mrs. Leachs hostile declarations
against Catholics and home rule for
Ireland were received with contempt
and indignation and expressions of
protest. Among the latter is the
following from a widely known and
intelligent citizen, which the Herald
refused to print and to which we
cheerfully give space:
81 beg the favor of little space
to correct the very misleading state
ments in regard to home rule in
Ireland, published in last Sundays
issue of the Herald, in the interview
given you by Mrs. James A. Leach.
Mrs. Leach's views upon home rule
are obviously colored by religious
prejudice, as she declares she is op-
posed to 1t because it will result in
Catholic domination and a conse-
quent increase in taxation upon the
Protestants, and is simply a scheme
to put Redmond and T. p. O'Connor
in power, and that the majority of
the Irish people are opposed to il.
Now the facts are, as every one at
all conversant with Irish affairs
knows, that three-fourths of the pee
pie of Ireland are Catholics, and are
for home rule to man, and major
ity of the other Protestant one
fourth are also for home rule, the
Orange faction opposing it being the
smallest section of the inhabitants
OF ireland, and Ulster itself elects
two home rule members to Parlia-
ment, and Mr.. Devlin is one of the
members for Belfast itself. OF
course home rule will result in the
Catholics having control of the Irish
Government, as they are the great
majority, just as the Protestants
control England and the United
States for a similar reason. And
why should not Irishmen govern
Ireland in its internal affairs, as
Englishmen govern England and
Americans the United States and
Kentuckians Kentucky? And Mr..
Redmond and O'Connor and their
associates have proven their states
manship before the whole world and
their complete fitness to direct the
government of "a free Irish nation
for the happiness and prosperity OF
all people, Catholic and Protestant
alike Home rule will result in re-
duced taxation, for the onerous bur-
den of the constabulary and a great
military establishment will then be
removed as no longer necessary, and
the vast sums now spent upon them
used for internal improvements and
the upbuilding of industrial enter
prises, by which the whole nation
will profit All this talk that home
rule means Rome rule is arrant nom
sense, intended to arouse religious
rancor and groundless opposition.
There will be no union of Church
and State, or special privileges for
the Catholic church under home
rule. The Irish people do not
want and won't have 1t. No
section of the Irish people will
suffer injustice so long as they
oyally support the legal govern
ment of their country. The Irish
Catholics have followed Protestant
leaders as faithfully and Loyalty
as Catholic leaders in striving
for the right of self-government.
The very first leader OF the home
rule movement. back in 1870 and
1880, was a Protestant, Isaac Butt.
After his death came the incom-
parable, matchless Charles Stewart
Parnell, also a Protestant, and one
fn. ss.fh Af h. 10
who stood with Parnell through all
that trying and glorious struggle for
self-government were Protestants
and a Jew, Alderman Abraham. of
Dublin. In religious matters. touch
ing their claim for national and
nolitical freedom. the Irish people
have ever been most broad and lib
eral when they were convinced that
a man was true to ireland. The name
and memory Of the Protestant Rob-
ert Emmet, the noblest martyr
patriot OF any age or race. whose
dying words in behalf of his coun-
try's liberty express the sublimest
sentiments in the pages OF history,
nd is a classic wherever the English
tongue is known, Ia cherished and
revered In the heart OF every true
Irish Catholic the world over. and
will be so long as men love liberty
and patriotism. And back in 1S4S
the Catholics OF Ireland followed
the Protestants. John Mitchell, Will
lam Smith O'Brien, Thomas Davis
and others, thus always showing that
they rise above narrow religious
prejudice in political matters, as
their enemies so unjustly charge. As
for Premier Asauith, his popularity
has been decidedly proven by his
reelection unopposed to his seat in
Parliament last week, and his fitness
FOR the high office he holds has been
demonstrated again and again aud IL
acknowledged by thinking men of al
parties In England. In conclusion.
wish to remark that il Mrs. james
\. Leach Is as poorly advised In
4 ...WU Ia IL . l.. L.. I'll.