WHO WERE TO BENEFIT FROM HOME RULE? by Donal Kennedy

QUOTATION 1.

“In the interests of the Empire I feel very strongly that the Irish question should be settled on lines that will satisfy the sentiment of the over-sea democracies, both in our self-governing colonies and in the United States. Everyone, I think will agree that it is most important and in the highest interests of the Empire that there should be the friendliest feelings of generous affection and goodwill, not only between the self-governing Dominions and the Motherland, but also between America and England. We are all agreed upon it. A heavy shadow at present exists, and it arises from our treatment of Ireland ….If this be so, is it not our duty to remove the obstacle that prevents that relationship with America from being that which we all desire?”

QUOTATION 2.

“I feel that the enactment into law of this measure…..bids fair to establish goodwill amongst the English-speaking peoples.This has been prevented more than any other thing by this unhappy feud which has raged for centuries, and the settlement of which, I most earnestly hope and believe, will be a powerful contribution to peace in the world, based on international justice and goodwill.I earnestly believe that the measure is as much in the interests of Great Britain as of Ireland.”

QUOTATION 3.

“We will, under Home Rule, devote our attention to education, reform of the poor law, and questions of that kind which are purely domestic, which are, if

you like, hum-drum Irish questions, and the only way in which we will attempt to interfere in any Imperial question will be by our representatives on the floor of the Imperial Parliament at Westminster doing everything in our power to increase the strength and glory of what will then be our Empire at long last;and by sending in support of the Empire the strong arms and brave hearts of Irish soldiers and sailors, to maintain the traditions of Irish valour in every part of the world.That is our ambition.”

QUOTATION 4.

“I would let the Irish have Home Rule ‘for their own idiotic affairs’

QUOTATION 4.

“Give it (Home Rule) to them . Give it to them; let them have full savour of their own dunghill civilization”.

Quote 1      Earl Grey The House of Lords 27 January 1913.

Quote 2.     Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt, quoted in THE IRISH WORLD (New York)  8 February 1913.

Quote 3,     Irish Parliamentary Party Leader John Redmond, to a non-Irish gathering in London, St Patrick’s Day 1913.

Quote 4.     Mr Winston Churchill, Liberal Cabinet Member 1913.

Quite 5.      Lord Morley (Liberal) “the father of Home Rule” about the same time.

All quotations cited by Roger Casement in “THE CRIME AGAINST EUROPE”  with “THE CRIME AGAINST IRELAND” and other writings.

Published by Athol Books, Belfast.