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CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian Institute for Histcical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques

1980

Technical Notes / Notes techniques

The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Physical
features of this copy which may alter any of the
images in the reproduction are checked below.

D
D

Coloured covers/
Couvertures de couleur

Coloured maps/

Cartes g^ographiques en couleur

Pagea discoloured, stained or foxed/
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Tight binding (may cause shadows or
distortion along interior margin)/
Reliure serr6 (peut causer de I'ombre ou
de la distortion le long de la marge
intdrieure)

L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a 6x6 possible de se procurer. Certains
ddfauts susceptibles de nuire 6 la qualitd de la
reproduction sont not6s ci-dessous.

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D

Coloured pages/
Pages de couleur

Coloured plates/
Planches en couleur

Show through/
Transparence

Pages damaged/
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P<
o1
fil

oi
af

Tl
fil
in

M
in
up
be
fo

Additional comments/
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Original copy restored and laminated.

Bibliographic Notes / Notes bibliographiques

Only edition available/
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Bound with other material/
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Pagination incorrect/
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Pages missing/

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Cover title missing/

Le titre de couverture manque

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Additional comments/
Commentalres suppldmentaires

The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.

The last recorded frame en each microfiche shall
contain the symbol —►(meaning CONTINUED"),
or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever
applies.

Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le
plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et
de la nettet6 de I'exemplaire film6, et en
conformity avec les conditions du contrat de
filmage.

Un des symboles suivants apparattra sur la der-
nidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas:
le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole
V signifie "FIN".

The original copy was borrowed from, and
filmed with, the kind consent of the following
institution:

National Library of Canada

L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grfice d la
g6n6rosit6 de I'dtabliisement prdteur
suivant :

Bibliothdque nationale du Canada

Maps or plates too large to be entirely included
in one exposure are filmed beginning in the
upper left hand corner, left to right and top to
bottom, as many frames as required. The
following diagrams illustrate the method:

Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre
reproduites en un seul clichd sont filmdes d
partir de Tangle sup6rieure gauche, de gauche d
droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre
d'images ndcessaire. Le diagramme suivant
illustre la mdthode :

%'■

Home Rule for Ireland

Extract of a Speech made before the Legislative Assembly of the
Province of Quebec, on the 16th of April, 1886

BY THE

HON. E. J, FLYNN

n/X^

(Note by the Translator.)

The circumstances under which this one, of the Hon.
E. J. Flynn's most brilliant efforts was made, are as
follows:

The Hon. Mr. Gladstone had placed before the Im-
perial Parliament a measure for the purpose of granting
self-government to Ireland.

With the object of strengthening Mr. Gladstone's
hands and showing to the British Parliament and to
the British people the state of opinion in this Province,
a motion was made before our Local Legislature, here,

in favor of an address of congratulations to Mr. Glad-
stone.

This motion met with great opposition and it is well
known its passage was largely due to the impression
produced by Mr. Flynn's speech, a few extracts of
which have been translated and are given below.

It was an open secret at that time that the Hon.
Gentleman had declared his intention of resigning his
portfolio unless the Government supported the motion.

Thanks to the Hon. Gentleman's eloquent Pleading
and decided action, the motion before the House was
carried.

After some preliminary remarks the Hon. Member said :

This Legislature is now called upon to state whether it
approves the adoption of measures to improve the position
of Ireland.

The people of this Province rejoiced at the news that the
first Minister of the Empire had proposed a law granting
to Ireland the benefit of self-government.

All our sympathies as a people were in favor of all mea-
sures tending to improve the unfortunate position of Ire-
land. We have in this Province of Quebec a population
composed of Frenchmen, Englishmen, Scotchmen and Irish-
men. There is hardly a spot in the whole of our country

_8 —

where Irishmen are not to be found. I myself, whilst visit-
ing remote parts of onr Province, have seen more than once
a spectacle which has deeply moved me : I have seen groups
of Irishmen born upon Irish soil or descendants of Irish-
men who without losing the memory of the land of their
birth or thai of their ancestors, were living in peace and
harmony with their Canadian fellow citzens and I can
say that the Irish population of this Province is hand
in hand with their fellow citizent^ of French extraction
and deserves the sympathies of all the nationalities which
form the Canadian People.

(After some remarks the speaker continaes.)

Mr. President, what is the true reason of all these
troubles which agitate Ireland and find expression in
public manifestations throughout the whole of the United
Empire, if not that the English People have failed to recog-
nize the National aspirations of Irishmen ?

Sir, to bring back peace and tranquillity to Ireland,
three things are needed. Ireland must have' a strong
Government ; it must have a just Government, but above
all things Ireland must have a National Government : A
strong Government which will not fear to do its duty
under all circumstances : a Government that will be just
to all whilst its strength will entitle it to respect : a
National Government that will rest its first claims upon
the sympathies of the people whose affairs it will adminis-
ter and to whose aspirations it will give free scope and
opportunity.

Does the past history of Ireland show that England
has ever understood or desired to understand the necessity
of adopting the above solution of the Irish problem ? No

Sir, the Statemeii of England have never understood that
the People of Ireland were to be jifoverned, not by sword
or cannon, but by justice and clemency alone.

In support of my remarks allow me, Sir, to read a short
extract of a work on Ireland. Speaking of Ireland's wants
the author savs :

" But, in addition to this, it appears to mo to be perfectly
evident from the existing state of public opinion in Ireland,
that no government will over command the real affection
and loyalty of the people which is not in some degree
national, administered in great measure by Irishmen and
through Irish institutions. If the present discontent is ever
to be checked, if the ruling power is ever to carry with it
the moral weight which is essential to its succes, it can
only be by calling into being a strong local political feeling,
directed by men who have the responsibility of property,
who are attached to the connection, and who at the same
time, possess the confidence of the Irish people. As in
Hungary, as in Poland, as in Belgium, national institutions
alone will obtain the confidence of the nation, and any
system of policy which fails to recognise this crowning of
the national sentiment will fail also to strike a chord of
true gratitude. It may paliate, but it may not cure. It
may deal with local symptoms, but it cannot remove the
chronic disease. To call into active political life the upper
class of Irishmen, and to enlarge the sphere/ of their
political power —to give, in a word, to Ireland the greatest
amount of self government that is compatible with the
unity and security of the Empire — should be the aim of
every statesman."

Mr. President, these words Were written in 1872, and at

— 6 —

even at that date this writer had perceived what was
required to give peace and prosperity to Ireland.

As far back as in 1872 an English author did not hesitate
to declare that the great problem of the Grovernment of Ire-
land could be solved in one manner only : by the recogni-
tion of the Irish Nationality. Public opinion in England
has advanced with great strides since then and the best
proof of this is to be found in the present course of the
Hon. Mr. G-lads'tone.

By the proi>osal which is in your hands, Mr. Speaker,
we are asked for an expression of opinion on the measure
submitted to the Imperial Parlianment by Mr. Grladstone.

I am not thoroughly familiar with the said measure, but
I see that it has been cordially received. In this matter
the party most interested is the Irish people and their
representatives. It is for them to state their wants. Now
this measure has the sanction and the approval of the
Great Irish Chieftain himself.

As for myself I have no hesitation to state that if the
Irish Chieftain and his supporters are willing to accept
this measure, I fail to see on our side any serious objection
t(' the expression of our sympathy for the Irish People,
especially at this moment the most solemn of their History,
when the voice of humanity seems raised to demand that
Justice should be rendered to them.

I believe that we may state that we are pleased with
the prospects of Heroic Ireland. We can in consequence
offer our congratulations to the - orable Mr. Grladstone.

It has been stated. Sir, t^ i, the Unity of the Empire

— 6 —

would be destroyed were this measure adopted. I am not
of that opinion.

English Statemen have come to the conclusion that far
from being a cause of weakness, this measure, which
throws off the chains which during three centuries weigh-
ed upon the Irish people and gives to that country the right
of self-government, will draw closer the bonds which unite
the different parts of the Empire and thus add to its
security.

Mr. Gladstone has recognized this more than once and
bajs. urged the necessity of applying a strong remedy to
the evil. He has shewn that he desired to liberate the
Irish people from their bondage.

Before saying an eternal farewell to the things of this
world, he desired to free a nation, and at the same time to
show to the English people, the proudest nation in the
world, that their Policy in Ireland was both unjust and
wrong.

To day we are called upon to adopt an address of con-
gratulations to Mr. Grladstone for having presented a project
of Home Kule for Ireland to the Imperial Parliament and
thus to express our opinion on a question which i) erests
not only the United Empire but I might say the whole
world.

I think we have the right to express such an opinion :
we are the authorized representatives of a people, a large
number of whom a^^ait with impati3nce the news of the
liberation of their country. I say then that this power of

expressing an opinion is ours and that w e can use it in
the name of those whom we represent heije.

Mr. President, I will conclude these remarks by stating :
That if the English nation grants this meastire of justice
to the people of Ireland, then that British Empire, over
which it is said the sun never sets, will thereby attain
additional lustre and renown.