The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Morning Thursday, November 7, 1889. THE IRISH DELEGATES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 374, 7 November 1889, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Morning

Thursday, November 7, 1889. THE IRISH DELEGATES.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country's. Thy God’s, and truth's.

Mr Dillon, one of the Home Rule Delegates, arrives by the steamer to-morrow, The delegates were accorded an enthusiastic reception in Auckland and no doubt Mr Dillon will be warmly welcomed on his arrival here. It is a striking commentary on the great progress that the Home Rule cause has made during the past few years that the powerful organisation which controls these matters finds itself in a position to send delegates to the Antipodes for the purpose of furthering that cause. In spite of Coercion Acts and various other methods of repression, the cause of Home Rule has steadily advanced. Not very long ago it would have been impossible for one of the Irish members to have addressed an English constituency with the hope of obtaining a hearing. At the present time it would be hard to mention a single Liberal constituency in which the Irish members would not be received with acclamation. No doubt the faith that English Liberals have in Mr Gladstone has much to do with this change, but still more reason is found for it in the fact that the present Home Rule movement Is a constitutional one, and that the national party under Mr Parnell are working hand in hand with the great Liberal party to obtain the end they seek, by parliamentary means. The delegate who comes to-morrow is a member of Parliament, and as colonials are proverbial for their spirit of fair play the delegate is sure to get ample opportunity to explain his views. There are some who object to the visit on the ground that it is likely to create political strife about old world topics. We do not think that such an argument applies to Gisborne, and we believe that people here have enough good sense to listen to both sides of the question without rushing to extremities.

Besides any political impartance attached to the visit of the Delegates there is also a feeling of curiosity about them. People have read and heard so much of Home Rule and its exponents that it is quite reasonable that they should wish to see for themselves a specimen of those “ dreadful Irish members " who, according to the Tories, are the embodiment of all that is vile and wicked. Those who have suffered for political offences have always an attraction for the public. For these reasons we believe there will be a good muster of the public, irrespective of their individual opinions. With regard to the question of Hpme Rule itself we have consistently, since our inauguration, advocated the cause, because we believe that it is only right that Ireland should be allowed to have a like amount of freedom as ourselves. It is, however, unnecessary to reiterate the arguments that we have used from time to time, because they must be fresh in the minds of our readers. Mr Dillon himself will no doubt enter into the question at length and is therefore welcome, as likely to give the people of this district a more enlightened and satisfactory view of the situation than could be obtained from the small amount of space that newspapers as a rule feel justified in devoting to the subject. After the above was written we received a communication on the subject from a gentleman whose opinion is well worthy of attention. He writes :—

One need hardly enter into any discussion of the merits or disadvantages of Home Rule for Ireland: that will be done no doubt fully at the meeting to be held on Friday evening. A good deal has been written about the inadvisability of introducing the disputes of the old countries here, and, where such disputes are likely to cause bad blood, they should be avoided.

Mr Dillon and his colleagues have been deputed to visit the Colonies in order to afford information and elicit sympathy as well as practical assistance from those who sympathise with the cause they represent. That some change must take place all parties seem agreed upon. To what extent and in what direction, no one* yet clearly indicates. The appeal made by the Home Rulers to these distant portions of the Queen’s dominions is a strong testimony to the increasing estimation in which the Colonies are held in Great Britain.

Public opinion is no longer confined to the four shores of Britain —it speaks from .the antipodes and influences the Councils of'the Empire. What we have a right to demand is that good sense and good ■ feeling shall govern the speeches and actions of the leaders of all such movements.

Let the truth be spoken—let both sides be heard fairly and then let theright prevail. It is certain that Mr Dillon will have a large and attentive audience. If the weather be fine, he will see a district second to none in this hemisphere; and we trust that if the delegates carry away our good wishes and our contributions they may by their good report, send us settlers and capital—so as to bind us still more closely in interest to the old land. One can promise Mr Dillan a pleasant reception, and an attentive and Intelligent audience.