25 APRIL 1914, Page 29

UNITED STATES IRISH AND HOME RULE.

(To ME EDITOR or vas ..arscrivoa."1

you permit me to assure you that the cause of Ulster is gaining sympathizers every day on this side the Atlantic, while "Home Rule " is losing many adherents as people better understand its true meaning? It is estimated that in Chicago alone there are one hundred thousand Ulsterites These plan a great mass meeting on April 6th to protest against the measure, and also by resolution to express their sympathy with their "tried but true" brethren of the Ulster counties. The city of Chicago is itself an example of civic corruption and moral rottenness as the result of years of uncontrolled Irish Catholic rule, and one may infer what the cities of North Ireland would become if the same kind of politicians were in full control. Crime would enormously increase—Chicago has an average of one murder a day, or three hundred and sixty-five per annum against twenty- six for London—finances would be bungled by constant graft, while pauperism would go up by leaps and bounds. wish I could send you photographs of the thousands of ignorant and vile specimens of humanity who throng the low liquor places kept by leading city politicians of then religion and race. I am afraid that one glimpse of such a tatterdemalion crowd, all of them "Home Rulers," would cause Premier Asquith and his colleagues to collapse. Having spent the last quarter-century in mission work, I have had the fullest opportunity to study the Irish Societies. All their schemes and plans are directed towards one object, that is, separation of Ireland from England, with its natural sequence, the supremacy of the Papacy in Irish affairs. I quote from resolutions adopted at the St. Patrick's Day Con- vention held under the auspices of all Catholic Irish Societies in San Francisco :—

" Whilst at this time our hearts and minds turn with fond recol- lection to our kindred in the old land, and whilst our sympathy goes out in profuse measure to their efforts to obtain self-govern- ment, we are still of the conviction that the present proposed inadequate measure of Home Rule, if it should pass, cannot satisfy the aspirations of a people, whose unparalleled struggle for full liberty has evoked the admiration of the world for over seven hundred years ; and whilst we rejoice at any measure that will be conducive to the greater happiness of our people, we with to go on record as being unalterably opposed to anything less than an absolutely free and independent Ireland."

I have quoted literally from the Catholic Monitor, and will leave both friends and foes of Home Rnle to judge what they may expect if the Nationalists have their way.—I am, Sir, Sm.,