Mr. Redmond addressed a large meeting at Wexford on Sunday
last, and made a highly significant speech. The coming Election, he observed, was above and beyond all else an Irish Election, and whatever happened in that Election, Ireland stood to win. He had asked for no declaration of Home-rule from English Ministers. "But declarations had been made,—• take them for what they were worth. The Prime Minister in the most solemn way pledged himself and his Cabinet and his party, not to Devolution, not to Home-rule all round, but, in his own words, to a system of full self-government for Ireland." If the Irish Party had voted against the Budget, they would have saved the House of Lords, the great hereditary enemy of their race, the only obstacle which stood between them and Home-rule. At the close of his speech Mr. Redmond defined Home-rule as a Parliament elected by the Irish people with an Executive responsible to it, and with full control over all purely Irish affairs. There would be no persecution of Protestants : to say so was a calumny. Finally, Mr. Redmond said he did not ask the people of Ireland at this moment to put their trust in the Tory or the Liberal Party, or even in Mr. Asquith. He asked them to put their trust in him (Mr. Redmond). It will thus be seen that "toeing the line," so far from earning gratitude, excites nothing but contempt.
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