“I would like, Sir, to say a few words just in explanation of this motion. It is the first opportunity that we have had of doing this since the trial, and as other public bodies have passed votes of congratulation to the Bishop, it is specially becoming that we should do so, as he is Chairman of our Committee. I first made the acquaintance of the Bishop in 1893, when I was making a little antiquarian tour in the County Kildare with another antiquary, and on arriving at Maynooth we ordered some dinner at the hotel there. I was anxious to see Maynooth College, we went on there, and we happened to see Dr. Browne, who was then President of Maynooth; and he with true Irish hospitality at once invited us to stay to dine, which we did, and I had a pleasant experience of his hospitality and kindness on that occasion. And I must say that my own experience of him since he became Bishop of Cloyne has always been the same, that by tact and kindness and courtesy he has gained our regard and respect. I think I might venture to say in connection with the present controversy about the introduction of Home Rule into the country—which has, of course, caused a great deal of excitement—it would not be natural to expect that such a measure would be received in silence, but surely it is possible that the people who want to discuss this question should discuss it on non-controversial grounds. I think, for example, it should be discussed on financial grounds or on constitutional grounds, and apart altogether from religious grounds. But I fear there are too many controversial politicians, and that this religious element in the discussion has not only dominated it, but has become predominant, and is greatly to be regretted; and it seems to me that this action against the _Dundee Courier_ is an illustration of this, and that the Bishop found it necessary to vindicate his character against unfounded charges which were capable of being made political capital of. It seems to me that the argument comes to this, that people raise controversial arguments which involve the very serious charge that the lives of the Protestants and the property of the Protestants in the country would hardly be safe under the new Parliament. Now this is a very serious indictment, and I wonder whether the people who make this consider its seriousness and the injury it does to both sides. I think it does those people who make this charge much harm—it tends to make them censorious and uncharitable, and it naturally embitters the people against whom this charge is made—that is, four-fifths of the population of the whole country. I am afraid that there are too many of these controversial politicians at work. I have lived all my clerical life in the County Cork for over forty years, and my own impression when I hear charges of