I very much regret to announce to the House the death of Senator Mrs. Stopford Green.
Death of Senator Mrs. Stopford Green.
Cathaoirleach
I beg to move:—
That this House do place on record the expression of its regret at the death of Senator Mrs. Stopford Green.
It would be possible, in a long speech, to give a detailed account of the work which the late Senator did for this country. One might refer to her work for Irish history, and one might refer to her work in London during the difficult days in the past. It would be impossible in a few moments in any way to do justice to her service, but what I would like to refer to briefly is to her character and her absolute and passionate love for Ireland: to her pride in its past and to her faith in its future. Many of us, and none probably more than myself, mourn the loss of a personal friend, and I think I can truly say that there were few in Ireland in the past few years as free from any thought or feeling of bitterness as the late Senator. Everyone who has endeavoured to serve this country, and who knew her, was her friend, and she sought the help of all alike. I would like, with the permission of the House, to read again the latter portion of the message which she sent on the occasion on which she presented the casket to this House. She did me the honour of asking me to read that message, and she told me then that she never expected again to be able to take part in the proceedings of this House. She was, however, spared for quite a number of years longer, and although not able, owing to the state of her health, to take an active part in the proceedings of the House, she remained a member. But that message was sent in the belief that she could no longer take part in our proceedings. I think nothing could express her spirit and her belief in this country better than the whole of that message. I would ask Senators who may not have read it, and who were not members of the House at the time, to read it through. I think it is one of the finest things that has been written in recent years in this country. The latter portion of it reads:
Through the long record of wars and assaults, in every generation in turn, men who came as warriors, even the roughest of them, remained as men of Ireland. They took their share in defence of their new home, and endured, if need were, in evil times outrage, ruin and death in the cause of Irish freedom and independence. No real history of Ireland has yet been written. When the true story is finally worked out— one not wholly occupied with the many and insatiable plunderers— it will give us a noble and reconciling vision of Irish nationality. Silence and neglect will no longer hide the fame of honourable men. We shall learn the ties which did in fact ever bind the dwellers in Ireland together. Whether we are of an ancient Irish descent, or of later Irish birth, we are united in one people, and we are bound by one lofty obligation to complete the building of our common nation. We have lived under the breadth of her skies, we have been fed by the fatness of her fields, and nourished by the civilisation of her dead. Our people lie in her earth, and we ourselves must in that earth await our doom. We have shared our country's sorrows, and we expect her joys. "The mother that has nursed us is she, and when you have looked on her she is not unlovely." To Ireland we have given our faith. In Ireland is our hope.
I beg to second the motion. It is quite unnecessary for me to add a word.
Cathaoirleach
I would like to associate myself with the Motion that has been so eloquently proposed. It is unnecessary for me to say anything with the words, which this noble lady herself has written, ringing in our ears.
Motion passed in silence, all the members rising in their places.