The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-25
Sensible Views of Michael Brophy.


What do you think should be the aim
and action of the convention?'
ITO my mind there is but one safe and
sure rule for people, as well as for an midi
vidual, to follow, and that is to base their
actions and their demands upon the laws of
God. When nation stands upon Gods
laws it holds an impregnabe position. Now,
the law OF God gives to every distinct ma
tionality the right to self-government, leav-
ing the people themselves to determine how
and by whom the powers of government
shall be exercised. As regards Ireland's
right to selfgovernment nearly all Irishmen
are as one man. and the Philadelphia con-
vention will no doubt give full emphasis to
the fact"
But how do the people of Ireland hope to
gain the independence of their country?'
Some hope to accomplish much in that
direction by passive resistance, which proved
so effective in the great 1.-THE war and which
in the present movement forced many of the
landlords and even Mr.. Gladstone to terms;
they point TO the great results achieved by
the people OF Hungary, who followed up this
line of action. If | am correctly informed,
very many believe in a steady and vigorous
preparation for war, whenever 'England's
difficulty makes Irelands opportunity
are few who are not willing to wait any
longer for something to be DONE
do you think that the Irish people will
approve of what these men have done?"
Il am sure they will not. Apart from the
action itself, few men have no right to take
the law into their own hands"
Then you think that the Irish people
have no sympathy with assassination"
Most assuredly not. But the newspapers
seem to forget that the British government
is responsible for the merciless murder of
hundreds of thousands of the Irish race. A
government that drives men to desperation
has no right to complain. But the people of
Ireland have the right to complain of men
who assume 10 speak and act in their name
without their knowledge or consent"
But, to return to the convention, can you
suggest any plan by which all parties could
be united?'
ut might be out of place for me to say any
thing on the subject, but, in my opinion, the
first principle to be kept in view is that Irish
men in this country have no right to dictate
to the people in Ireland. 1 think it is not
only the right but the duty of Irish .Ameri-
cans to advise, but there the right ceases.
Those who like the policy OF the people at
home will support it; those who
do not can keep quiet, and leave
the people on the other side to man.
age their own affairs. Another thing
to be kept constantly in view is that men
may differ radically about measures and still
be thoroughly honest and patriotic. When
a man conscientiously believes that GER
tain line of policy is right he cannot support
a policy just the contrary. But men can
agree to disagree and be goods friends still.
Men may agree to follow the leadership of
others, but they cannot agree to stfie the
expression of their own conscientious views.
The true rule, think, is for the decision of
the Majority to be respected by all. This
need not, and should not, prevent the public
discussion of vital questions, and of all the
measures advocated, the true one is pretty
sure to be adopted in the end. Another rule
that | would consider of vital importance
would be to formulate certain principles, to
be based of course, upon the law of
justice, and to give hearty support to leaders
SO long as they stand by those principles.
Hero-worship has been one OF the
greatest curses of the Irish people. Ireand's
motto should be- Principles first, then men
to sustain them. In support of this idea 1
would call to mind great fact-not by any
means to introduce religious question, but
simply by way of illustration. From a mere
ly human point of view the Catholic church
is the most compact, vigorous and powerful
organization in the world. Why? Because
she never sacrifices principle to expedite cy
or individual caprice. With her principles
are everything, men nothing. She canonizes
no man until he is dead. No matter now
great the man or elevated his position, the
moment he fails to stand by her laws that
moment his power and influence are gone.
When the people of Ireland carry this prn-
cple into politics the British government
will have good cause to trembie."
Then you sec no reason why all parties
could not unite?'
Certainly not. On the platform of ma
tonality all could unite; the rest would fol-
low in due time" SD"