The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-17
THE IRISH CAUSE.
The Address of the National Committee of
the Irish National League of America.


CHICAGO, Aug 16.-Following is the address
formulated and adopted at the meeting of the
national committee of the Irish National League
of America:
I'm obedience to the suggestion of the chosen
leader of the people of Ireland the national
America, assembled TO designate the time and
place for holding the next national convention of
the League in the United States, have decided to
postpone the date of meeting until January,
1856 1t must be manifest to all members Of the
league, and to all friends of self government in
ireland, that it would be impossible either for
Mr.. Parneli to attend a convention in this coun-
try, or to send any of his able associates, pend
ing general election, which will probably occur
next November. Hence the wisdom Of his sug-
gestion that the convention be postponed.
Meantime, however. the league should inaugu-
rate period of activity not less earnest and
energetic tLan that which prevailed when Ire
laid was threatened with another artificial
famine, and when her leaders were imprisoned
and her press silenced under a so-called liberal
government.
The party led by Parnell needs support.
How we'll that support is deserved we need
hardly tell the world Assuredly we need not
tell the men of Irish birth or descent, serving
without compensation, without official power or
patronage. among aliens who have prosecuted
and who have sought to degrade them. Being
numerically less than one-twentieth of the body
IN which they serve, they have achieved sue
cess unparalleled in the history of struggles for
free government By their ability, their unity,
their discipline, their faith in the justice of their
cause, and by their restless labors, they have
forced not only their enemies, but the world to
look upon their oppression, and to listen to the
recltals OF an outraged plundered, misgoverned
people. They have with matchless skill seized
upon every opportunity to thrust before the
world their cause. 1t is which will bear the
scrutiny of light. They never al
lowed it to be hidden. They blockaded
the legislation of the English Parliament;
they objected to. postponed and defeated local
legislation intended to foster and expedite
English business interests, in retaliation for the
dull, brutal Indifference which was shown to
Irish interests. For the first time in English
history it was impossible to extend the franchise
privileges in England and Scotland without Civ
ing Ireland absolute equality in the extension.
While they have not been able to compel the
government to disgorge the surplus of the uneX-
pended fund raised to support the disestab
lished church. they have wrung from the cham
r!ons of that colossal robbery the admission that
it belongs to the people of ireland, and have
compelled the return of a portion of the stolen
funds. They have not secured the land of
Ireland for the people of Ireland; but they have
forced the enactment of legislation which,
although inadequate in its effects is so eXtraor
binary in its terms and concessions as to amount
to confession of the enormlty of
the system which has so long
ground down and impoverished the
get back Grattans parliament for Ireland but
they boldly announce that no lesser measure
will be accepted by them And, pending its re-
storation, though prohibited from governing
Ireland, they have been able odictate who must
cease and who may assume the work of govern
ing England. They have driven the party of
coercion, the party of judicial murderers, the
party of eviction, the party which vainly sought
to imprison ideas when it thrust men into dun
poems, the party led by Gladstone-who wrote
boastingly of the downfall OF the American
Repubic-into disgraceful retirement from Dub
lin Castle; and they have shown that while
Dublin Castle was the home of so called English
Liberalism and the seat of tyranny, its unnatur
al vice and imported English bestiality. made it
only worthy of a site in ancient SOdom
and Gomorrah or In modern London.
Their labors have been hercuean. Their ac-
cOmpllshmentS under most adverse circum
stances, almost miraculous. When they
next appear in Parliament, their numbers will
be increased from thirty to at least eighty.
They will have more less Of only reliable
English support-that which comes from fear
from number of English members who will
owe their election to the judiciOus exercise of the
balance of power by exiled Irish in England and
Scotland. With that strength they will be able
to throttle English legislation, and thus to COM
pei the English to allow them TO retire from an
atmosphere polluted by royal and aristocratic
bestiaity, and to establish free Parliament
for the government of free people in Ireland.
SIN the accomplishment of this work they
need one more great effort on the part Of their
American auxiliaries. We appeal to every
branch league to give renewed life and determi
nation to the work. We earnestly invite all
who are not members to JOIN the league, and we
invite all men of our race, whether members of
the league or not to forward subscriptions for
the parliamentary fund.- to Rev. Charles
O'Reilly. d. d., treasurer Detroit Mich.
''At the convention to be held in January it is
more than probable that Mr.. Parnell will be
present, 1t is certain that the Irish parliament
tary party will be represented At that gather
ing the progress and condition of the Irish people
will be stated to your representatives, and, we
believe, as we earnestly pray, that the next
convention after that will be called to receive
delegation who will come from the Irish Par
lament in College Green"