The Irish standard., 1886-11-06

service to the cause represent tO~nignt,
than IN trying to prove that the Home
Rule cause instead of having been de-
feated at the recent general election
scored magnificent triumph against
the forces of opposition, which were
pitted against it. (Applause.) NO
greater mistake could be committed
than to suppose that the verdict of the
general election was an il1evocable one
against the Irish cause. In political,
as in military warfare, there are vic
tories often gained which in reality
amount to defeats i'll their conse-
quences to the winning side, while re-
verses are often sustained by just
cause, which in other results frequently
amount to moral victories.
Now, we who are engaged In this
struggle at home believe that MI.
Gladstone's defeat was brought about
by combination of causes and intlu-
ences which can never again be found
in cooperation against the cause of Ire
land. (Applause.} These influences L
might as we'll try to particularize here
tonight, because by doing sc | Will
give you clear idea Of the progress
made in our movement during the last
fe " years, and also some knowledge OF
the influences against which we may
have to contend until The final struggle
is achieved. First, the British mind
was unprepared for the idea OF 81 sepa~
rate legislature for Ireland. Secondly.
the Tory supporters Of the Liberal
leader OF IIome Rule resorted TO the
most unscrupulous tactics and vilest
Misrepresentation in order to set back
to power. Thirdly, the dead weight
of the land purchase scheme OF MI.
Gladstone operated very jnJurl-
ously against his Home Rule
measure: and, fourthly, the divi-
sion in his own party, the boiling OF
Harrington and Chamberlain handi-
capped his great efforts to solve
the Irish problem. Now, that these
combined influences succeeded in
defeating his proposal is not to be won
dered at. Natural as a separate legis-
}ature is to the Irishmen for th5ir
country, and just as expedient as such
concession would seem to the Ameri-
can people, it amounted to q sudden
revolution in the opinion Of the
electors of England. They had long
been schooled in the, idea that the irish
people, Sc years ago, had acquiesced i'll
the infamous measures Of the union Of
1900. They were also under the i'm
preston that Parliament III West
minister could legislatc as sympatheti-
cally for Ireland as for England. Wales
and Scotland; and again they had been
taught in their schools, and by their
priests and public men, that the very
integrity Of the British Empire depend
ed upon the maintenance Of one Parlla-
ment for Great Britain and Ireland.
This being the ordinary state Of public
feelingin England. the ayoWed enemies
Of Home Rule found it an easJ task to
M1sREPREsENT TIE REAL MEANING
of MIR. Gladstone's proposed constilu-
tion for ireland. Every organ Of Tory
opinion-every speaker belonging to
that party, declared that the giving Of
separate Parliament to Ireland would
inevitably lead to the total separation
of Ireland from England. Again, the
feeling of religious bigotry was ap~
pealed to throughout Great Britain IN
order TO thwart Mr.. Gladstone's pur-
pose. He was held up by the religi-
GUS papers OF England and from the
pulpits of the Established Church as a
co~conspirator with the Pope to hand
over the Protestants Of Ireland to the
tender mercies of the Catholic major
ity under Home Rule government.
Home Rule was defined as Rome Rule,
and every unworthy prejudice that
could be raised in the popular mind Of
Great Britain was appealed to by Lord
Randolph Churchill and his followers
in order to prevent the great Liberal
leader from doing an act of justice to
the Irish people.
When we consider the agencies en-
ployed in carrying on this campaign OF
calumny against US and against our
English allies, I say again it is no mat
ter Of surprise that for time snatch
victory was obtained against us. Two
powerful organizations, subsidized by
the wealth of the British aristocracy,
resorted to every possible means during
the general election to prejudice the vot-
ers Of GreatBritain against us. Newspap-
ers were purchased, orators We're subsid>
lied by aristocratlc gold, meetings wsro
organized and EN- ssaries sent through
out the length and breadth Of Great
Britain to carry on this great
campaign of Misrepresentation against.
the National League and Mr..
Gladstone. Added to this campaign
of calumny, we had the unpopu-
larit, of the land scheme which Mr.
Gladstone proposed in conjunction
with his Home Rule measure. The
taxpayers of Great Britain were told