Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-19
THE irish LEAGUE.


Continued from First Page.
in Europe, Berlin, Vienna, Paris, IN St
Petersburg as well as in London, the
struggle for Irish liberty is keenly
watched, and Eoglish statesmen have
come to learn that the measure OF En-
glands influence amongst nations will be
In proportion to the peace that reigns in
Ireland and there can be no peace with
Ireland or with the Irish race until Ire
land obtains home rule. The greatest OF
English statesmen has made home rule n
cabinet question, and while Mr.. Glad
stone, for a moment, has gone down be.
fore the force OF English prejudice and
English ignorance, the banner of
home rule for Ireland will, in his
own words, "be borne with the firm
hands Of a united people, perhaps not to
an easy, but to certain and not far Off,
victory" think our friends from the
old land will tell you that, in the achieve
ment OF this great progress, the aid.
material and in rial, rendered TO the cause
by you of the Irish National League of
America has been an important factor.
Since the Boston convention the national
treasurer, Father O'Reilly, has forwarded
to the National league at home and to the
trust es of the parliamentary funds the
sum Of over S320,000. OF that S75, 900
reached the hands OF Mr.. Parnell on the
eve Of the election last fall, and we have
the qualification of receiving Mr.. Par
nell's assurance that it enabled him TO
win victories he could not other.
wise have secured. One hundred thousand
dollars were RENTED by cable within
ten days during the campaign of
last month and 100000 but a few days
ago. Your executive appreclating the
great value Of public opinion has adopted
various methods to enlighten the Ameri-
can public on the Irish cause. The warm
and vigorous outbursts of purely Amerl.
can Endorsement, which from one end to
the other of this great country greeted
the introduction by Mr. Gladstone of mis-
home rule and land bill, an Endorsement
so highly praised by Mr.. Gladstone him
self, shows the success of your efforts.
1t is not too much to claim for this league
OF ours that not only has 1t done its part
In aiding and supporting the struggle at
home, but 1T has made the cause Of Ire
land respectable and respected among
Americans, and through that means
has helped largely to elevate our
people as race on this continent
Our action at this convention will ue
ndlShCu IlOu uCIOsS buS AlldUJlC WIN Lne
very closest interest. From Ireland, with
hope and pride, and from England, or
urge section of its people, with preiu-
dice most blind, with hatred most intense,
and with the bitter hope that our deliber.
ations may end in discussions and dsas-
ter Differences may exist amongst us, |
as exist amongst all other organizations,
but these differences, II they do crop out |
must and shall be settled by vote Of |
this convention. Ireland's cause Is too
sacred a trust to be made the shuttlecock |
of politicians, the sport of an mans van
ity, or the weapon for the qualification |
OF any mans personal malice. Ireland |
Is passing through terrible crisis. Our
people look TO us for aid and comfort and
in their desperate struggle.
Their hopes are Ia a great measure CEN
tered on the outcome of this convention.
victory seems close at hand, and feel
there is enough common sense, enough
enough dignity in this conyen-
ton to see to it that II be not dashed
away, that Ireland's hopes be not shat
tered. Unity, caution, perseverance and
determination are The necessities of the
hour. Unity between all honest and
manly elements of Irish ma tionalism on
this continent under the banner of the
Irish National League of America, and
unity OF purpose and OF action between
the league in America and the league at
home. Caution that no word or act of
ours will compromise our friends beyond
the water; at the same time caution that
must never degenerate into cowardce.
Perseverance-cool steady perseverance,
ON the lines aud under the leadership
OF Charles Stewart Parnell, and determ-
nation, such determination as was
SHOWN by the fathers of American liberty,
to win back our plundered rights at ali
hazards. l see emblazoned on these
walls the motto: ave are for Irish lib
erty, Peacefully If we can, otherwise if
we must This is the national position.
This is the position which every true
porn American can appreciate, the only
position which England can respect, and
maintain 1t is position and spirit
which has placed the cause of Irish ma
tonality where it stands to-day.