The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-09-28

I
1 lodges, which will hand down to pos
terity the memory of intolerance and
narrowness for many generations. For
! tunately, their character is now much
mitigated, but at the same time of their
foundation they were found for the
purpose of dividing Ireland from Eng
land; and to their foundation you may
trace that remarkable change which has
taken place among many Of the Pr0tes-
tants of the North, who are now banded
together to oppose the very cause of
which, hundred years ago, their fore
fathers were ardent supporters. That
has been the cause OF religious d1ssen-
tlon in Ireland. 1t is not, perhaps, to
be hoped that it's effects will disappear
in a moment. They will, am satisfied,
disappear under the influence Of Irish
patri otism, both on the one side and
the other, when Ireland is relieved
from the unnaturalsposition which she
now holds, and is invested with reason.
able privilege, which she constitution
ally asks, and the management of her
own affairs. Gentlemen, [ would only
use those minutes which remain to me
IN calling to your mind remarkable
fact which, / think, if any apprehension
remained in the mind of a single in
dividual, ought to suffice to remove that
apprehension. 1t is this fact. Run
your eve over the list of those who have
led the Irish people in their struggle
for liberty, you will find that in almost
every case, believe in every important
case, except that of O'Connell, the
Irish people have been led not by a
Roman Catholic. but by Protestant.
Grattan was a Protestant, Curran was
a Protestant, Butt was a Protestant. /
cannot recollect the names to run them
over without more time for rejection,
and you know that the leader they now
follow with an implicit and unquestion-
ing confidence, / mean Parnell, is a
Protestant. Moreover, he must have
been a Protestant OF Protestants. AS
John Bright once said, he was the Dis
senter of Dlssenters. Parnell must
have been a Protestant of Protestants,
for he was actually chosen after the
Disestab blishment Of the Irish Church as
a lay delegate to represent his church
in the Synod which was called together.
How can you believe that that nation
which has made such choice of it's
leaders, who chose O'Connell, not be-
cause he was Roman Catholic but
because he was great man, and by far
the greatest man Of his day, and the
best and most patriotic instrument they
could find to give effect to their ma
tional desires, show can you suppose
under those circumstances that these
Irish Roman Catholics will be found
untrue to principles which they have
shown you they have supported and
followed and shown their attachment
to by conspicuous examples under cir
cumstances far more difficult No,
rely upon it, ladies and gentlemen, this
Catholic people will be found fighting
breast to breast with you the battles Of
religious liberty; they will hold the
same opinions upon those subjects
which you have held, which your fa-
theirs have contended for. and have
marched triump phantly towards so many
successful and most beneficial and bril-
liant results. They will set an example
to the other Catholic peoples Of the
world; they will show the sincerity of.
their attachment both to the Throne
and to the law, and to the principles
upon which the law will, as I hope, be
uniformly founded, among which none
will occupy higher place, none will
be more vital to the happiness and pros
perity of the country than the fullest
and the most absolute recognition of
the great law of religious freedom to
the consciences of all, irrespective of
this profess1on or Of that profession,
which we may hope and believe to be
held with a firm, personal conviction,
but each one respecting the convictions
Of every other man even as he claims
respect for his own.
Mr.. Gladstone throughout his speech
was greeted with many loud and pro-
longed cheers from the audience.
Should Women Propose7
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