The Irish standard., 1890-09-20
JOHN DILLON IN LIMERICK.
He Addresses An Immense Audience
And Defends Himself Against the
Attacks Of Bishop O O'Dwyer
HIS POSITION is ENDORSED.
The Irish People Are Devoted 80 the
Church They Are As Free In Politics
As ANY In the World"

John Dillon recently delivered the
following address to the people OF
Limerick who is at present at variance
with the Irish party.
Mr.. Chairman. ladies' and people OF
Lelnster, I do not believe that there
ever has been seen On the soil of Ireland
since the days of Daniel O'Connell so
great a gathering of the people of this
country (cheers) as have the honor Of
low addressing. 1t has been said by
NV friend, MIR. O'Keefe, the worthy
member for this city, that we are here
to-day to defend our character (cheers.)
I thank him and all nv friends IN
Limerick and true friends--who
have stood by our side on MANY a. hard
fought field (cheers). I thank them tor
the courage they showed in standing up
to defend our char acter; but. so far as I
myself am concerned, [ never had oc-
casion to d fend my character before
the people OF ireland, and never wish
(cheers). It would take greater man
than the Bishop of Limerick (groans) TO
put me on INV defence jcheers). [ tell
you from nv heart, and | tell YOU the
simple truth, when say that if it were
merely question OF my private charac-
ter you would not see me here TO-DAY.
I would not conae to Limerick to defend
nv character Or the character OF any
one of my colleagues. I come here to
give to the people OF Limerick and
Munster the opportunity OF Judging
between. our policy and, the policy 6F
the bishop (cheers and groansl: come
here to ask the people of Munster
whether in polirics--I speak not Of
rellgion-bnt whether in politics they
are prepared to follow cur leadership
{cheers, and cries of awe are'') or the
leadership of the bishop Of Limerick
(Do). If the res ult of this meeting left
the slightest doubt upon my mind as tp
the feelings OF the people OF Munster9n
this issue--that is, the political issue
you would hear Of ne no more in Irish
politics. / say, then, that the great sig
niicance OF this meeting is this, that
YOU are here IN your tens of thousands
to tell the Irish nation and the scattered
IRISH IN millions all over the world who
will read of this meeting tomorrow
that your confidence in the Irish party
is unshaken Cloud cheers), and that you
do not believe that we are the swindlers
and robbers of the people (cheers). You
have been told that we are collecting
money to put in our own pockets (no),
and make profits out of this agitation
(groans, and MOI. Well, the prople of
ireland will know what is the deliberate
Judgment of the Catholic people OF
Munster Cloud cheers). see around
me to day, In tens of thousands, people
who are as devoted to the Catholic
Church as any in the world. as their
fathers VINO had she'd their blood and
parted with every bit of property rather
than forsake their religion (cheers). l
see men around me who know what
devotion means, and who are ready
to morrow, If occasion demanded. to
make the same sacrifices loud cheers)
which their fathers did for their religion
(cheers); but while they are as devoted
to the Catholic Church as any in the
world (.'and more so'). they are as free
in politics as any IN the world tcheers)
and how they have proved on more than
one occasion how we'll they know how
to draw the line between politics and
religion (cheers). Let me say this also,
that scorn the man who talks OF Oppo-
sitioa between lrishmen's religion and
lrishmen's politics loud cheers). There
is no opposition between them, and the
man who IS a good Catholic Isl good
Nationalist (cheers). and the best Nat
lona1ists are, TO nv own knowledge,
very frequently the best Catholics too
(cheers). Many of those men who are
finding fault witt US to-day would, I
think. if little persecution came, be
found de-erting the Church (hear, hear).
They are what we might call far
weather religion people. Let me say
Just one word, to state to YOU accurately
what it is that gives rise to that un-
happy controversy between myself and
Ihe members of the Irish party on the
one side and the bishopof Limerick on
the other. I am not here to withdraw
or explain ANYTHING whatever (loud
cheers) / say this, that the people of
Iralanfl the Irish Catholics shn11Id