The Irish standard., 1891-01-10
THE FENIANS HEARD FROM.
The Irish Nationalists Of New York
Issue Manifesto to Their Fell
low Countrymen.
THE REVOLUTIONARY PARTY

I'LL nt.t VlU lOiNnil Fia
They ASK the NationaIlsts III Ireland and
Here to Turn Their Attention to
Physical Force.
| At a recent meeting OF Irish Nation
alists in Union Square, New York, q
a manifesto was adopted and ordered
published in which they say: The Irish
Nationalists OF this city who believe in
the establishment of republican form
of government in Ireland who have fol.
lowed the teachings of Theobald
Wolfe Tone and the doctrines OF the
United Irlshmen of '98, who have vowed
| by the principles Of the young ireland
party OF AS, and who haye clung to the
faith and hopes of the Irish Republican
Brotherhood of '65 and '67, feel it in
cumbenC on them, in the present condi-
tion of Irish affairs, to give public ex-
preston to their views in relation to
Ireland's case against English injustice
and wrong. Those VINO had been fami-
liar with movements in Ireland up to
1879 will remember that the term Irish
Nationalist had a meaning wholly diff
ferent to that given to it at present.
Then it meant an Irishman who was
willing to risk his life and liberty to
make Ireland nation. but by some pc
culiar process the members of the Irish
Parliamentary party have oniiscated it.
though they propose to make Ireland
more surely British province and any
thing but nation. They claim that
Instead of dismembering the British
empire they intend to make Ireland an
integral part of it, and that though
nature has divided the two countries
graphically--and set the seal of ln-
dividuality On both people-and though
the agricultural, commercial, and other
interests OF both countries would con-
f1ict, to the injury Of Ireland, still the
Parliamentary party, the self-stgled
Irish NatiOnalists, propose to make
Ireland nothing less than West Britain.
The first move on the political chess
board in ireland after the agreement
referred to was the advance of the land
question ON the basis of peasant pro-
prietorship. The first meeting for this
purpose was lnaugurated and conducted
by the Irish Nationalists. When it is
remembered that in the various at
tempts at insurrection made by the
Irish people the farmers. who would
have been most benefited by success.
full revolution, were the men who stood
calmly aloof and were more inclined to
be hostile than friendly to those who
would dare all for the freedom of the
people, it speaks volumes for the gen
,eroslty and tolerance of the Nationalists
who in 1879 took up aud advocated the
question of land reform and promul-
gated the doctrine that those VINO cul-
tivated The soil should own the soil.
s' For ten years they have given an un
selfish support to the movement, and Of
those who died or suffered imprison-
ment during the Land League agita-
tlon, it will be found that all, or mostly
all, were Irish Nationalists and not the
followers of what was STYLED constitu-
tional agitation. When Mr.. Parnell, in
1879, advised the farmers to keep firm
grip on their hol dings, and subsequently,
when the mo rent manifesto was is
sued as reply to coercion, it was hoped
that the agrarian agitation had de-
.veloped into manly, healthy, public
movement, and that from the new life
that had been infused into the farmers
they would, with unusual spirit, resist
eviction and die at the thresholds Of
their homes in resistance to tyranny. It
was soon apparent that if the farmers
had any such intention their Parlia-
mentary representatives speedily sup
pressed it. They gathered large crowds
at the scene of each eviction, with
bands and banners, harangued the peo-
pie. and then would conclude by killing
the spirit they had evoked. The question
OF self government appears to have made
little progress, though we hear it daily
asserted that the irish people are with
in reach Of the political promised land
and that a dissolution, or at furthest the
termination Of the life of the present
Parliament. will see Ireland nation.
AS Irlshmen we would be proud of
such result, but it cannot be. Eyen
if the most sanguine hopes of the Irish
Parliamentary party could be realized
and its demands granted, Ireland would
only still be pillar Of the Britlsh EN-
pire. Beware Of the Greek when
bearing gifts" is an admo nition that the
irish people should remember and ap
ply to the present relation Of Ireland to
English political parties. Mr.. Balfonr
and Mr.. Gladstone are generous with
promises, but niggardly in performance.
It is not many years since Mr.. Glad