The Irish standard., 1891-09-12
SPEECH OF JOHN DILLON.
The Irish Patriot Delivers An Able
Address TO the Irish National
Federation,
A GREAT MEETING IN DUBLIN.
A lucid Explanation Of How Ireland and
America Regards Parnells
Policy.

It was a notable address s-that by
John Dillon in Dublin recently.
Mr.. Dillon. who was loudly cheered
on rising, expressed bis thanks and
those of Mr.. O'Brien, who Was unayoid-
ably absent, for the address. He
thought it was his first duty on this
occasion to congratulate his friend, Mr.,
Sheeby, and these gentleman who
worked with him, who had organized
that great national body, founded as it
was under circumstances Of the cruel
est difficulty, assailed by outrageous
calumnY and insult when it came to-
the rescue Of the country, and when
the country was staggering under the
cruellest blow that was delivered to her
within the memory of any man living
| (applause). He desired not to direct
attention to the tone of the speeches
| which were delivered in another place
On the previous day-in a place where
he had labored long in the cause of
Irish nationality-at the meeting of the
I1ish National League. Some of the
men who spoke at that meeting were
very dear personal friends of his, Of
whose political integrity he had no
doubt, though they rejected the hand Of
conciliation which was held out TO
them, and he was proud to say that the
tone of those speeches did not represent
the feelings and opinions of the vast
majority OF. the honest Nationalists
who were .supporting Nix Parnell.
There Was oasy one expression in the
speeches delivered at that meeting that
he desired to allude to. Some Of those
gentlemen professed to find in the tone
of his tMr. Dillon's) speech ON the prey
vious Sunday in Mallow q very condes-
cending and insolent tone. His never
used the words 'Smy camp He spoke
OF the camp of the Irish nation, as he
believed he would prove beyond all
question within the next two months
(applause)-that the majority against
Mr.. I'arnelj, not only in this country,
but in America and Australia, repre-
sented far larger proportion than the
majority against him in No. Is COM
mittee room. He claimed for the sup.
porters OF Mr.. Parnell in Ireland the
right TO express their opinions; but no
matter how strong might be the con-
victions OF some Of these gentlemen
when the majority Of the Irish nation,
Who had fought for the national cause,
expressed their opiaiou Of what the
true verdict of the country should be,
then every honest Irish Nationalist
ought to stand aside or join with the
majority. He asked every politician in
Ireland what guarantee there was in
maintaining an independent policy in
Ireland: The first necessity for indie
pendent opposition was that there
should be unity in the National ranks.
Once they broke the principle which
held the party together. it was all ever
with the strength OF the Irish party.
He knew that one section of Mr.. Par
nell's supporters were honestly sup
porting him; but there was another
section. in Ireland and America, who
were the bjtterest opponents to MI.
Parnell up to November last, and they
were supporting him now because they
believed that he was destroying the
whole work Of his lifetime.
The National League has now def
inile]y declared to the people of Ireland
that it can no longer provide FOR the
evicted tenants. Well, we all know
that it is not for want of will that the
National League has refused to provide
for the wants of eyicted tenants. They
have refused to provide them with the
money Cloud applause.) And l want to
know what better proof could be given
than this, that the country no longer
trusts that organization (aDplause). It
will be our duty to take over that trust
from the National League Cloud aud
prolonged applause.) The country, I
am convinced, when the proper time
comes will support US in carving out
that policy (hear, bear.) AT all events
this can say that the appeal will 10
due course be made to the country
(applause) and then will come the time
An opportunity. perhaps, as effective
as the general election-of proving to
the world which organization represents
the National feeling cloud applause.)
AS the statements which I made at
Mallow have been subjected to a CON
siderable amount Of adverse criticism,
and as the pressing question of the
moment is, beyond all doubt, how to
provide for the present and urgent
needs of these evicted tenants, I think