The Irish standard., 1891-09-12
SPEECH OF JOHN DILLON,

SPEECH OF JOHN DILLON. |
CONTINUED from First Page.)
not stop the meeting we sent that tele-
gram in support of Mr.. Parnell's leader
ship which has been SO often quoted.
Our views were expressed by myself
not only to my colleagues but many
American friends, and they were, that
it was our business to support the
leadership OF Mr.. Parnel SO long as
that leadership did not threaten to be
fatal to the cause Of Ireland; and /
stated at the time that telegram was
written, and subsequently day after day
to American friends that came to con-
suit me on the situation, that my fear
was that Mr.. Parnel], IN spite Of all
we could do, would find it necessary to
retire from the leadership. If the same
situation were to arise again l should
do precisely the same thing (applause),
and [ consider it to be most ungenerous
and most unfair that because we do not
stand to him through thick and thin
we STUCK to him as long as we could
stand to him without sacrificing our
country cloud applausel-that we should
now be charged with having changed
our minds. We have been asked over
and over again why did we first support
his leadership and then change our
minds? My answer is never changed
my mind at all cloud applause,) AS l
| have already explained to you in repeat
ed conversations, made at the time a
reservation that | should not support
! Mr.. Parnell's leadership the moment
thought it meant disaster TO the Irish
cause. could not convey that reser
walton in a cable message. supported
him in the leadership because trusted
ia Mr.. Parnell's patriotism and never
for single moment supposed he would
have adopted the course he has since
adopted. I take this opportunity OF
saying that I regret the publication Of
Mr.. Gladstone's letter the moment it
was published. T think, and l always
thought, that it was grave political
error to publish that letter so soon after
the meeting Of the Irish party without
giving them time to consider their posi-
tiop, aud the dreadful circumstances in
which they were placed. But when we
came to inquire carefully Into all the
details OF all these transactions who do
we find chiefly to blame? Mr.. Parne)l
was trusted by ireland as no leader
was eveI trusted by nation. For our
people placed themselves in the
terrible crisis absolutely and com
pletely in his hands. What ought Mr.,
Parnell to have done? He ought to
have placed himself in connection with
either Liberal leaders, who were bis
allies with some people who were COM
petent to inform him what were the
opinions of English electors, and when
he had ascertained what Was the condi-
ton OF the party in England with
whom himself and his followers were
allied, and upon whom the fate Of home
rule at the next general election de-
pended, he should have called together
private meeting Of his party. OK a
meeting of the senior members Of his
party, and he could have there and then
stated to them in private the full details
of the information as to the condition
Of English sentiment at his disposal.
and then he should lave placed himself
unreservedlv ia the hands Of his party
(applause). I say now that whatever
was then agreed upon~-that meeting
being fully informed Of all the Giro UNI
sJances--we would have STUCK to him
through fire and water-thrOugh thick.
and thin cloud applause.l What hap
pened to the unfortunate Irish party?
| Mr.. Parnen did none OF these things
which seem to be his clear duty to do.
He did not put himself in communica-
I ton with his liberal allies in England.
He Gid not gather the information
which ne ought TO have gathered as the
trusted leader of the Irish race (hear,
hear.) But, according to the best in
formation that have been able to OBJ
tain, he deliberately cut off all means
of communication between the leaders
of the Liberal party and himself, and in
this suspense and terrible crisis IN
the history of the people of our nation
who trusted in him, he left Mr.. Glad
stone and all those men without the
slightest possible means OF communi
eating with him. What was the course
he pursued towards the Irish party?
He treated them with the most absolute
and supreme contempt. They met IN
Dublin under circumstances of con-
siderable difflculty-circumstan that
would undoubtedly have shook the loyal
ty Of an English party, or any party in
America, or In any other part OF the
world-in their leader. And what did
they do? They rallied round him; the
gratitude that ever dwells in the heart
of the Irish race bore down every con-