The Irish standard., 1893-03-18


It liberty before the world and cheerfsnU
making any sacrifice for principle hi
l. won the devoted gratitude Of then
+ countrymen and the admlring respect a
all nations. {.
; William E. Gladstone, the greatsst
the grandest of modern English states
: men, has chivalrously espoused the
Z cause of Ireland and crowns his old aGs
with glorious advocacy OF that
, glorious cause.
For the wrongs, social and politisal,
which Ireland has suffered, the blsns
must be justly imputed. These wrongs
are not rightly ohargeable to the English
people, but to the government and q
selfish aristocracy. The England Of
Shakespeare and Milton, the England Of
Chatham and Peel, the England Of
Wilberforce and Golden, has never wis
tingiy forged any chains for the Irish or
riveted sny upon that brave but hapless
race.
No Not until a recent period has
been witnessed the rise of the English
people to the stature Of fself-government.
The present century has been the first
in which monarchy and aristccracy have
not been the predominant and eontreA-'
ing factors IN Great Britain. The pre-
! 1f 1o "a
popular suffrage have been the conspie-
nous features in English history during
the reign of the present British soves-
eign and that of her two immediate ple-
decessors.
AS fast as the English people have
penetrated the mists of prejudice and
false information regarding Irish affsirs
which the greed of land monopo'ists and
petty tyrants, calling themselves ''the
gentry and nobility" have created, th@t
}ion-h hearted and rjustice-loving people
have demanded reforms in the govern
ment of Ireland. AS fast as the tide of
popular sovereignty has risen In Eap-
land, it has swept away abuses by which
ireland has long suffered. That tids
has borne upon it's resistless waves
Catholic Emancipation, the repeal of the
most odious of the penal laws, the dis
establishment of the Anglican Episeo-
pal church and the establishment OF the
land courts. The just quarrel Of tho
Irish people is with the government ef
the Tudor. Stuart and Hanoverian dy-
nasties, with the descendents of these
who took title deeds from Cromwell and
from William of Orange. The English
people are now righting as rapidly as
possible the wrongs imposed by English
kings. Az the home-rule bill proceeds
on it's way to enactment, the Eng1isk
House of Lords totters upon it's blood
stained foundations, and the acclaims
which greet the announcement of Home
Rule for Ireland will probably signah.s
the downfall of privileged and hereditary
legislation.
The happy consummation once
achieved, l am firmly convinced that the
people of Ireland and the people at
England will enter into a league of eter-
nal friendship. May Divine Providenos
hasten the coming of that glorious er.r
The prospects of Ireland are.brighten-
ing day by day. The Home Rule move
ment constantly gathers strength, and
it's leaders constantly gather inspirations.
An unfortunate episode compelled =
change in the leadership of the Home
Rule Party in the English Parliament.
That change wrought no evil. 1t placed
in conspicuous position the command
ing talents, the virtue and the patriotism
Of noble Irish gentleman-Justia Me-
Carthy. Allied as Mccarthy is with tho
hierarchy aud clergy, and the best ole
ments Of Irish society, possessing nm
doubted fame as man of letters and q
statesman, his powers for good are limit
less and irresistible.
l The speaker then reviewed the bill
now pending in Parliament which grants
Home Rule to ireland, commenting
upon it's leading provisions and predict
ing it's early enactment. He then pro-
ceeded to say:
| America has enacted a mighty and
memorable part in the Irish national
contest. The people of the grandest Of
all republics have not been silent, pass
i've spectators Of the latest struggle 10
obtain the rights which Jefferson por-
trayed with masterful eloquence in the
Declaration of American Independence,
and for which Washington and La Fay
cite led armies to victory over British
hosts. No, Americans have cheered On.
the heroes of Ireland. Americans have
! kept well filed the treasury Of the Land
League, the National League and the.
i Irish Parliamentary Party. American
! funds have fed and sheltered the home
| less evicted tenant. To Amerieash have
EDavitt, O'Brisn and McCarthy appealedi
Il