The Irish standard., 1895-12-14
HASN'T CAUGHT ON.

The Hibernian of Philadelphia says:
| ''The path pointed out in the platform
of the Irish National Alliance is the only
| one that leads to freedom, and we are
! glad to see brave Catholic journals ems
dorsing it. In far Minnesota the Irish
| Standard speaks wisely and boldly; from
| fair Iowa we listen to the eloquent ap-
prevail from John Brennan, Of the
| Northwestern Catholic; the spirit of Gle
burne is breathed through the columns
of the Catholic Journal, Of Memphis; the
Irish Pennsylvania was always staunch
| and is now:
! And there is the Hibernian and Col.
Finerty's Citizen-six periodicals out OF
eighty that circulate among Irish-Amer-
leans Candidly, the movement hasn't
caught on."-Catholic Citizen.
! If an angel from heaven were to tell
the editor Of the Catholic Citizen that it
had been at last decided that he might
pass through the pearly gates he would
want to select some corner for himself
and would ask the privilege Of bossing
! those who might be near him.
1t would appear that he was not con-
! suited whether it was best to hold the
Chicago convention or not and for this
omission he has been exuding bile from
every pore since that time. The COR
! yention, or the Irish National Alliance,
| the result of it, finds no favor in his
eyes. He gives no sensible reason for
his objection except it be the reason Of
the average woman-"just because. p
He does not inform us what would be
the best course to pursue, but because a
plan had been formulated by others he
wishes to destroy it.
There are Irish-American papers that
do not discuss the Alliance question at
all, or at least, to very small extent.
1t is difficult to say whether they favor
it or not. Perhaps they are waiting to
see whether it will succeed or not.
Should it succeed they will rush to the
front screaming that it was they who
carried the project through against all
opposition. Should it fail they will
shake their heads and say II told you
So" But whether some are inclined to
throw cold water on the movement or
not the movement will go on. 1t cannot
fail.
In saying that the present movement
having it's origin in the Chicago conven-
ton cannot fail it is not meant that in q
short time it will restore to Ireland her
parliament of old, That happy day may
come sooner than the most sanguine
may expect and, on the other hand, 1t
may be delayed for so long a time as to
be exasperating However this may be,
it is repeated that the present move
rnent cannot fail because there Is ITO ele-
ment in it subject to such disaster.
Good intentions cannot fail. A deter
| mination to succeed cannot fail. A de-
sire to employ the best means to success
cannot fail. An appeal for unity cannot
fail. A burning zeal, a patriotic senti-
ment, hope for the best, reliance on
eALS
surest known means. under all circun,-
stances cannot fail. The end sought
may not be gained but the means en-
ployed were those which the best inte]li-
gence sanctioned and although through
them success was still elusive, yet there
could be no failure in the intention to
carry out the purpose.
God helps them who help themselves,
and when men see others striving with
their strength and all their earnestness
to formulate some theory, or some plan
of action and sit supinely by and in
stead of putting shoulder to the wheel
will at their ease find soiace and self-con-
CIRCULATION in picking flaws either IN what
has been done, or attempting to belitte
what it ds proposed to Go, why the vapor-
ings Of such satisfied beings should
receive the contempt they SO richly de-
serve. Will the fault finding gentleman, or
the gentlemen with a shrug OF sheer,
tell lis what is best to be done? What
plans have they matured which will carry
into effect the aim Of all?
It is possible the Alliance may not &C
compIish a 1.-THE Of what 1t has set out to
do, but even if it arouses enthusiasm,
forms an association for the purpose of
thinking and discussing, If nothing more,
then it will not have been organized in
vain. and could not under any circum-
stances, be looked upon in the light Of a
failure 10 matter what it may accom-
plish. Every movement leading towards
that one end-the liberation Of Ireland
should receive the heartiest encourage
ment. It may net be the best plan, but it
is "a plan, and until something better is
pointed out let it have the most earnest
support. And those who have what they
consider bettea. plans, let them give them
to the world. Perhaps there are those
who might find fault with the ideas of
these well aDtioned people Does the
cttizen titor are