New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-28
THE IRISH NEW MOVEMENT"

Tho irish Convention at Chicago has followed
the common course of such gatherings In Amer-
"a II has been far more radical and extreme
in its utterances than any similar body In Ire
land itself would be- or than any individual lead
or In Ireland. Practically 1t has done what many
Of its members would have bitterly denounced
any outsider for doing. 1t has utterly repudiated
and condemned, In the strongest possible man
ner the whole scheme Of Home Rule" 10 which
Mr. Parnell devoted his life to which the Irish
delegation In Parliament is pledged, and to which
Mr. Gladstone In one Of the greatest political
revolutions Of the century, committed the then
dominant party in Great Britain.
The essential principle Of that scheme. as
every one knows, was local self government I'M
der the British Crown. Mr.. Gladstones most
fervent appeals for 1t, the cmaxes and perora-
tons of his great speeches In its behalf. We're
TO the effect that II did not mean dsunion, but
would actually strengthen the union of the two
kingdoms. 1t would, as he expressed II. make
that not merely a paper union but union Of
hearts. Had the scheme contemplated entire
severance OF Ireland from the Kingdom and the
Empire, and its absolute independence Of the
British Crown. Mr.. Gladstone and his followers
would have opposed 1t to the bitter end re-
lentlessly and as emphatcally as Lord Salisbury
and Mr.. Balfour have done.
The latter plan, however. Is exactly what this
Chicago convention proposed. Absolute national
independence was the keynote Of It's declaration
of principles More than that. 1t repudiated the
whole plan Of Parliamentary action and constiu
tonal agitation. 1t repudlated Mr.. Mccarthy,
Mr. Healy and Mr. Redmond alike and all their
followers There must be no more peaceful ag-
taion, no more debate, no more appeals to rea-
son and Justice. The sword must be drawn and
independence won upon the field Of battle. To
cooperate in such war, the convention Invited
not only all Irishmen, but alleAmerican citizens
Certainly that is an heroic proposition. II
may be said that II would seem still more heroic
If II were put forward in Ireland itself, instead
of at the safe distance OF four thousand miles
1t may also be said that an actual instruction
must be started if at ALL in Ireland itself. and that
such business Is not TO be organized upon Ameri-
can soil against Power with which America
is at peace. But let that pass The question for
the true friends of Ireland to consider Is whether
such counsels are likely to result in practical
good Frankly. to lis they seem much more like
" to do harm. II they be taken as the senti-
ments Of Irish-Amerlcans in general. they will
serve not only to make the opponents Of Home
Rule more resolute and TO weaken the faith Of
some Of its friends, but to discourage and dis
may the gallant band Of patriots who for many
years have been fighting the battles Of Ireland
at Westminster, and who there have gained for
the Irish people by peaceful means far more
than ever has been gained by violence For our
part, we are inclined TO believe that such men
as Messrs. Mccarthy, Sexton, Dillon, O'Brien,
Healy, Redmond and their colleagues are better
judges of the plan OF campaign to be pursued
than are their cousins on this side OF the At
lantic. and we cannot avoid regretting such ut
terances as those made at Chicago as calculated
70 do much more harm than good 10 the Irish
cause.