The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-11-02
PLAN FOR IRISH FREEDOM
Arohbishop Walsh and Edward Rlake
Discuss This Important
Problem.
fHE GREAT NATIONAL CONVENTION.
ireland spe akIng to England Through
Suoh a Body Her Demands Will
will Ba Granted.

will "a Granted.
Edward Blake, member of Parliament
for South Longford, Ireland, left Toronto
recently for San Francisco, en- route for
Australia. Prior to his departure, in an
interchange OF letters between him and
the Archbishop of Toronto, DR.. Walsh, he
said that a scheme might be formulated
for the holding of a great convention to
restore unity in the Irish party. The
correspondence will be made public to-
morrow by the Catholic Register.
The Archbishop in his letter thanks
Mr.. Blake for his services to Ireland, and
continues:
"Canada has contributed generously
toward the Home Rule Parliamentary
fund. Not much more than a year ago
we here in Toronto, in the midst of great
financial depression, subscribed the hand
come sum of something more than $1,000.
In other cities and districts of the Do
minion sums proportionately as large
were freely given for the purpose. In
view of these large monetary contribu-
lions, in view of material and moral aid,
which by words and acts and even by
resolutions unanimously passed in the
Dominion Parliament, we have given
toward the Irish cause, we Canadians
have right to depore and deprecate the
%I,o+ 11Hy 0vryfso1 10y n1 on
paralyzed The Irish Parliamentary repre-
sentation, and that have thwarted and
baff1ed the home rule cause. This is not
the place to discuss the cause of these
discussions. It must suffice here to raise
our voice in protest against them, and to
declare that those responsible for them
have, brought shame and dishonor on
their country and are guilty Of high trea-
son against the Irish race at home and
abroad. For those fatal discussions it is
our solemn conviction that neither you
nor those with whom you are working
ere in any wise responsible. You have
been but their victims
His Grace then goes on to make
strong plea for union, and asks: How is
this necessary union to be effected? How
ere the Irish national forces to be formu-
lated in a great center of strength and
power?" He then answers these ques-
lions as follows: CAS- an Irishman inter
ested in the destiny of my native land, l
trust / may, without presumption, ven
ture to make a suggestion, which, If acted
on, would, in my opinion, be instrument
tai in securing that unity of counsel and
of action among the Nationalist Of Ire
land so necessary for the success Of the
cause they have at heart. MY suggestion
Is this: Let a great national convention
be held in Dublin, composed OF chosen
representatives OF the clergy and people
Of Ireland and of an advisory representa-
ton Of the Irish race abroad. In that
convention ct Ireland speak out her
mind. Let not her voice be like a broken
musical instrument emitting discordant
notes and jarring sounds, but let It, on
he contrary, be clear-toned and emphat-
tc, insisting on unity and conden1ning
faction. Let her point out and uphold
The parliamentary representatives whose
methods and conduct she approves, and
let her mark out and condemn those
whose intolerance of control, personal
jealousies, and animosities have done SO
much to break the unity and waste the
strength of the national party. Dissen-
sions and feuds in the past have been the
rain and curse of Ireland. Let her stamp
them out and cast them from her as
things more noxious than the serpent St.
Patrick baalished from her shores
I'm that convention let the voice of
freland's sons abroad be heard. Surely
representative Irishnen in convention
assembled, free from prejudices and
passions, having at heart not the triumph
of party or faction, but the welfare and
honor of their race and triumph OF their
couniry's cause, will be able to concert
and adopt such measures as will enforce
broper discipline and subdue subordina-
tion in the ranks Of the nations repre-
sentatives. and in this way will be able
10 secure among them that unity of pur-
nose and action so absolutely vital to
their success. A great national conven-
ton. such as venture to suggest, speak
ing with the authority of the nation
and voicing it's fixed and unalterable pur-
pose to labor for and to win the right of
government, would give new heart
and hope and energy to Irishmen at home
End abroad, and it would be able to re-
store unity among the ranks of the Irish
national repres antatives, to make them
once more compact body and an ire
sistible power in the imperial parliament.
When Ireland speaks to Englishmen
through such body her just demands
cannot be long refused her"
Mr.. Blake, in his reply to the arch
bishop, says:
Every hours experience gained since
I joined the parliamentary party has
deepened my conviction that the solution
of the Irish question in our time depends
upon the observance in letter and spirit
OF the fundamental principles on which
the parliamentary party was organized:
Complete independence Of every political
party without, and thorough unity, disci-
pine. and subordination within it's
ranks" s.
Mr.. Blake then goes on to say that a
party in power which denies the right
and the capacity of 1rishmen to direct