The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-11-21
John Dillon Issues a rlanifesto to
the Whole Race Throughout
the World.
DweIls Upon the Recent Conven'
tion and the Good 1t Accom-
pIished.
Funds Are Still Necessary for the
Purpose of Carrying on
Work. ~.

Irish Parliamentary party, has issued the
following appeal to the Irish race:
The Irish race convention, which met in
Dublin on the first three days of Septem.
ber last, was undoubtedly the largest and
most representative gathering of the Irish
race that has ever been assembled in Ire
land, 1t Was summoned al the suggestion
Of ali illustrious prelate, as remarkable for
the ardor and tenacity Of his love for Ire
land as for his virtues as an ecclesiastic
It's object was to afford all Irish Nation-
alists an opportunity Of uniting in the
national cause and of putting an end to the
condition Of confusion and paralysis to
which dissension was reducing the Irish
movement. The convention WAS summoned
by a unanimous vote of the Irish party
An invitation was extended cordially to
every section Of Irish Nationalists. Not
only the federation, but every organized
body of Nationalist in the country--polit-
ical, literary and athletic-was invited to
send it's delegates; and in parishes where
there was no organization the people were
summoned to meet in free public meeting
land elect a delegate. Every representative
man elected by the people iii any capacity
in the corporations, town councils or
poor law boards--was entitled to be pres
ent So was every clergyman Of every
denomination. AS matter Of fact, there
was present body Of clergylnen more nu-
mero,1s than had ever before attended any
National convention. For the first time,
too, in the long history of Irish conven-
tions, the assemb!age was presided over by
a prelate Of the Catholic church. Nobody
has been able to point out any represent
ative element in the country which was
excluded; and nobody has attempted to
suggest a broader. more democratic, Or
more inclusive basis or which an Irish
National assembly could have been SUM
moned.
In addition to the representatives of the
Irish people resident in Ireland, the con-
vention contained a full representation OF
the Nationalist organization to which be-
long the faithful children OF Ireland who
fight for o,1r cause in the strongholds OF
the stranger in England, Scotland and in
Wales. And, finally, the unity and power
of the race and the authority and repre-
sentative character of the convention were
symbolized and completed by the presence
of representative men OF Irish blood from
every part of the world in which our kith
and kin have found a home--from the
United States, from Canada, from Austria
liza and New Zealand, and from South Afri-
ca. Exceptional in the fulness Of its rep
resentative character in every respect, the
convention was especially so in the attend
Eance of such a gathering of Irish strength
and Irish nationality from so many, such
widely separated, and such differently cir
cumstanced regions of the world. .u
The decisions arrived at by the conven-
tion, after full and frank discussions, were
unanimous. These decisions affirmed the
necessity for union, and laid down the
basis on which this unity can be main
tanned No Irish Nationalist can look for
Judgment to higher or more united
court Of appeal, and every Irishman there
fore, who desires unity among Irish Ma
tionalists throughout the world will accept
the decisions of the convention in the letter
and in the spirit.
. The last act Of the convention was to
pass unanimously. on the motion Of the
Most Rev. DR.. O'Donnell, the bishop Of
Raphoe, the following resolution:
''That this convention, representing the
Irish people, pledges it's financial support
to the Irish party, and calls upon them to
make an appeal for such support to the
people in the course of the present au-
tumn.''t
In accordance with that mandate, and on
behalf Of the Irish party, now appeal to
Irish Nationalist. both in Ireland and out
Of Ireland, to carry into effect the pledge
of the convention. -
1t is unnecessary for me to give reasons
to: the Irish race in favor OF supplying
the Irish party with material resources.
No marty in the world has ever been able
to carry on a political movement without
adequate financial resources. In the case
Of the Irish National party an honest ef-
fort has been made to return to the I'M
peria! Parliament a body of men who
would truly represent the people Of the
country, and not, as in the past, landlord
and propertied classes. BY the action OF
"a united party-springin from the peo-
pie, supported by the people, and directly
andS really responsible to the people
parliamentary representation has been
for the first time since the Union made a
reality for the Irish people. And by the
action of that party in the house OF COM
mons-in harmony with and truly refect-
ing the popular will Of Ireland the inter-
ests Of the people have been persistently
advocated, great concessions have been
extorted from an 'lnsympathetic legisla-
rure. and the National cause has been
substantially. advanced. Much, however,
remains to be done, and the work Of the
Irish party-iuterrupte and obstructed
as ii has been by the unhappy events Of
the. last few yeafs-can only be carried
forward successfully by an emphatic
declaration from the country itself that it
is resolved to maintain an Irish parlia-
nentary party, absolutely Independent Of
all English parties. united amongst them-
selves, always ready to act loyally to-
gether, inside or outside the house Of
commons, when the interests Of Ireland
are at stake, and to supply such a party
with funds which are essential to enable
1t to do the work which the country has
entrusted to 1t.
without the support of the country an
irish party can do little for Ireland in
parliament. Earnestly 81 backed up by the
support Of "a united country it would be
dificult to put limit to its power for
serrf,fi ! ~ III nFder 5to give the party a