The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-03-28
DILLON ON LEGISLATION.
He Defines the Position Of the Nation
a'ists lin Eny-
.r1ss land.
THE Way H0w SEEMS VERY CLEAR.
Some Men Become WeaI< ened When
They. Are Once Knocked
.,.: -. Down.

Speaking; at the Drogheda Convention
Mr: : John Dillon, whose utterances. were
received with, great enthusiasm, thus de-
fined the general position of the Nation
alsts towards the two leading English
parties !" We were, up to few weeks
ago." said Mr. Dillon, "in state of dark
ness aad uncertainty as to the policy. Of
the present government. The expressions
were freely used that although the govern
ment would never grant Home Rule to
Ireland, still they were resolved to kill
Home. Rule with kindness. The express
SION became. a.; commonplace of political
oEatory d1iring.the winter. We were told
even in Ireland that we had now in power
a government who would grant boons and
concessions in the hope of weaving the
people from their national demand. For
my part,I never believed the people could
be turned aside from their national de-
mand by bonus from any English govern
ment. and therefore I looked forward to
the development of this policy in perfect
contentment of mind and without the
least possible feeling of alarm. was per-
fectly willing to see the government max
ing the attempt to kill Home Rule with
kindness. Well, the session has opened
and we have had an opportunity in the
last fortnight Of testing in many particu-
lars the attitude taken up by the gov
eminent.
,.At the opening of the session when an
amendment was proposed by me by order
of the Nationalist Party, and when that
amendment was seconded by Mr. Red
n1ond, wFieh:I was glad of, for like to see
thestW Irish parties cooperating in the
,Hohsa ct Commons, the leaders Of tile
Liberal party issued a five line whip ask
ing ithe. members of the party to support
the Home Rifle amendment, and the Lib
eral1party supported that amendment, the
first Of the session, putting Home Rule
IN the forefront Of their programme Then
again, when the question of amnesty was
raised by MIR. Harrington, and the amend
ment was supported by the full strength
of our party, though the leaders Of the
Liberal party did not issue whip to sup
port that amendment, still fve-sixths of
the Liberal members who We're in London
voted for it. In fact, on the amnesty res
olution more Englishmen than Irishmen
voted for it. Take the Evicted Tenants
Bill, proposed by Mr.. Clancy. The lead
ers and the members of the Liberal party
voted in favor Of the restoration Of the
evicted tenants. Therefore I say that our
position is simply this, that we will work
for Ireland, and because We do this we
do not feel in the least degre bound or
ccerced in supporting any policy except
that which is best for Ireland, no matter
by what English party it is put forward.
Some men are very apt when they get
knocked down and defeated once to give
no ohio vi +oI
have had troublesome times in Ireland for
the last three OF four years, and we met
W!ith great:,defeat in the English con-
stitue3lc,es last autumn, but let me tell
you, believe that if the Irish people can
be induced to unite once more, and put
their shoulder to the wheel again. that
the National cause was never in a better
position than it is today
This is government who have been SO
accustomed to bully the people Of Ireland,
that, having got into power by a MOTOR
ity Of 152, they thought they might try
the same bullying all over the world. They
undertook to bully the Transvaa}, to bully
America, to bully Germany, and to bully
Russia. The result is that they have got
kicked all around. They have been beaten
in their foreign policy in every quarter
of the globe. Russia has trampled upon
them, Germany has defeated and insulted
them, they have been compelled to apol-
ogize, to- knuck1e down to America, and
President Kruger has beaten them. With
these incidents their popularity and pres
tige will go down in England, and the
end of this government may be much
nearer than many people suppose. There
fore say the cause of Home Rule is in
very much better position than many peo-
pie believed, and I am thoroughly con-
win ced. that hts future depends absolutely
upon the attitude of the people them
selves" n.,.si::l