The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-08-01
THE irish CONVENTION
A Calm Review of the Situation
and the Necessity of At
~. tending.
Irishmen Here Should Make
Sacrifice for the good work TO
Be Done.
1t Is A Few Newspapers in Ire
= land that are Keeping up the
FactionaI Fight.

No one can deny that the situation
which has been suddenly created in this
country much the same sort Of power as
the loadstone exercises is felt by most
men. They become chained, as it were,
to the soil and to certain direction.
There is tremendous fascination, espe-
ciaNy for men of business, in the very at
mosphere we breathe, begotten of the
expectancy of mighty struggle. 1t is
unfortunate for the, cause of Ireland that
this struggle should be precipitated pre-
cisely at the moment when her own de5-
tiny is hanging in the scales Of fate. That
alaority which under other circumstances
would have characterized the response OF
leading Irishmen to the call sent out for
a great race convention is moderated by
the grave aspect of affairs here. Men
who have been reckoned upon as certain
to respond with cheerful affirmative to
that invitation have given reluctant
mo" There are others who have not as
yet made up their minds, 1t may be even
now not too late to hope that those who
can go and hesitate about going may de-
eide at the last moment to secure pass
age. The ships of the leading lines will
all have been engaged, yet there may be
chance berth or two available. Lest
anyone should miss, through neglect, an
opportunity which he might have reason
to deplore in the future, it may be Well
to take final survey of the position and
the reasons for and against attending the
convention, says the Catholic Standard
and Times, Of Philadelphia.
Lest we should be misunderstood as
taking a gloomy view Of the prospects
of the convention, it is proper to say at
once that, SO far from anticipating FALL
ure or even lukewarmness IN response TO
the call. we believe the great difficulty
with the people at home will be III the
choice Of suitable place wherein to hOld
the assembly From the reports OF the
preliminary proceedings we find that the
matter has been taken up with ardor IN
England and Scotland, in Australia, New
Zealand and Canada. A crowded attend
ance of delegates is certain. But we
would regard it as deplorable feature
Of such historic gathering If the cQnn- cQnnl
try which has above all Others contrib
l1ted to the advancement OF the cause or
Irish nationality should be conspicuous
by it's failure to attend in adequate repre-
sentative number.
It is not for us to suggest to men who
have already made splendid sacrifices CT
time and resources for Ireland that they
lay themselves open to a charge of apathy
or timidity now by hesitating to go to
this convention. The enemies Of Ire
lands cause only will do so, and point
with glee to the proofs of waning interest
which they will perceive in the absence
of representative Irish-Americans. The
full Significance of the convention may not
as vet be grasped by many of those who
have long labored for Ireland. They may
not vet have realized what momentous
issue hangs upon the decisions OF the
convention. The counsels there taken
must influence the fortunes of the coun-
try irrevocably, so far as our day is con-
cerned. No nobler, holier work could
men be engaged in than that OF bringing
about peace and unity among differing
brethren-no grander work than laying
down the policy which appears to mark
the road to victory. Do those leaders
here who have already done so much
realize how much they will have left un-
done by hanging back now?' The road
of patriotism is hard and rugged, but 1t
has a goal--a goal worth striving for. 1t
is a road for men to travel-an ordeal
that ennobles and exsLlts the man above
the unthinkilg crowd AS in the Spirit
ual life, it is only by, self-sacrifice we
prove our feet worthy to measure this
arduous but honora BILE patti To falter by
the wayside, faint-hearted and .discour-
aged, even when the goal is seemingly at
tainable by one reward worth striving
for In mundane things-the consciousness
of duty faithfully performed-the ap-
plause of mans own inner monitor. @
Very many of the men who have h1th-
erto borne leading part in the present
Irish movement have much at stake here,
no doubt They are deeply concerned in
the commercial issues to be DECIDED In
the coming campaign. But will the fact
of their going 10 Ireland in any way at
feet such issues here? There is ample
time for them to go and return and exert
whatever influence their opinions pos
sess on the side they deem the line Of
duty. Between this and November there
is to be nothing but talk and organizing
work. A week will probably suffice for
the work of the Irish convention, which
does not begin until the first OF Septem-
her. Those who go can return if they
choose before the first of October II a
month be not sufficient for the purpose of
d uSt1l , IulHu AAs1NS w e1AAN AAN'.
seminating intelligence Of that fact here.
his mental process must be slow indeed.
Philadelphia, Boston and New York;
have borne the leading part in. the sus-
tentation of the Irish cause up to: this
They have exhibited a certain. hardness,
with regard to the convention. We trust
they will not go back on their fine record.
Although His Grace Archbishop Ryan
finds It impossible to attend the conyen-
ton, his heart will Of a certainty be in it's
work. He has written to that effect to-
Mr.. Ryan, the secretary of the National
Federation in New, York. The diocesan
appointments for confirmation and other:
archiepiscopal duties for the month Of
September debar him from following. the
dictates of his own desire. From my
heart, Z writes His Grace, Il wish it IN.
tire success, and shall not forget to pray.
for this object of the Holy Sacrifice.
The splendid words of cheer which Ills.
Grace sends to the convention Will be;
some eolace to its promoters forsthe fact
that he can be present only inl "a spirit. = He:
has rendered priceless seryica 10 m b q the .l1
cause again and again by his nlagnif ificent, ] Il
aud lais eneTous lI,e the ales