The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-12-18
QUESTION OF POLITICS AND RELIGION
MAGNIFICENT AND MANLY SPEECH
DEFORE ORANGEMEN,
PLAIN DISTINCTION DRAWN BY HIM
THE RECIPIENT OF ENTHUSIASTIC
CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.

The city of Belfast, the Orange
stronghold of the north, was visited by
Michael Davitt, the founder of the Land
League. on Nov. 81, for the purpose of
participating in the municipal election
to help elect the Nationalist candidates
for aldermen Of certain wards. Bishop
Henry had taken an active and prom
1nent part in the campaign and favored
and advocated the election of Roman
Catholics exclusively, on the ground
that they We're entitled to recognition In
proportion to their numerical strength
and influence as citizens of the COM
munity. The Natlonalists of Belfast
refused to support the bishops ticket,
asserting that his lordship's candidates
were "Cawtholics" Of the "Shoneen"
tribe and therefore they placed ticket
| of their own in the field composed Of
Protestants and Catholics of strong Ma
tionalistic principles who had labored in
the past for Irish home rule They
would mot discriminate against an
candidate because of his religious be-
lief, even though they had always
been Disseminated against by the pre-
dominant Orange party. The Catholic
citizens and the Catholic bishop would
not pull together to the great annoyance
OF the latter. Michael Davitt went
down to the city from Dublin and de-
livered the following address:
"Friends and Fellow-Nationalists OF
Belfast: People sometimes in trying tc
do you an injury unconsciously do you
a service. 1 am told that the manage
ment of st. Mary's Hall has boycotted
this meeting. Well, I am glad of it,
!! because If we held our demonstration in
would have an audience of about 1000,
whereas we have here tonight more
Nationalists than would fill all the halls
in Belfast. 1 have been asked in The
columns Of the Irish News (hisses), this
morning why have come here and who
has invited me Ca voice-"The Nation
alists'). Well, my reply is, l did not
| ask leave from the Catholic Association,
nor was 1 invited by the editor of thai
| paper (hisses). I have been in Belfast
many time before l made my first
speech in Ireland after being released
from Dartmoor to an audience of Bel
fast Nationalists, and l have never been
afraid since to come here and help
you in any struggle in which you have
been engaged in the National cause.
(Cheers) I am here on this occasion
because I was invited by man in
whose integrity and personal character
and devotion to the cause of Ireland
have the fullest confidence l came here
on the invitation Of Mr. Joseph Devlin,
(cheers), and on that invitation alone;
but there is another reason why am
here, which is this; l believe that the
Nationalists in this contest are being
fought by unfair and unscruplous
means. No fair play has been shown In
this fight by the other side. Up to the
present moment meetings held on behalf
of the Nationalist candidates have been
denied fair report or representation in
the columns Of the so-called Nationalist
daily paper Of Belfast. (Cheers.) Then,
again, many priests in this city and in
this diocese who are unquestionably on
the Nationalist and popular side are
not allowed to express their views or
to take part in this municipal election.
Then, again, his lordship, the bishop, has
appealed to the Catholic and National
list voters, as the head of the Catholic
diocese, and has asked for support for
candidates on religious grounds, wler-
as there is no religion or educational
issue involved In this contest at ali.
(Cheers.) Therefore, 1 say that che
men VINO are fighting for Nationalist
principles, who are the popular cand-
dates and who are the supporters Of
the National Federation and National
League, have been denied fair play by
the Catholic Association. There are
three or four essential points to be
remembered by the Nationalsts OF
these wards When they record their
votes on Thursday.
Here Mr.. Davitt was presented
amid loud cheers, with bouquet by the
lady members of the McCracken '9S
club.
Mr.. Davitt-The patriotic ladies OF
Belfast are on the winning side, ana
they are here tonight to associate with
the men who will do honor next year to
the memory OF the men Of 49, (Cheers)
The point want to show is-what
body. what force or influence was it
won these municipal rights for the Ma
tionalists of those wards? Was it some
members Of the Catholic Association?
(No.) Was 1t the shoneen candidates
on the other side7 (No.) No; this
privilege was fought for and won by