The Irish standard., 1897-10-16

pieSSeu dSluSC I1e OppFeSSOf is lue res
direction of the dead! War is the re-
demption of the people! War is indie
pendence! War is freedom! War is
prosperity! (Applause)
The religious objection was the last
resort of the enemies Of Ireland. This
is urged in spite Of the fact that trial
by jury, Magma Charta and various sta
tutes enacted against the despotism Of
the monarch were the result of the
wisdom and the love of freedom cher
ished by the English Roman Catholics
hundreds OF years ago; in spite Of the
fact that the hallowed names of Scot
land, Bruce and Wallace, are enrolled
in the sweet spices of Catholic Rome;
In spite of the fact that the persecution
which deluged Scotland with blood was
the work of the Church Of England,
and not of Rome, and that by the COW
enant it's subscribers were bound to
extirpate prelacy; in spite of the fact
that when il body Of Hignlanders were
brought to Glasgow to force the liturgy
and prelacy on the Scotch, these Pres
byterians emigrated to Ireland were
received with open arms and warm
hearts by the Irish Catholics; in spite
of the fact that the German ancestors
Of Embury, the founder of American
Methodism found a home and shelter
among the Catholics of Limerick; IN
spite of the fact that Irish Catholics
in an address drawn up by Daniel
O'Connell years before they were eman-
cipated, petitioned parliament to re-
move the penal laws against the Dis
senters of England, and after the re-
moval of these odous statutes the
unitarans of England, by public rcso-
luton, publicly thanked O'Connell and
the Catholics Of Ireland; In spite of
these noted historical facts, the enc
mics Of Ireland's freedom now come
forth and raise the howl of intoler-
ance and try to paralyze every effort
to raise the moral and intellectual char
acter Of Ireland, and to give peace
and freedom to her long oppressed md
afflicted people. tApplause.)
Let it be remembered that the Eng
lish that first invaded Ireland were
Catholics, and they plundered In tho
name of the Pope, as they do now in
the sacred name of Professionalism. Ro-
man Catholic or Protestant be the Eng
lish government. Ireland is still the
prey and the people the slave of the
government. Let it be remembered
that, while the English Catholic aris-
tocracy opposed home rule, the English
dissenting churches took their stand by
Gladstone; that 5000 clergymen thank
Ell him for his Irish policy; that two
thirds OF all the Wesleyans and twen-
ty-three of the Methodist members OF
parliament voted for home rule. What
Is 1t to me from what side of the B0vno
a man looks at the question of Ireland !?
am Protestant; my father was mas
Ter OF an Orange lodge; my uncles on
Doth sides belonged to the United Irish
men. l am Methodist of the Method
lists; 1 am not ashamed of 1t, but be-
tween my fellow-man and his Maker,
why should 1 interfere? tGreat ap.
plause.)
Universal nature breaches that tho
sun SHINES for all; that the rain falls for
all; that the streams flow for all: that
the flowers bloom for all, and that the
mercy OF God is for all. Shall we, then
set up barriers between man and man
which the breath Of mercy is omnipo-
tent to blow away? The great Metho-
dist General Conference which recentlv
convened In Cleveland, Ohio. did not
think there was danger to American
liberty from lrishmcn when they placed
among the decorations of their splendid
temple the Irish flag. the immortal
green. side by side with the banners Of
other natlonaitles. (Applause.)
Courage. old land! for already The
earth heaves with the throcs of a new
nationality and the magi OF the ma
tlons snail again worship at the cradle
of republican freedom. Courage. old
land! for soon the world, grown weary
With tho atrocities that have rent thy
green bosom, shall speak out in trum
pet tones and demand thy emancipa-
tlon Courage. old land! for Poland
baptized at the same font, sees in the
future the splendid dawning OF the dov
when she will resume her ancient SOW
ereignty Courage, old land! for the
noble democracy of Engand---a dem
ocracy, though it seeks no power, is
England's appointed ruler-that dem
ocracy, holding the destlnies of the ON
pire In its rough but honest hand, rec
ognizes the sanctity, the validity and
the antiquity OF thy claims!
Oh, think of the time when tho
wrongs of centuries will be rellressed
when the crown Of thorns will blossom
Into crown of flowers! Oh, think of
the time when famines and pestllcnces
shall no more desolate the land! Oh.
think Of the time. If other opportuni-
ties fail, when Irishmen shall draw the
shining blade without offending an an
gelic nation; that such an opportunity
must arise If peaceful efforts fail for