The Irish standard., 1897-07-10

camp. From that camp, In due time,
and after having submitted there to the
necessary drill and discipline, we shall
sensate, and helpless rabble OF parties
and factions, but, as it were, an army
with captains, a combined and deter
mined nation resolved to prosecute our
quarrel to all issues.
"FMal victory is assured; of that let
none entertain D doubt. United and de-
termined we have the power to do more
than compel the payment of a just debt,
one. too, whose justice has been gllaran-
teed by the debtors own scrutinecrs; we
havo the power to do many things, of
which in our present divided and dis
tractcd condition we do not even dare to
dream.
This financial movement has. indeed,
arisen about gross material wrongs, and
is so far concerned only with stolen mil
lions, but there Is more than Il mere
question Of millions in this government
1t is approved and supported by many
men who care little about the millions,
but care much about the splendid ulterlor
issues and developments which are sure
to follow the national demand for Justice
on this material plane of things. Start
Ing with gross material wrong which
presses alike upon all and intlcts suffer-
Ing upon all, the track of the new move
{,, !,
expanding on all sides into vistas of tho
most glorious possibility. II is no little
peasant republic that one secs far away
down the shining road, but something
radiant. nay, imperial. moving onward
in strange ways to the fultimcnt OF
worldwide destinies. The heroic age OF
Ireland is not tradition but prophecy,
unfulfilled, but which is to be fulfilled.
1T Is forgotten, or not known, that wo
us a nation have the absolute command of
our own destiny; none but ourselves can
really do lis wrong; just as none but our
selves are really responsible for the past
We can settle this international finance
question exactly as we please. and COM
pei the redress which. we believe, to bo
our due. We need not petition that JUS
tice should be done, .hut direct 1t to be
done. The power welded by Ireland
within the constitution, enables us to
dictate our terms and compel their ac-
ceptance. We need not argue. or plead.
or implore, unless we have a passion for
such humble amuscments. Our leading
men act. speak and write ms If utterly un-
aware that Ireland can plead Might as
well as Right In this controversy. With
in the constitution while we pursue Just
aims In rational manner our power Is
irresistible, though the fact may he for
the present concealed from us under n
veil of Illusion, the glamor and prestige
of the Imperial Parliament hiding from
MS at the same time our essential weak
ness and our essential power.
True. the British Empire might with
stand the shock of hnlf the world I'm
arms, and yet II may be equally true
that the Imperial Parliament, in spite OF
Its seeming supremacy and power, Is
| after all only kind Of mechanism which
,, may he taught to work this way or that
according as 1t is subjected to the appli-
cation of particular sort of force. That
force. under the constitution, we possess:
therefore, to achieve the desired results
all that we need is unity in order to
evolve the necessary pressure. and a little
common sense and practical sngncity to
direct and govern its application. We
can rule our rulers and dictate the policy
OF ministries II we but please.
"Thc Imperial Parliament, in spite of
, all its glare and glitter. Is to n great cx-
tent fraud and dcl,lsion, offering IT,
self as an easy prey to the first body of
bold and determined men who have ro-
allied the fact of It's essential weakness
Terrible to the simple, It is dcspicablc
to the wise. for all entities become essen
TALLY dcspicabc when their action ceases
to be governed by principle ANA PURPOSE
lho great parties rule parliament, and
are themselves ruled by opportunism
They are essentially unprinciplcd, and
therefore can be bought and sold. or sent
on crrands. and will fetch and carry nt
our pleasure.
1T is singular that we In Ireland
should have forgotten these things while
the career OF Parncll is still fresh in plb-
lie memory. Pnrncll had against him the
Protcstants OF Ireland almost to n man:
he had against him our arst0cracv nnd
landlords, and NIL their affiliated interests
against him the merchants and profess
sional men, while 1t was apparent in tho
sequel that many Of his apparent follow
crs were not. to say the least, very fanat-
teal believers In the prncticabiIity or the
wisdom of his purpose. Yet Parncll
welding only the power Of a party, shook
the state as he passed. compelled the two
Imperial parties to approach him with
competitive proposals. and despatched
the greatest statesman of the day round
England rs the preacher of his doctrines
He perceived what is after all, n staring
fact In contemporary politics, viz: That
neither OF the two great parties Is an
imated by principle or purpose, but solely
| by the spirit Of Opportunsm and Dolitical