The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-02-12
themselves on the side of the foreign
oppressor, but on the ether hand from
their ranks came forth the most eloquent

themselves Oh lile sue VI lle lOlSlSH
oppressor, but on the ether hand from
their ranks came forth the most eloquent
advocates and the nest strenuous assert
ers of Irish liberty, Swift, MolyueailN,
Burke, Grattan, Cmran, Wolfe Tone.
Emmett (cheers). What succession
of inspiring and glorious memories.
"And here" said ths. Rev. Lecturer.
may 1 mention one who shone in our
horizon but brief space, passing like
brilliant meteor across the stormy sky
Of Irish politics. who though his light
was so soon and so sadly eclirsed yet,
In Irish hearts. has LETT warm glow
Of gratitude which shall last till our
race perishes and our history is for
gotten--the unfortunate but gifted bere-
factor of the Irish race-Charles Sew
art Parnell (arplause). If that great
man erred he suffered the penalty OF
his errcr. His error a grateful nation
will forget. remembering cnly his splon-
did services (cheers). The mass OF the
Professionals in this cCuntry have been
her tyrants. But though paying a great
tribute to the l>''riatism of the United
lrishmcn they should nc, forget that 30
per cent of the men who del for Ireland
in '9S belonged to the ancient faith, and
were WcNfordmen (sreat chce-ing,, and
that their most sllilliul and daring lead
er was a Wexford priest. that lion
hearted patriot, Father John Murray
tche5.s). Some so-callel Catholics
wish 10 obscure or hide these facts.
NOR" shame to these craven and half
hearted professors OF a faith to which
they are l.isely lisloyal (applause). The
insurl ation of 9S might be said to have
been confined to five or six counties.
In Down and Conner il was suppressed
after short and gallant struggle In
kildare it was also soon put down. but
the rising in Wexford was much more
vigorously conducted and With great
difficulty suppressed. The great British
nation had to put forth it's whole
strength to sub;tue the Wexford men
and their WicktN: associates (cheels),
after six wckes of inccssant and dos
pelate fighting. 1t required 10000 sol
diers, led by experienced generals to
subdue some $4,000 insurgents, armed
for the most part only with pixies. and
destitute of almost everything nccrs-
sary or the successful carrying on Of
warfare (cheers). Mr. Gladstone hal
acknowledged that with all these lsnd
van;a2es it est England lO0OO of ,!cr
veteran troops to overcome the heroic
resistance CT the men of '9S (apElausc,.
The failure OF the insllrrection Father
kavanaugh ascrbed to want of Ohlt ers
skilled in the art of war, deficiency of
firearms. especially or artillery the lack
CT sufficient ammunition. and he should
also say to that curse of Ireland in
temperance. to which the loss of The
battle of Ross should be attributed:
and lastly to the Gissraceful apathy of
the rest of Ireland. From 2U0,OO0 to
5oo.'oo stated to be organized and IL.
great part armed. stood by with folded
arms while Wexford was being crushed
by the powerful army of England
(cheers.) 1t had always been so with
secret societies. AS regards the charge
CT cruelty against the insurgents 10
held that never did men so outraged
and oppressed act with more generosity
towards their enemies If Protes. ants
were put to death during the rebellion
IL was us loyalists taken in arms against
the people. or as Individuals who had
been guilty of some crime (cherrs,.
Having defended the insurgents from
the charge OF religious bigotrv made
against them. the Rev Lecturer glye
short and powerful sketches uf IN,
priests who took part in the insurr.r-
tlGh. ANA rontras,ed the bravery of the
insurgents with tn" infamous conduct
I" the soldiers of the King. lie then
went on to argue that the men of 'oS
were justified in rising. Though iIn in
shfregtlan, in his opinion was NOT
prudent. He did not think. huy,y.>r
Tor that reason that it was as hopeless
as at Ilat glane" il seemed They
should remember that thea ireland TN,
II r>2lI"ilon equal to that of E,nrl,ul
and ii M,,$ the opinion of the by.i-in-
formed and Nest Intelligent writer's or
me present day that had half-a -,lD..n
counties Joined Wexford with all tL,ir
strength in the struggle I.nn)nnrs
sway ever this country Womb have
ended III l'9S (rhGcri) The reason far
inc general apathy in '9S was, he be-
lleVed, because the country WAS n,r,
lyZcd by one of these secret societies
whic! have been the curse of Ireland
In speaking thus lie was not CONSIDERING
secret political societies from a r,lr
lous, hut from a purely ulilitarian point
OF view. as a means to an end. and ,,c
was ccndcmning the system, not ,h,
motives or the men who conducted If
He was convinced that secret societies
In Ireland had hitherto been more trans
for Irish patriots. He would NOT saw
a word that would reflect upon tho
undetermined patriots who were The
leaders of the secret society of United
lrishmen. Taken as a body no country
ever produced men of noblcr or more
nOSp1fSh aims IF l,,r