The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-05-28

who led political party in the days
when Irishmen were united. Now no.
body seems to care what attitude the
irish members will take up. This Is
painfully manifest in every days pro-
ceadinGs in the house of commons,
though the truth does not seem to be
yet fully realized by the Irish members
themselves. Dissension and division
have taken all heart and all energy out
Of the National party. Long since they
have ceased to be feared as party
now they are no longer even respected,
For years-in fact, ever since the disas-
trous split, the situation in the house
OF commons has been very bad. What
.lrishmen at home want to realize is
that. instead OF improving, it is every
day growing worse. When dissension
first rose in the ranks of the parlia-
mentaly party, each section retained a
certain amount of the old prestige and
influence. Both We're considered sutfi-
GENTLY influential to have to be reck-
oned with by one political party or an
other. Today no English party cares
for alliance with either section of the
Irish Nationalist representation. That
Is the situation In plain language, and
so it will remain until Ireland once
again speaks through an absolutely unit
ed party. This is the problem which
lrishmen must study. Ireland is I'M
served and unrepresented in parliament
so long as the men who claim to speak
in her behalf are rent by jealousies and
dissensions. To restore the efficiency Of
our representation, to enlist sympathy
for Ireland, and make her cause respect
ed, we must pass wet sponge over the
record of the recent past, and build up
again in Ireland and in parliament
party that will speak with one voice and
prove themselves to be determined and
earnest. All this may be accomplished
through the agency of existing parties
and sections, but whether with or
without their help it is the first duty of
1rishmen who believe in the regenera-
ton OF their native land. If we never
possessed a great party with the record
OF that which has passed from us if
we never had the political skill and
training which the nation received at
Its hands, have we not sufficient intel
ligence and sufficient zeal and patriot
ism to build up party for ourselves.
The feeling Of apathy which is growing
upon the country is more deadly than
treason. 1t is the duty OF every patri-
otto lrishman to combat it. They are
justified no longer, by any false feeling
of friendship to political leaders to re-
main silent while Ireland's cause Is
drifting on to ruin, There must come a
time for consultation. and action be-
tween the leading, Nationalist of the
country. Let them pay all Difference to
the men who have been to the front in
the political fight, but let them make
it clear at the same lime that the ma
TONS cause must not. be put back for
any small questions of department. Be-
fore this memorable year passes away
a great convention Of lrishmen should
be assembled, irrespective of present diff
ferences and distinctions, and the pro-
gram and policy of the future authori-
tatively laid down. Such gathering
all Irish leaders would be bound to re-
spect and obey. Those who would re-
fuse it their allegiance would be very
readily swept aside.