The Irish standard., 1898-10-29
IMPORTANT DECLARATION MADE by
MIR. JOHN DILLON, NJ. Il.
the RECONCILIATION OF FAc1IoNlsrs.
HE COMMENDS THE NEW MOVEMENT
BEGUN IN THE WEST.
FREEDOM BY PARLIAMENTARY AcT|Ol.
ABsOI.l rEI.Y INDEPENDENT OF ANY
ENGLISH PARTY.

In the course of IL recent speech in
Glasgow, Mr.. Dillon said:
In the county and province of Con-
naught and Mayo there exists condi-
tion of things without parallel in the
civilized world. The best land of the
country is swept clean OF the population,
and actually around Westport Castle
bar and other places in the west, have
seen great ranches, extending some four
or five miles-land of the finest kind
given up entirely to cattle, and support-
ing two or three couple as herds-srcat
ranches, like in western Nebraska or
Colorado, given up entirely to bullocks
and sheep, while the starving peasantry
arc driven on to tho bog and stony
mountain lands (crics Of "sllame").
Well, it occurred to Mr.. William OBrien
tcheers), and some Of his friends, TO in
vite all sections in these districts, with
out reference to the past, to unite to at
tempt, not to relieve distress, but to BAN
ish the cause of the distress and give
the people an opportunity OF working
for their livelihood in comfort and In
dependence (chcers). 1t was for that
purpose the United Irish League in the
west of Ireland was started (cheers). 1t
has been spreading rapidly. Its purpose.
/ say, is Il good and u holy purposc--to
distribute the land amongst the people,
for whose use it was intended, and to
Danish the landlords. It's purpose is
good purpose, for it has united the people
together, and put an end to dissension,
for wherever the league has appeared.
dissension has disappeared (cheers).
like the league and | like the object 1t
adopted (cheers). In a familiar Amer
lean phase, Il like il, nay, l love it, for
the enemies it made" (cheers), for the
fact that every landlord and bailiff and
Unionist and land grabber and everyone
in Ireland in favor of disscnsion is down
on the league (checrs). Why? 1t has
been said there is great danger in this
league, because If the Nationalists in
Roscommon. Mayo and Sligo, who have
been divided politically in the past, work
together in the United Irish League, may
not 1t spread like an infection through
the rest Of Ireland? (Chccrs.) Well,
don't know that it would be Il great evil
If 1t did (chccrs). l say then, this is u
good movement; ] say it Is Il success;
and | am delighted ut its success, al
though we learned the other day that 1t
will possibly irritate the house of lords
Oaughtcr). So far this league has moth
ing to do with parliamentary work; it
has my hearty approval and sympathy;
and, for my part, l shall not be sorry,
but shall rejoice, il the spectacle OF the
good work it has done in the west part
of the country causes il 10 spread and
produces tho result of making Nation
alists sink their differences and work to-
gcthcr for the freedom of ireland
(checrs). Now, let me say a word in
conclusion on the question of the Irish
party. | have always frankly admitted
and | repeat il here ioday-lhat ! am
a believer in the winning of Irish free
dom by parliamentary action, backed by
a strong agitation in Ireland; but have
no quarrel with men who may hold Diff
fcrent views; but what ] say is that un-
til they have an opportunity for cxcrcis-
ing their methods they ought to give us
their help while We are doing our little
best for prosecuting the UniOnists and
the government. think we have done
good deal, and ! believe as united
party we will do more (chccrs). What |
desire to say on the question of paria-
mcntary action is this: The principle |
have always acted on is that without q
united party, if you have Il disunitcd
Irish representation, it will be in the
power of individuals to sell their coun-
try. A united Irish party in the house
of commons is the first essential cOndi-
ton OF rendering any service to the Irish
cause know it has become the fashion
with some who hold different view to
preach it, and say that each individual
should have liberty to do what he
pleased. That is the old doctrine of the
men of '52. These men were such good
Catholics they could not work with the
Irish party Of that day They put their
religion before everything, but in few
years they were comfortably located in
government places (hear, hear). Now, |
say the essence Of successful parliamcn-
tary:ction is the question of a disciplin-
ed and united Irish party (cheers), and
l would venture to prophesy that II we
had party in the house of commons
sixty or fifty, or even forty Irish mem
bers-who held aloft before the people
the banner of united action for the good