The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-08-20

IN South Roscommon, nor Waterford, nor
Cork. My father told me once that
when, in 1S4S, some of the people of that
time were urging on the insurrection
with all speed, he advised them that it
was not wise, that the country was not
prepared for 1t. They would insist up
on insurrection and when the field was
taken he was there and those who We're
loudest in insisting upon insurrcction
were nowhere to be seen Qoud ap-
plause). Well gentlemen, l have been
denounced year after year and jeercd at
| for my weakness and
MY DESIRE FOR UNION.
| l have never denied that have desired
union. There is no length to which |
would not go to secure union among my
| fellow-countrymcn. l have been insult
\ cd from both sides and for the sake OF
the cause have borne it and am pre-
| pared to face everything of that kind.
When ! was called to the chair of the
| Irish party in the face of divided coun-
sc!s and fierce opposition from within
that party nothing but strong sense of
| duty would induce me to accept il be-
cause there never was Il moro Disagree
| aDic position than the craftsmanship of
| disunited party. Our cause has been
| reduced to /; position almost of despair,
| and told those who voted for me, rs
| told tho whole of the party, that If they
| elected me they had to count upon my
| pursuing stcadfastly the course which |
mad pursued before. For two years. In
spite of abuse and misreprcscntations.
l HAVE SET ONE OBJECT BEFORE
ME,
and to that object so long rs am re-
sponsible for the party shall direct all
my efforts-namely, the restoration of
unity (applausc). regard all other OBJ
Jects at present rs of no Importance COM
| pared with that. AS long as the National
lists Of Ireland persist in quarrellnr with
each other, In dlssipatlng the national
strength, so long 1t is folly, childishncss,
| nbslrdity to waste time In wrnnglng as
to whether tho Liberals are In favor of
home rule and the abolition OF the house
| of lords (hcar, hear). Home rule will
not form u plank in the platform of tho
Liberal party, SO long as Irish Natioml-
lists are disunited; but if, on the other
hand, they are united, as ] hope they
will be, the homo rulc question will
| spring to tho front, and remain in tho
foreground until 1t is settled (appla,lsc).
And accordingly since have been in the
chair OF tho Irish party, l have devoted
! all my Influence and all my energies to
| the task Of abating and removing, SO
| far as | could, the frIctions and ill-fccl-
| ing that has existed between the Nation
alists OF Ireland, and | can claim with
confidence that
L HAVE BEEN TO A. MARVELLOUS
EXTENT SUCCESSFUL.
| (Applausc). Anyone who goes over to
ireland In this year of '9S celebrations.
and compares the condition of the coun-
try and the feelings of the people with
what they were two years ago will be
amazed at the change. True It is that
apathy to some extent exists but TINT
Is Wholesome sort of apathy. 1t is bet
ter that there should be Il lull in the DO
| litical war and u truce to breaking heads,
than that one set of Nationalists should
be holding the other set up to contcmpt
Nilcai, Leal). For more than Il year Won
nave not heard one word said by any one
Nationalist against another There were
great meetings held throughout tho
length and breadth of the land, COM
pairing favornbly in enthusiasm and In
order with the best meetings of the Land
League In Parncl's days These meet
'hss "ero called upon the principle that
all the dissenslOns Of the last few wears
should bo buried out Of sight, and that
all should meet as Irish Nationalists. In
that way the condition of the country
mas improved to I'm extent which ad-
init hardly supposed possible some two
years ago (applause). Now the faith
on which l nm strong and on which
l rest my conviction for the safety Of the
Irish cause Is this: | refuse to believe
that the men from Belfast In the north.
and from Cork in the south, who have
after years of separation met on the
same platform this year and shaken
J hands and joined together at the same
table, will after this year is over divide
and separate into two opposite camps as
before (hcar, hcar). | addressed a meet
ing in Carlow the other day composcd
iii Il great part of parnellites, and | got
good reception from them believe
there Is going on in Ireland a mighty
transformation which will result in
drawing the people together, and in nut
ting into their hands a mighty power.
For my part, what | should like to see
| established is this l have long held that
! it Is impossible to bring about q true,
union by anything wearing the appear
ancc of Il triumph of one section over
another. hope to Sc in the course of this
autumn those whose names have been
used as the shibboleths of faction called
before the people, and requested to lay
down before the people any claim which
they have to leadership. Then let them
in tho name of God fall into the ranks
and
SHOW THAT THEY ARE LOYAL TO