The Irish standard., 1898-01-01

without the assistance Of the Irish
party, and on our terms. 1t is by
means such as these that the Irish
cause will be safeguarded and placed
upon firm foundation (applause);
and say that in my judgment the one
part of Mr.. Redmonds speech which is
really practical is that in which he de-
clares that 1t is essential to come to :,
common understanding (hear, hear).
Why should we not come to a common
understanding? If we can act to-
gether on those questions to which
have alluded why should not we work
together on the great question which
encompasses them all, and precedes
them all-the question of our national
demand for national government? ZAP
plause.) l have been criticised because
1t has been said that 1 am inclined TO
look with too critical an eye on the
acts of the present government. Well,
there may have been some foundation
for that charge. l certainly have been
born and bred and brought up to an
attitude Of suspicion as regards the
British government (applause), and 1
cannot for myself sec much sign up
to the present of that great policy of
killing home rule with Kindness
daughter and hear, hear) and / say
that the whole tendency, in my judg-
ment of this policy which has become
fashionable now in ireland of sayias
that we will unite upon this subject,
and we should combine upon that has
been to thrust into the background the
great subject which lies at the root of
all Irish subjects--to put home rule
away into the background and if MIR.
Redmond desires as he said in this
speech-to forget the bitterness of the
past, and to come to {; common under
standing, let him show that by takinr
some practical steps towards coming to
common understanding on the ecn-
eral policy of the National party. As
regards the supreme question of home
rule repeat here today my profession
OF faith that no matter what this gov
ernment may do by way of policy,
even II they were to make substantial
concessions-and I have grave doubts
that they will on the education question
even If they were to entlow a Catholic
university as they pledged to do, and
as trust and hope they will because
1t is a great question which wpul,l
remedy great evil in this country
even If they start an agricultural board
on those broad and democratic lines
Which would secure the bill the sup-
port of the Irish vote--even if thew
were to do all this, still this cm,ntrv
would remain poor and miserable and
dWindle in proportion and wealth I'M
less the tHeat question OF self-gov-
eminent were satisfactorily settled
(applause). l point to the action of
the Irish party on the education hi,
and number of other questions on
which they voted against the Liberals.
Ana l need only point to the rcsolu
ton passed at the great convention in
passed without q dcssenlicnt vote,
which has declared as The prime du,v
CT the Irish parliamentary party to
continue to maintain its absolute in
dependence of English political parties.
and thus preserve its freedom in in
dependent opposition and independent
support of any party as may seem
best in the interests OF Ireland IAN
plause). The faa is that the Irish
party votes for thd Liberals when they
think they are right, and against them
whenever they are wrong (applausc).
Again l ask Mr.. Redmond wha, he
means by repudie eting the alliance.
Does he mean hat when before a
constituency in ereal Britain there
are two candidates, one Radical,
pledged to maintain the conditions on
which the alliance between the Liberal
party and the Parnell party was made
In 1885, and the other Il supporter of
the government, pledged against home
rule-does he nlaan that the Irish
voters are to vote against home ruler
(hear, hear)? Or,Hagain, does he mean
thay in the house of commons the
Irish Nationalists are not to vote with
the Liberal parity when they consider
that the Libcrals arc right? (Hcar,
hear). Does he lmean that The Irish
Nationalists are TO be bound hand and
foot to the present government which
is pledged irrev pcaMy against home
rule? (Hear, hcar). regret that my
sense of duty does not accord with my
duty as laid down by Mr.. Redmond. |
do not feel that I am bound to run after
the leaders of the1 Liberal party, asking
them for pledges. What ] do feel to be
my duty is when reason calls for il
to make perfectly clear to all whom it
| may concern the basis on which any
alliance between the Liberals or any
other party and the Irish party can
alone exist (applauso); at elections IN
Great Britain 70 see that so far as the
| National organization can secure
| it Irish National votes shall
| be given only to candidates
| who are pledged to home rule,
-