The Irish standard., 1898-01-01
SENSIBLE SPEECH
JOHN DILLON, THE IRISH LEADER.
ANSWERS j. e. REDMOND
CONCERNING The DERBY PROGRAMME.
BETWEEN THE IRISH
AND THE LIBERAL PARTY
SATISFACTORILY EXPLAINED BY him..
TORIES lRREVOCABLY PLEDGED
AGAINST HOME RULE.

AGAINST HOME RULE.
The following extracts are taken
from an address delivered by Mr., John
Dillon, M. p, at a recent meeting of
the Irish National Federation in Dub
lin, by way OF reply TO John l.. Red
mund's speech in Waterford anent the
Derby program Of the Liberal
leaders, OF which mention was made
last week in these columns:
,, l do not think it necessary here to
| inquire to what extent the general
committee of the National Liberal
Federation claim Or possess the power
| OF authoritatively announcing the
policy and program Of the Liberal
party. There can, however, be NO
doubt that this resolution comes from
an official and very influential source.
But what l do know is that on s,lch
program there could be no alliance
between the Liberal party and the
Irish National party. (applause), and
that when at any future time the
Liberals find themselves in position
| to form a government with the sup
port of the Irish party, that support
could not be given to party which
| accepted the Derby resolution as it's
program (renewed applause). And
what is really important is that The
Liberal leaders should be made aware
G. this fact at the earliest possible op-
portunity (cheers).
Having read an extract from speech
by Herbert Gladstone, Mr.. Dillon said:
Well, that is not exactly the langlag ge
! l should like to hear from Liberal
leader speaking on the Irish question,
but it does not bear out the state
nlents made by Mr.. Redmond, and it
| reminds me strangely of speeches de-
livered by Mr. Redmond himself at
meetings in support of the recess COM
| mittee and Of Mr.. Horace Pllnkett's
policy daughter and hear, hear)--in
| fact, l am inclined to think that some
Of the language is almost Identical
| and, although I regret that there
| should exist in the minds of many
Englishmen who were undoubtedly
strong and sincere supporters of The
| home rule movement doubt whether
the Irish people are any longer in earn
est in their demand, I confess The
spread of such a feeling does not sur
prise me. 1t has now become the
| fashion in this country to address IN
vitations to the National party and
all round to unite on various subjects.
| We are asked to unite in the recess
committee, We are asked to unite in
| favor of cooperation. We are
| asked to unite in favor of the new
agricultural board. We are asked 10
| unite on the question of financial re-
form, and we are invited to unite ON
the question of local government. But
the one question on which we are never
asked to unite is the supreme question
governing ALL and that is the national
right OF Ireland cloud applause), and
if an English statesman who has prov
ed by word and deed and by long SER
vice to the cause, extending over 13 Oh
IA years, having in his mind surveyed
the condition of Ireland, and seeing
that the various factions who call
themselves Nationalists in this country
are ready to unite with their country
men for local government, for financial
| rnfnrn1 oc,t In
other subject under the sun, but will
have no union on the question of ma
tional right or national freedom--are
we to blame Englishmen if doubts be
patriotism of the Irish race has not
cooled, and whether they are still in
earnest in favor of home rule? (Ap-
plause.) Gentlemen, the essence Of
Mr. Gladstone's speech is to be found
in single sentence when ne said
MY position upon this question de-
pends upon Ireland and upon Irish
men, That, in my judgment, is the
key of the situation. If that is true
of Mr.. Gladstone himself, it is true
also OF all the Liberal leaders They
all declare their attitude towards this
home rule question depends except in
the case of one or two who are specially
distinguished by strength of faith and
by fidelity to the cause Of Ireland-the
attitude of more of them depends upon
Ireland and upon Irishmen, and it is
not by going to beg for pledges to tho>
| leaders, whosoever they may be, that
the cause of Ireland will be safe
guarded and put upon a firm and
staple foundation (applause). 1t is By
putting our own house in order, and !'v
proving to these leaders against the
day which sooner or later must come,
when the assistance of our votes in the
English constituencies, and of our
party in the house of COM
mons, will be necessary to
put them in power. 1t is by putting our
own house in order and by bringing
home to their minds the conviction