The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-12-02
THE IRISH APPLE OF D1sCORD.

1t is not inapplicabIe to the situation
in Ireland to recall the myth of the
apple OF discord and the judgment OF
Paris. There arc three competing
claims before the public for the prize
OF Irish sympathy, both in the little isle
across the ocean and Greater Ireland
over seas. Matters have now reached
a stage at which we may offer word
OF opinion on the respective merits OF
the different claimants. says the Phila-
delphia Standard ard Times.
1t seems to be Ire1and's fate to he
always the possessor OF an apple OF dis
cord-a banciui fruit which seems to
bloom perennially and impossible to de-
stroy. The people are not to blame;
they are the most good-natured in the
world, and would cheerfully let
bygoncs be bygcnes. The Catholic
irlslman would gladly shake hands
with his Protestant llow-country,nan
III an agreement to work for the COM
mon good, il the Ulster leaders would
only permit the compact. But these
have vested interest in the tap OF the
Protestant drum, and DERRY, Aughrin
and the Boync' is too valuable stage
property to be lightly abandoned.
Moreover, Downing street has large
interest in it. 1t is more useful as an
instrument OF govercmcrt than the
thirty thousand troops it keeps in Ire
land to maintain the peace
But the discord which, again, exists
among the Celtic majority is more fatal
still to lrcland's hopes OF rcgaining her
ravishcd birthright. 1t is chiefly be-
cause OF these that Irishmcn have before
them now three separate claims on their
sympathy and consideration. Discord
brought about the split in the Irish Par
llamcntary party and led to the pre-
mature death OF its great leader. The
help OF lrishmen is now asked to raise
a statue to his memory by men who
pcrpetuatc the same discord and refuse
to unite with those who place the coun-
trys welfare above monuments Dis
cord led to the foundation of the United
Irish League by men who did every
thing to heal the breach before they
started new movement And discord,
1T is not altogether erroneous to say,
has made it necessary to start another
movement OF a still more pressing char
actcr-one for the succor and rcstora-
ton OF the cvictcd tenants.
This latter claim, it seems to It's, is
paramount just now. Few people out
side ireland have any rotion OF the
number OF families in the isle who have
fallen victims in the land struggles OF
the past eighteen years. These victims
are to be counted not by hundreds, but
by thousands. They are found in al
most every county in ireland. A large
proportion OF them have been living
or rather dragging out-a wrctched ex-
istence under the scvcrest forms Of pri-
walton and dcbascmcnt for as much as
ten or twelve years. They gave up their
homes for the general welfare OF the
agricultural class. and they have unqucs-
tionably the first claim upon public
sympathy because of their sacrifices
their protractcd suffcrings and their
wonderful constancy.
Cardinal Loguc is at the head OF the
movement for the relief OF these I'M
happy people. He is president OF the
newly-formed Evicted Tenants Restora,
ton Fund. The character OF this move.
ment may be estimated from the fact
that the vice president is Lord Plunket
the Protestant Bishop of Dublin. The
Bishop OF Clonfert, the Lord Mayor oil
Dublin and the Rev. T. A. Finlay are
OF the committee, besides many Prot
estant gentlemen OF high position
There is nothing, therefore, but what is
purely non-partisan and philanthropic