The Irish standard., 1899-09-30
WILLIAM o'BR1EN ON FREEDOM.

The first number of William O'Brien's
paper-The Irish Pcople--has the true
ring to it. The sound principles Of
nationality enunciatcd by him in his
leading article is calculated to arouse
the dormant patriotism OF the young
men of Ireland and turn them away
from factionism. We reproduce the fol-
lowing passages to show that MIR.
O'Brcn has struck the right keynote
in explaining why he has launched his
paper on the stormy sea OF Irish jour
nalism:
Unqucstionably, a band OF sinister
allies from opposite wings OF the Irish
party did take it into their heads that
Irish public opinion was so cowed,
sickencd, and inert that it was possible
for artistic, however unscrupulous,"
parliament-mcn and newspaper men to
break up the National movement alto
gether. They, Of course, knew all but
as little OF their patrons OF the Times
newspaper of the depths and reserves
OF strength OF that Irish nationality
which outlived thirty generations OF ex-
tcrnal assailants and internal traitors.
They might as we'll have planned the
breaking up Of the adamantine roots
which moor this island in the cverlast-
ing seas. But it is not surprising that
the dense intellect OF John Bull has been
equally imposed upon.
By and bye, whenever it becomes a
matter OF any Importance what John
Bull may think OF us, the worthy old
iatwits will learn that the death of
Home Rule would be the resurrection
OF separation.
Everybody who knows Ireland knows
that il last years 90 Centenary cclcbra-
tons had produced revolutionist OF
the capacity Of James Stephens, it would
have produced a revolutionary cycle OF
as much intensity as that OF Fcnianism
And ireland has way OF producing
such men when they are least expected.
When England used Mr.. Gladstone's
olive branch to birch him with it out
o! public lie, she restored the relations
OF civil war in petto between the two
countries. We want no National justi-
fication for throwing off the yoke OF
England by force of arms-exccpt the
force Of arms The United States sep
arated from England for far less cause
than the casus belli we have confessed
out OF the mouths OF Englands own
Treasury experts, that the poorest
country in Europe is plundered by the
richest to the tune Of f2,75o,ooo annu-
ally, in defiance of solemn interna-
tional treaty, and for the support of an
alien system of government detestable
to the soul of the governed people.
The only rational answer to the argu-
ment for taking up arms is-Where are
the arms to take up? For the moment
that is decisive answer. But when we
remember that it is not three years since
England was cuffed out of Venezuela
by the mailed fist OF the United States,
and that she is in spasmodic state Of
terror lest at any given moment the
Russian frontier guards should get the
word for Herat, and throw Hindustan
into mutiny compared with which the
Black Hole OF Calcutta was an agree
able summer retreat, England and 9TH
crs may we'll bethink themselves that
the answer may not be an irrevocable
one
Individually we abide by the Irish
parliament Of the bill Of 1893, with the
necessary financial notifications, as a
rational way out OF the eternal war be-
tween the two islands; but it is an open
question. The National policy on the
subject has to be formed all over again.
Younger men and newer difficulties for
England may quite possibly give the
National mind different turn. Assur-