The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-11-04
MICHAEL DAv1TT's RETIREMENT.

MICHAEL DAvITT's RETIREMENT.
TO emphasize his protest against Eng
lands unjust war on the Beers
Michael Davitt has resigned his seat in
the British parliament On Oct. 25
he made speech in the house in which
he denounced the lingo press and said
the war would be known as "the great
est crime Of the century" He said he
had been in the house for five years
trying to obtain justice for ireland, and
he would leave it convinced that "no
cause OF justice and right would have
the support of the house unless backed
by force"
We endorse the action of Michael
Davitt in leaving body OF legislators
constituted as the British parliament
is. They are deaf to the voice of justice
and right. The only appeal they will
heed is "the pathos OF rifle and the
logic OF blow" Like John Mitchell,
Mr.. Davitt can accomplish more for
Ireland outside the house OF commons
than within its unhallowed walls.
In signed communication to the
press Mr.. Davitt gives his reasons for
resigning from the house. Judging
from the tone OF his language he ap-
pears to have lost confidence in parlia-
mentary agitation and to believe in
physical force for the emancipation of
ireland from British misrule. His rea-
sons are as follows:
First have spoken in the house of
this war with the Beers as organized
inamy." This is what the civilized
world outside OF the jingoes, will call
it. But the house of commons approves
this war, supplies the money for its
prosecution, Endorses the criminal pol
icy which led up to it. The only pro-
test still left to me to make against this
monstrous action OF the British parlia-
ment is to cease to be member of it.
Secondly-I feel most strongly about
the non-attendance of the Nationalist
members in the house during the fight
Tor the Transvaal's cause. To combat
the selfish ferocity of the lingo war
policy were left only Dillon and three
or four more of us, with an average
backing OF thirty. In division our col
leagues remained in the lobbies. This
is disgrace to the popular representa-
tives of Ireland, who number eighty one
men. Some Of the absentees are known
to be pro-Brtish and opposed to the
Beers in this war. 1 shall do my best,
now that l am again free man, to
hunt these supporters of British in
fanny out OF their Irish constituencies.
Tiirdly-I am convinced that it is a
waste OF time and energy for me to
remain in the house appealing for JUS
tice to an assembly that is dominated by
money and lust for conquest England
is now the most INSCRIPTIONS enemy
OF liberty among the civilized nations.
Her money and her callous commerce
are poisoning the wells OF liberty all
over the world. 1t was England's ex-
ample and influence that induced the
United States to do in the Philippines
what England is now doing in Africa.
Apart from this war against the Dutch
race in South Africa, English forces
have slaughtered thousands upon thou-
sands OF natives in the regions Of the
Soudan, the Niger, in Sierra Leone,
Coomassie, Uganda, and elsewhere dur
ing the seven years I have been in the
house. To me all this is murder and
robbery on a scale of imperial magni-
tude and for the basest motives. 1t has
been done l,ypocritically, protesting the
purposes OF civilization and humanity
which the devil himself would be
ashamed to assume under such circuln-
stances.
Lastly, I ask myself this question:
"If two little nations like the Transvaal
and the Orange Free State, with COM
bined population less than that of San
Francisco, can challenge England's mil
tary might on the field OF battle, can
beat English soldiers, even when out
numbered as the Beers did both at
Dundee and Elandslaagte, can threaten
the prestige OF England with the most
serious blow it has received during this
century; if, say, a handful OF people
can do this in their fight for independ-
ence, the Irish race, which numbers al
least 100000 at the present day, is
called upon to view the problem OIL
home rule in the new light of these
startling facts. To-day we are simply
scolding about England's rule in Ire.
land. Women could do that better than
men. If that is all men can do, Ire
lands cause will be dead and deservedly
damned