The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-02-10
Cure for Dissension Comes from
Dark Continent.
THE COUNTRY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY
British Empire Encountering
Grave Dangers.

If were dead and gone tomorrow
the men who are fighting against Eng
llsh influences in Irish public life would
fight on still; they would still be indie
pendent nationalists; they would still
believe in the future of Ireland as a ma
ton, and they would still protest tina,
it is not taking orders from an English
statesman that Ireland's future is to be
saved, protected or secured"
Thus pronounced the great Charles
Stewart Parnell, when the clouds bega,
to gather around his weary soul, says
"Owen Roe" the clever Dublin cores
pondent of the Chicago Chronicle. 1,
was his hope and his prophecy
Through years of combat, defiance and
masterful political strategy, he had
aroused new spirit in the old land
and taught the people that to demand
was more manly than to petition, and
that threats and contumely affected
England more than prayers and tears
He knew, as Thomas Davis knew, that
the Irish people chad bowed too long
to braggart wrong, by knaves and
creeds divided" and he resolved upon
policy which meant not only inde-
pendent political action in the English
house of commons, but in every parish
in Ireland. The latter was the more
difficult task of the two, but he accom-
plisled it. Those were resurrecting
years, that decade of Parnell's power,
which closed in 1890. What contrast
in the decade now ending, which has
been marked by dissensions, petty am
bitions and impotence. "Sheep with
out shepherd, when the snow shuts
out the sky the parliamentary repre-
sentatives OF ireland, lacking a pur-
poseful leader, have become an aimless
and useless crowd.
The honest and single-hearted men in
the several factions saw the folly of dis
sension and for some time past more or
less earnest endeavors have been made
to bring about union, and present once
more solid front in parliament to the
scoffing majority. But there were too
many wings in their ranks. Gladstone,
high cllurclman in belief and non
conformist in conscience, and the hier-
archy in ireland overthrcw Parnell and
the policy of parliamentary independ-
ence and the result has been years Of
squabbling and vituperation. Many
schemes to bring about union-a
resume OF which gave in my last let
ter-have been proposed and discussed
but without avail. Now. however, and
at last, the hope for union docs not
look vain, and the cure for disunion
comes from far-off South Africa. The
war there and its unexpected develop
mcnts teach lesson that cannot be
overlooked. There may be an oppor-
t,,nity i'll the approaching session OF
parliament for Ireland to score point,
but it can be done only by united ac-
ton. The people are tired OF faction
and the members of parliament are be-
ginning to recognize that fact They
are of little use, anyway, as a factor in
Irish nationality, but they can now only
escape contempt and detestation by
coming together. The outlook now is
that they will do so
The people everywhere are demand
ing union of the factions, for not in
years has there been the promise OF so
great all opportunity for united and
independent Irish party The British
empire is passing through crisis and
ii Ireland is refused justice her rep
rcscntatives, it is insisted, should make
the house of commons as hot theater
OF war for the lingo as the Boer is MAX
ing Natal. They may not be able to
influence legislation to much extent,
but they can make protest that Eu
rope will hear Isaac Butt. noted
Irish parliamentary leader, wrote near
ly third OF century ago, the follow
ing words, which are not without their
significance to the English statesman
at the present moment: "Thc man. no
matter in what seat OF authority he sits,
is short-sightcd fool who makes light
OF the danger will, which Irish disaf
lection menaccs English power. No
one can tell the light which even few
days may throw upon the future, course
OF European events. But one thing [
do know-that if England goes into
war with the guilt of Ireland's -oppres-
sion hanging like milestone round her