The Irish standard., 1900-12-29
UNITED IRISH LEAGUE.
Cannot Be So Basily Crushed as Wynd-
ham ImaPineS.

The London Speaker contains an eX-
crllcnt article on the situation which
has now arisen in Ireland between the
government and the United Irish
League. Referring to-. an attempted
suppression of Il recent meeting at
Wicklow, it says: Mr.. Gerald Baltour
could scarcely have chosen a better
form in which to help the United Irish
League. and thus render final service
to the country, whose Nationalist spir-
it he meant TO kill by Kindness. lie
has proclaimed public meeting. That
is always good thing to do for it in
evitahly has the effect of stimulating
the Irish temper
Tile article then goes on to describe
the peaceful nature of the country, and
the provocative circumstances under
Which tho meeting was proclaimed. al,
so outlining the objects Of the league,
home rule. Catholic university, tinan-
cial reform, compulsory purchase-ob-
irrtS. which, it is said. had the support
respectively of McsSrs. Gladstone. Bal,
four. Sir Henry Clarke and Mr.. Il. w.
Russell. Dealing with the future acts
of the government towards the league,
it says: The Times blamcs the govern
mcnt for failure to crush the orsaniza-
ton earlier. and calls upon Mr.. Wynd-
ham not to let the crimes act grow
rusty-an appeal which comes with Il
particularly good grace from the news
paper that was betrayed into such I'M
usual warmth in defence of the rights
of public meeting in the TranSvaal Il
year and Il half ago. Mr.. Wyndham
cannot do better than to follow the ad-
vice OF the Times. Anybody who
knows anything of the history of Ire
land is aware that persecution from
the castle is the hest security against
the fatigue and apathy which some
times steal over Il great national move
mcnt there. There is no country in
which constitutional agitation thrivcs
better under official efforts at suppress
sion; and il there was anywhere in Ire
land a hesitation to believe that the
politicians were at last united, and
that the new league was Il serious and
an effective organization which Ma
tionalst lrisllmcn should support, that
lingering doubt has been dssipated by
MIR. Balfour's action in proclaiming its
Wicklow meeting. The government
cannot hope to smother the United
Irish League by proclamations. Let
Mr.. Wyndham respond to the invita-.
ton of the Times, and the police in
Ireland will not have single idle Sun.
day, and the league will not have Il
single lukewarm county With half
dozen members in prison and the cas-
tie assailing those elementary rights OF
free speech, which, as we We're re.
minded by the Imperialists' last year
are the birthright of civilized men. the
old times will reappear in Ireland, and
the old spirit Of unity and passionate
Nationalism distracted for ten years
| by bitter quarreis will rcasscrt itself
The truth is that the government
has to face very different Ireland
| from that which Mr.. Balfour set out to
coax into contentmcnt five years ago
The Nationalist are now united
body. for after the recent election Mr.
Healy's prctcnSions to serious leader.
ship, or rivalry. are, in spite of his
brilliant wit, negligible quantity
And the pr%r teal land policy on which
the United Irish League is to coucen-
trate its efforts commands the allegl.
ance of many Irishmen outside the
Nationalist party. Mr.. I. w. Russell's
case does not stand alone.