Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-21
time FOR ACTION!
An Appeal Issued by United
Irish League
To All 1Irish-Americans and Friends
to Join and Contribute
That the Fight for Ireiand's independence May
Be Successful

New York Dec. 20-The provisional
executive committee OF the United Irish
League of America. formed by the Irish
envoys Redmond. McHugh and O'Don-
nell before leaving for ireland, held its
first meeting, Thursday afternoon. al
| the y Hotfman house. John +. Finrety ot
Chicago, president of the newly organ
iZca lea que. presided, and most of the
u original members of the executive
! committee We're in attendance. Several
+! names We're added 10 the executive
committee.
! 4 constitution and bylaws, based or
the lines OF the old Land League Or
ganization were adopted and arrange
ments made to organize the country III
support of the Irish Leaders and the
United Irish League in Ireland which
is now arousing the vigorous hostility
Of the English government.
The executive committee was en-
gagged until a late hour in drafting an
address to the people of this country
on which they base their claim to ac-
tive support OF the Irish cause at the
present time. The address starts out
with this declaration:
ireland, by her chosen and accrcdt-
ed ENJOYS, who recently visited the
United States and Canada. has called
upon US, her kith and kin on this con-
tinent, and on all lovers of liberty, to
aid her il winning back from England
the national independence of which she
has been SO unjuStly deprived and also
the fertile lands, the natural heritage
of ner people, Of which successive
crown contiScationS-the result of viO-
lated reaties-robhed their ancestors.
The grievances under which Ireland
after the lapse Of generations, still Ia
hors, would Justify an appeal to arms,
we're her military resources and orpor-
tunities equal to her wrongs and her
resentment.
Were she in position to draw the
sword or use the rifle with even a rea-
Sonabie chance Of success, we would
prefer that method OF obtaining her
rights and avenging the insults heaped
upon her by remorseleSs government
to any other. But We know that she
is not. AT present. unframed. unarmed
and without formidable allies as her
people are, in a position to cope with
the land and sea forces OF England
which occupy her fortresSeS, command
her seaportS and can be heavily rein
forced. within few hours. from the
military iepots and naval reserves of
her Oppressors.
We neither denounce nor renounC.
the principle of an appeal to physical
force; under favorable conditions, but
We are fully aware that the application
CT Sucn force for the obtaining of tn.
rights of Ireland does not seem lmme-
diately practicable We have already
stated why
The address then endorses what Mr..
Redmond and his associates said as TO
the important part emigration is play
ing in keeping Ireland down. and con-
oipdes this portion with the words:
But although often baffied Ireland
is by no means defeated. in a final
sehse. Leaders have risen, fallen and
died. Generations of Irishmen and
friShWOmen have been born and have
passed away, either on the native soil
or in exile. but the cause of Ireland
has not, therefore, failed and will not
pass away. while the race remains
faithful to the cradleland and the seas
that break upon her shores proclaim in
the mighty accents of the Creator that
He designed her to be an Irish nation.
not British province
From the above paragraph is then
drawn this conclusion:
The great task then. of this, our
own generation, is to strive and root
the Irish people in their soil'-the work
so glorously begun by Parnell and
now so ably prosecuted by Redmond.
Davit;. OBrien. Dillon and their as
sistants. The young rural people of
ireland must be given a living interest
il, the land that gave them birth. In
order that they may cleave unto the
soil they must be made. like the
Frenchman, the Hollander and the
Boer. farmer proprietors. All people
who own the soil they till have illus
trated their patriotism by magnificent
resistance to tyrants. This, allied to
the underlying cause of Irish national
independence, is the noble mission of
the United Irish League of Ireland.
We. American-Irish, are hOnored in be-
ing invited and in fact commissioned,
by its leaders. to supplement its good
work by forming throughout this vast
continent an auxiliary organization in
full harmony with that of which John
+. Redmond, the undisputed leader of
a united Ireland, is president
1t is our duty to sustain Ireland in
her chosen policy which in no way con-
llicts with our national sentiments
either as friends of Ireland or as Amer
ican citizens"
The address then calls upon Irish
Americans to form, as soon as may be
possible branches of the United Irish
-.
their Irish brethren in the cause of
national liberty and agrarian reform.
II concludes with fervent appeal to
every man and woman in America who
is friendly to the Irish cause, to join
the United Irish League of America.