The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-09-14

area of Ireland what national parlia-
ment would do for the country at
large. These county councils being
freely elective on broad franchise
have enabled the people to sweep the
Nationalist classes completely out
Of the administration Of county affairs.
r. N. Cts Mr.. Balfour the ac-
knowledged leader Of the Conservative
party in the House of Commons?
M. Dyes: he is by all odds the
most intellectual, the most skilful, the
most adroit of the government leaders.
When he first appeared above the par
Elementary horizon he was greeted
with ineXhaustible laughter and loud
cries of CLARA" and Nancy from the
Irish and Liberal benches whenever
he ventured on the troubled waters Of
debate. The House, however, soon
began to appreciate his really great
gifts, and no man now believes him
to be either incapable or insincere.
r. N. CA moment ago. Mr.. Davitt,
you spoke of the cohesiveness of the
Nationalist party in parliament, but
how can that be reconciled with the
statements frequently made by Eng
fish newspapers and correspondents
that Mr.. Timothy Healey has sepa
rate following?
NJ. D.-That statement is entirely
ut,.,,n ie, cfr
and there are those in the party who
desire his ascendancy, but these, with
Mr.. Healey himself, have all sub
sclibed to the aims and leadership of
the United Irish League.
II. n. Care you in favor of the
Gaelic revival as represented by Mr..
Douglas Hyde, the poet Yeats novelist
Moore, and others?
Nj. D.-Yes: heartily approve of it.
Its beneficial effects ON the National
cause can hardly be overestimated.
advocated the study of Erse in the
early eighties and l am glad to say
that it has now taken what appears
to be a permanent hold on the people.
Even the present chief secretary, Mr..
Wyndham, has advocated the revival
of the glories that are locked in the
ancient language. Great praise is due
Mr.. O'Neill Russell and also Bishop
O'Domnell, of Raphoe, Father Hickey,
of Maynooth, and Father Lyons, as
well as many other members of the
clergy for their unceasing efforts to
revive Il language SO rich in tale and
legend.
II. N. C.-You are opposed to emf
grafton from Ireland, Mr.. Davitt.
What steps would you take TO check
what you regard as so great an evil?
Nj. d. look upon the continuous
emigration of the youth of Ireland TO
this country as -really the most serious
grievance of the Ireland of today and
should that emigration continue with
out abatement during the next genera
ton it will be a calamity to the entire
race. 1t is injurious to Ireland from
every point of view. 1t deprives the
country OF it's Drawn and sinew and
brain, while it leaves behind the aged,
infirm and Those who are SO impover-
ished as to be unable to secure trans
portatiOn. Moreover, the necessity for
emigration no longer exists. The con-
cessions Wrung from the English gov
eminent have had a really beneficial
effect on the agricultural and indus
trial interests of the country, and on
the other hand the rapid absorption
of Uncle Sams free lands, and the
congestion and poverty prevalent in
many of your large cities show that
this country of yours is no longer an
Eldorado for the European immigrant.
l see no more effective way of check
ing the flood tide that is depicting the
old land than some action on the part
of your 1rish-American clergy and
representative laymen backed by Il
drlendly press, cooperating with like
influences at home. If they would put
the real facts as to wage-earning, ETC.,
before the youth of Ireland it would
leliu 10 connie tHt NOllllue Oh eullSrt
ton within rational limits.
Il. N. CIVIL not emigration con-
tinlc so long as Ireland is wholly de-
pendent upon agriculture for the main
tcnance of her people?
NJ. D.-Normal emigration will con-
tinle. that is the drifting away of the
surplus OF the population to other
lands and better conditions OF life. 1t
would be Illogical to object to such
emigration. What we have to deal
with at present is abnormal emigra
ton. We believe that If the land
problem is fully and finally solved and
land thrown open to industrial OccuG-
ton without the fear of rack rent or
eviction that our people will remain
at home and seek their livelihood in
ttlling the soil, the healthiest and
wholesomest means of sustaining life.
The increase Of the manufacturing
industries would undoubtedly retain a
large portion of the poulation who
leave lis now, and l trust that Amerl,
can capitalists will soon see that Ire
land is for America the key to all
Europe.
Il. N. C.-Would not the establish.
nent of a steamship line (Which has
often been projected) to land in Gal
yUNv fhnrnhv rn1nciOrr tho oooo,, WOW