The Irish standard., 1902-09-06
DIVISION AMONG IRISH PATRIOTS.

The Irish Standard has received
several copies of the Boston Globe
of Aug. 2G which contains a letter
from Mr. Patrick Egan, eX-minister
to Chill, announcing his retirement
from the Clan-na- Gael organization
because of it's antagonism to the
United Irish League. This paper will
keep neutral on lisSansions among the
Irish in this country. The Irish at
home were badly divided for ten
years over the leadership of Charles
S. Parnell, and it is our sincere wish
that the Irish in America will not
initiate them in keeping divided over
physical force VS.. contitutional agita-
ton for the deliverance of their nj
tive land from the Saxon yoke. Let
them heed the words of their national
poet who sings:
"They say twas fate, hayward
fate,
But while our tyrants Joined in hate.
We never joined in love-"
Much as we are interested in the
cause of the Irish people in their
struggle for liberty at home, we can
not as a friend of the race enter into
hnf
sincere Irishmen in this country who
love Ireland and hate England, but
are divided as to the most ei1icacious
means of raising Ireland to the rank
of selfgoverning nations. AS far as
we can determine, the majority of our
readers between the Mississippi river
and the Pacific ocean have no con-
fidence whatever in parliamentary
agitation for the redress of Irish
wrongs at the hands of Il hostile as
sembly in London. They believe
that England will never do full, just
ice to Ireland until she is compelled
to do it by force. All arguments for
constitutional agitation will not
change their views, and The Irish
Standard is not inclined to blame
them for adhering to their principles.
During the leadership of the late
Mr.. Parnell the fighting element of
the Irish race in America supported
his policy, but his successor, John
Redmond is considered different
However, lie stood by Parnell until
his death, and the mantle Of the
great chieftan has fallen on his
shoulders. He has said or done moth
ing to forfeit the confidence of the
Irish people at home during his par
liamentary career, and he has given
every evidence Of being fearless
and brilliant leader ut Westminster.
Patrick Egan has been Il revolution
list all his life and is so still, but he
believes in helping Ireland in finan-
cial way. He thinks that the Or
ganiZatiOn from which he has seeded
should have done something during
the AnglO-Boer War. On that point
he says:
I'VE find that during all that time
of England's agony-the period of the
greatest difficulty that she has ever
been forced to face in all her blood
stained history, which should have
been the ideal season of Ireland's
opportunity, our supposedly belliger-
ent organization steadily maintained
policy of innocuous desuetude-as
against our British enemies; but that
against the United Irish League. and
against some of the most tried and
trusted men of the Irish race-men
who We're and are being prosecuted,
prosecuted. enjoined, bounded. blud-
geoned and imprisoned by England's
minions in Ireland, the policy of the
directing spirits of our organization
has been. and is to-day, one of bitter
hatred and viciously active hostility.
No opportunity has been missed, or is
being missed, to oppose, to thwart,