The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-01-04

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ILL.,; Roger Vail, Minneapolis, MINI.
General Charles d. Curtis, Helena
Mont, executive committee.
The provincial executive committee
held its first meeting on Dec. 10 in the
Hoffman House. Colonel John Il. Fin
crty, of Chicago, president of the new
league. presiding. \ constitution anG
bylaws, based on the lines of the ole
Land League organization, were adopt
ed. and arrangements made to or,
ganize the country in support of the
Irish leaders and the United Irish
League in Ireland. which is now
arousing the vigorous hostility of the
English government.
The constitution adopted is essen,
tally democratic and calculated to en-
courage support. not alone from men
and women Of Irish blood, but from
friends of freedom generally in the
United States.
The lines on which branches of the
league are to be established were laid
down broadly. and it is anticipated
that within Il short time the founda
ton Of an organization which will be
as strong a support to the Irish cause
as that which supported Parnell will
exist throughout the United States
and Canada.
The executive committee was on
gagged until IL late hour in drafting an
address to the people of this country
on which they base their claim to
active support of the Irish cause at
the present time. The document,
which is likely to become historic, is
as follows:
Friends and Follow Countrymcn:
Ireland, by her chosen and accredited
ENJOYS. who recently visited the
United States and Canatla. has called
upon us, her kith and kin ON this con-
tincnt, and on all lovers of liberty. to
aid her in winning back from England
the national independence of which
she has hccn so uniustly deprived. and
also the fertile lands. the natural hcri-
tagc of her people, of which successive
crown conliscations. the result of vio-
lated treaties, robbed their ancestors
The grievance under which Ireland,
after tho lapse of generations, still
lahors, would justify an appeal to
arms, were her military resources and
opportunities equal to her wrongs and
her resentment. Were she in posi-
ton to draw the sword, or use the
rifle. with even a reasonable chance
of success, we would prefer that meth
cd of obtaining her rights by avcng-
ing the insults heapcd upon her by a
rcmOrSclcSs government, to any other
But we know that she is not, Mt pres
cnt-untraincd, unarmcd, and without
formidable allies, as her people are
in Il position to cope with the land ant
sea forces of England, which occupy
her f0rtrcsscs, command her scapOrts
and can be heavily reinforced, within
Il few hours, from the military depots
and naval reserves of her OppressOr.
We neither dcnouncc nor rcnounct
the principle of an appeal to physical
force, under favorable conditions, but
we are fully aware that the applica
ton Of such force for the obtaining of
the rights OF Ireland does not seen
Immediately practicable. We have al
ready stated why.
Must we, therefore, brood in sullel
silence over the grievances still en-
dured by our kindred in Ireland, while
England is left to pursue absolutel,
unchecked by any force whatever, hcl
program of the determination of the
Irish people on their native soil?
Mr.. Redmond ana his associates tolt
us fully and frankly, during their re
cent tour of this country, that the CHIEF
cause of the dependency over the fu
turc of Ireland is the strong tide OF
emigration which ever sweeps til,
young, vigorous, and reproductive OF
both sexes from her shores gradual,
but surely reducing her population tt
two Glasses prohibited by nature from
increasing and multipIying-thc age,
and the immature.
This threatening tide of emigration
proceeds mainly from the agricultural
classes, because, by a singular ccon0nl
ic contradiction HlIe result of Eng
lands selfish policy and of Landlord
rapncity), the poorer lands of IRELAND
are Ovcr-pOpnlHtcd, while the richer
are mostly given to the beasts of tho
field
In no other country on the globe j.
this sad picture d-popu,al
congestion in the desert parts, Will,
he productive sections feed 1ocks am
nerds for the English market With
in sixty years millions OF black cattl,
ana sheep have taken the places OF
mat superb pcasantry who rallied
around Daniel OConncll by the hun
lrrd thousand at MnlIow, at Tara
ana MullAghmast. or these, undc,
the pressure of artificial famine, myri
ads persisted in the black DAYS OF
1917, and millions, fleeing from British
rule as from Il fatal pestilcncc, found
refuge, employment, homes, liberty
and citizenship in this ana other fla.
la,