The Irish standard., 1902-08-23
obs Of all pre-existing Irish organic

} ations.
1t was with that Idea in view tina,
the people of Ireland decided after
careful elaboration to form a United
Irish League. an authorized body del
esated to speak for the people of Ire
land both in it's demands upon the
English government and in it's appeal
to the people of the Irish race in
other lands. No man, therefore. can
question the authority of the United
irish League; it is directly from, of
ana for the Irish people. Its duly ac-
credited delegates organized an Amer
lean auxiliary branch of the United
Irish League, ano that branch,
through its officers, is tie medium
through which the United Irish
League of Ireland speaks to the peo-
pie OF this country; so that, so far as
authority is concerned, no organiza-
ton in this country represents the
voice of united Ireland as truly as the
United Irish League of America.
1t follows, with the supreme conf,
dcnce existing between the executives
OF the United Irish League in Ireland
ana those of tins country, when Col.
John f. Finerty issues call it is the
voice of Ireland that appeals to you.
The United Irish League of America
then offers no apology for it's exist
ence: it has usurped no authority: it
has curtailed no rights of others: its
members surrender no principle of po-
lltlcal doctrine: they are free to advo-
cate in their respective organizations
their cherished hopes and plans. The
only qualification for membership is :,
desire and inclination to assist the
people in Ireland to bury landlordism
and make that country worth living
| in.
There are millions of Irish people in
this country, not over two per cent
OF whom are enrolled in Irish organ
iZations, and most of whom are will
ing and ready to assist in an omen
movement that promises to better the
conditions Of the people in Ireland. 1t
would be worse than folly, it would
be criminal for us in movement O.
this Kind to work upon lines as re.
stricted as those of secret Irish organ
izations. The United Irish League is
as open as the characteristics of the
race; it's principles are broad enough
to embrace the honest cooperation of
Alll freshmen no matter how widely di-
vergent upon other phases of the Irish
question.
Tle old fight under the banner of
Parnell made it possible for over CO.
600 Irish farmers to purchase and own
their own farms under the optional
sale of the landlords; the new crusade
under Redmond will drive from the
land the last vestige of landlortlism
and compel those vampires to retire
forever. The public good of Ireland
requires that the present system of
land tenure be abolished, that Ire
land being an agricultural country
should support upon its lands the peo-
pie of Ireland. that the fruits of their
labor should be spent among the pro-
ducers thereof.
. The United Irish League of Ireland
therefore. demands that the yOlun-
tary purchase act he superseded by a
compulsory feature under which the
value of the land will be fixed by
commission. and the holders thereof
may become the owners in fee by the
government guaranteeing the payment
us is now done under the existing vol
untary sales. So that upon the sue
cess of the campaign just entered
upon by THE United Irish League de-
ponds the question whether landlord
ism as it has existed for centuries in
Ireland shall cease forever
So closely allied to the question of
landlordism as to be ilseparable from
the result Of the issue is the veXed
problem of emigration. Settle those
two questions right and you stand
upon the threshold of Irish independ-
ence. Allow the United Irish League
to be defeated on those issues now
and you set back upon the dial of na-
tional progress the hands of oppor-
tunity more than generation.
The line of battle is drawn; Ire
land has spoken; what shall our an
swer be? Shall it be distrust? Shall
it be a halting apology for broken
faith? Shall it be cowardice that flies
in the face of the enemy? God for
bid Out of the depths of every Irish
heart will come the prayer for Ire
lands triumph. Out of THE CLEAN of
every eye will flash the fire that re-
fleets the determination of the soul.
Out of every throat rolled into Il vol
ume that will thunder above the
waves that wash her coast will come
the spontaneous answer of twelve
million Irish American hearts, plcdg-
ing their voice. their purse. their
hearts. their all, in defense of mother
land.