The Irish standard., 1902-07-12

to allow lis to have as owners the till
ers Of the land, to have an Irish parlia
ment that will give our people al
authority over the police and till,
judiciary and all government in the
nation, and when equipped With COM
parative freedom, then would he the
time for those who think we should
destroy the last link that binds us to
England to operate by whatever means
they think best. to achieve that great
and desirable end?
You Irish-Americans have net at.
tanned high positions here. have not
become mayors of great cities. senators
and congressman, moulders and guiders
of public opinion in this great land
of free opportunity; you have not
sprung into the foremost position in
this great free republic by insane meth
DDS OF lack of logical appreciation of
events. No; it is because they have
applied practical common sense to the
affairs OF American government and to
the functions of building great pro
gressive communities wherever they
are found: and we ask you to apply
the same common sense to the Irish
question Which you have so splendidly
applied to THE work OF building up
affairs here (applause).
Gentlemen, l am quite sure l speak
for the United Irish League on this
matter. Although l am the youngest
member of the Irish party, can speak
for the party: that. 50 far us they are
concerned, you can have no fear that
they will compromise on their national
principles, let the result he what it
may. 1t is easy for men TO talk. as |
have heard them say. Of members If
parliament tElncng luxurious attend
ance at Westminster.
They don't tell us about the luXuri-
Gus dancing Irish members are doinx
in prison, they don't. tell us about Irish
members who are not talking but
working out revolution, who are now
wearing prison garb. eating prison fare
and doing all the prisoners Of the land
must do. because they have manfully
fought the battalicns of England on
Irish hills (applausc,.
Physical force is not the insane up
rising Of Il people unprcparrd for war,
but it is the reasoned application of
courage in emergencies where that
courage will result in something god;
and that is the physical force which, in
my Judgment. should be m st properly
applied, and Irish members of paria-
mcnt must meet the batt:lions of Eng
| land OH every field and hillside in Ire
land when they are provoked into it,
when England's battalons are badly
needed elsewhere, when they have
been sent to Ireland. as within the
past few months, to break UP the
inlumit;lblc and passionate desire Of
the Irish people for liberty (applausc).
| Gentlemen. there is no reason in the
world why those VIII, believe in lcvc-
luionary methods should not stand by
| the movement today rs they did in the
Land League days. There cam be no
less one of them presses the other into
fight. and it will not be the United
| Irish League that will provoke amy sec
ton Of our countrympn into II warfare
as to the means and methods bywllich
Ireland should be fir. ell.
Lot IN" say that in the days of the
Land League the physical force move
ment grew into unsurpassed dimen-
Sions from the fact that there must be
who are not members of any org:,nizl-
ton, who came for the first time to
hear the story of Ireland's glories, her
sud past and what she has suffered by
British rule. These meetings have
been inspiring forces that have en-
lar%cd the ranks of the fighting men
who hold revolutionary views in Amer
lea. Aud | do not see why today the
same spirit should MT inspire the men
who are opposed to IFS, Knowing as |
DO that 50 far as doing them harm.
either in membership or influence, we
will strengthen their power as !, strong
and aggressive influence here in this
great republic.
In coming to America we perfectly
we'll understood how great would be
our difficulty in the performance of
our work. But let me frankly say
tonight that those difficulties have been
met with the enthusiastic and warm
support of the vast masses of the peo-
pie forever faithful to Ireland and
the principles of Irish nationality
Wherever we have gone they have raj
lied to the standard Of the League and
have given sympathetic ear to our APP
peal. Archbishops, bishops, priests and
public men alike have responded will
a magnanimity which is creditable tt
that spirit of liberty which burns il
American hearts, THAT spirit which
they would like to see permeating tho
ancient soil of Ireland (lpplausc). This
growing enthusiasm, not only among
Irishmcn, but among Americans not OF
Irish descent, is the best proof that VIZ