The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-20
IRISH LEAGUE MEETS.
President John f. Finnerty De-
liyers an Address.

eAA40AS u TIE SOL 10 own the idnQ Iney
cultivate. Now 10000 Irish husbandmen
are farmer proprictors and they are so
because OF The labors and sacrifices of
Parnen and Davitt, OBrien and Dillon,
Biggar and Redmond. who followed in
the track OF the pioneers for Irish
liberty.
Today there are other Irish patriots,
the brothers and friends of 1reland's
delegates TO the conventions, wearing
the conVicts clothes and performing
hard labors in Irish jails, because they
have dared to tell the English prime
minister that his rule in Ireland is
founded on invasion, usurpation, con-
nscariOn and the breach of treaties,
which. even savage virtue would have
respected. but which English greed and
jealousy systematically violated.
The Anglo-Nosrnans, at the close of
the twelfth century, introduced their
foul feudal system into Ireland. Before
they came. the Irish lands were the
property of all the people, and were
held IN trust by monarch, prince and
chief But the invaders did not respect
the breton laws, which governed an
Gent Ireland, and were in the main,
models of wisdom and justice. On the
contrary they OverrOde them from the
first and after Nanquishing fathers and
DDS, they married the daughters by force
and laid claim to the lands which was
the common property of all the Irish
people and not of a favored and privi-
legged few.
ireland did not tamely submit to this
new and violent condition of affairs. but
as ..istory tells has fought long and
persistently for liberty The Anglo
Norman feudal system was paramount
in Ireland until Psrnel1. supported by
tie Land league, of which the United
Irish league is the lineal successor. made
q breach il its brazen shield. Catholics
and Professionals alike were prosecuted
and the outrages forced them to emil
CRATE to the American colonies, where
they took their part in the war for in
de3endence.
Since January 1, 1901, ireland has been
to all intents and purposes an Englisl.
province The union act wiped out, as
far as parchment and seal could do it,
her distinctive nationality: but the
hearts and hands of the bulk of the
Irish people have been and are inhamed
and raised against the provincial condi
ton. They have not accepted the brand
of social and political inferiority.
English rule stands self-cOndemned by
the official reports of its own servants,
which show that Ireland has today q
smaller population than she had in 1901.
ana lhat within the last sixty years l.
100000 of her people starved to death;
more than 2,000,0 900 We're eVicted from
their holdings, and 100000 at least
sought refuge from British tyranny in
this and other free countries. A gov
eminent, whether native or foreign that
could and can find no remedy for this
wholesale destruction of an ancient and
highly endowed people has no right to
exist 1t has sinned against the benefi-
cence of God and the inherent rights of
mankind
Under more favorable conditions. the
irish people would be entirely justified
in 1esOrting to arms to end this huge
iniquity Right and justice are on their
side and present opportunities alone are
venting. With a powerful ally to fur
n1sh her with the nucleus of an army
and with the munitions of war Ireland
DX putting "a hoo led I'M he,
field, could win her independence. but
without such an ally nothing short of a
miracle gould render her victorious The
men upon Irish ground are the men to
decide the policy of their country. So
long as they keen the green flag hving
and make no comprise of their right to
be free and independent. their American
k1nsmen, are, and Will be their allies
and auxiliaries Ireland must fight Eng
land with such weapons as she has
ready. She must not submit to be ex-
| tinguished while waiting an opportunity
to strike SIZE is threatened with one
great and pressing danger-extinction
/ by emigration.
AS her manufacturers. except in the
4 line of linen and a few other staples. are
almost destroyed by English COMPETE
/ ton, which has every advantage that
wealth, plant and skill can give her
young people are, in great measure
cut off from skilled labor pursuits and
! agriculture is the only other alternative
/ of employment. The best lands of Ire
| land are held by alien and absentee
| landlords. The worst are occupied by
the tillers of the soil. Between these two
| classes, there is an irreDressible conflict
The Irish landlord are offered settlement
/ tentamount to forty years rental for
the lands they hold, in general by the
law of conquest or the process of con
fscatiOn. These lands belorg by here
ditary right to the Irish people. But the
Irish people do not ask for anew con-
fiscation, but for condemnation and
| purchase by loan on terms of easy re
payment. When. instead Of $4,000 $780,
| GOO heads OF Irish tenant families be-
| come proprietOrs. tourniquet will have
| applied to the bleeding arteries of Ire
land The young people the pride and
| flower of their country. will remain at
home, and, beneath the genial skies of
| their native land. make her fertile soil
blossom as a rose. And with prosperity
will come liberty. its handmaiden
England herself must be growing tirec
of the cruel Irish landlords, whom she up
holds by her sheriffs and her soldiers
Balfour and Wyndham are making last
effort in behalf of their clients the land
lords They have dug up the gaunt anc
CHASTITY remains of old Edward l. "the
hammer of the Scotch and with this
rusty, rotten old hammer they are at
tempting to put down the United IrisF
league. They have hammered a dozer
Irish members Of parliament and about
three hundred local leaders into Jail
The meeting today, said President Fin
nerty, was to express the sentiments o.
the American irish on the Irish question
and to welcome Ireland's chief and hi,
Acknowledgements. A year has not ye
elapsed since the United Irish League OF
America was temporarily organized. II
spite of senseless opposition in some quar-
ters and unmanly apathy in others it ha.
increased and multiplied throughout tn.
American continent, and has Furnishes
the true men in Ireland with a respect
able amount of the sinews of war to carr,
on in a manly manner the noble strug
gle for land and liberty.
The Professionals of nc north and tn,
Catholics of the south have joined hand.
for the salvation of their country, which
presages a long day Of glory and pros
perifv