The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-16

ed by the Irish people at TIE last general
election.
i have no intention of finding fault with
any section OF lrishmen who may not agree
with the policy of the party l represent. ]
respect to the opinions of those who may
be in opposition TO our policy. AT the same
time 1 think 1 am justified IN saying that
the same respect shall be shown for tie
opinions of the Irish members Of Parlia-
ment. representing, as they do unitedIy.
the expressed desire Of vast majority Of
the Irish people in the old country.
Irish More United Than, Ever.
1.-THE first part of the message desire to
deliver is that the Irish people to-day,
perhaps they have ever been before. The
feuds and factions, of the past have
been forgotten, and upon the platform
of the Parnellite and Anti-Parnellite par
ties stand absolutely united. In the House
Of Commons and at home In 1relana the
Irish people and their national representa-
tives are to-day working with the utmost
harmony.
The national spirit Of Ireland was never
people for British rule probably IS stronger
than ever 1t was and the resolves OF the
d more determined e than e s ever. At t the % end Of
a hundred years Of British rule, the ma
tional feeling of Ireland is as bright as It
was in the days of the rebellion of '9S. By
every test, there has been no falling away
from the national idea
Work of National Organization.
AT all the elections in Ireland. whether
parliamentary or municipal, the people in
variably refused to elect candidates other
promisingly to use their authority to pro
mote the establishment Of a free Parliament
for the Irish people. The union of the
anee of the spirit of high patriotism which
animates the people are unquestionably due
tG aa WSb of the ilsb
which is In all respects a worthy successor
of the Land League movement established
nearly quarter of a century ago.
g! am aware that there are those who
believe that not by constitutional agitation
can be achieved the freedom of Ireland !
can only say that for the last twenty
years very many substantial reforms have
been won by agitation for the Irish people;
OF the strong combined movement in Ire
land, together With Independent action in
the British Parliament, will in the future
achieve many measures calculated to i'm
prove the lives of the people and to
ment.
concerned, believe that the vast majority
OF the young men of Ireland would be quite
prepared to take the field and fight for
their liberty IL any suitable chance present
ed itself The spirit of the nation as l
the lessons s $, Of Is Emmet and of Tone, and of Of
the Irish race in the old country. Ireland
of to-day is disarmed. and an appeal to
force without preparation and suitable
means would be disastrous. And while
the members of my party wish success to
all sections Of Irishmen who have for their
aim the welfare of the country, they be-
lieve. that under present circumstances the
continuance of an agitation upon these
lines Is essential for the protection of the
Irish people and cannot, under any cfrcunl-
stances, interfere with the actions of any
set OF 1rishmen who may desire to pro-
mote the cause OF the country by methods
which may appear more efficient to them.
Many Good Results Achieved,
ALREADY the United Irish League has
achieved many good results. Upon the land
question 1t has welded into one body the
Catholics of the South and the Protestants
of the North. with the result that there Is
an immediate prospect of the final abolition
OF lantAordism and of making Of the ttllers
of the soil the owners thereof. Our move
ment. from this point alone, would be well
worth the support by all lovers of Ireland.
but our movement Is not bounded by the
land question. The first item OF our pro-
Eramme Is the restoration of our National
Parliament. Every action of the Irish
members in Parliament and in ireland is
with view to promoting that end.
Il am aware that there are those who
can see no use In the existence OF an inde-