The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-11-15


the enormous loss the absence Of such
Il university entails. Irish education
is like an arterial system without q
central beating heart. There is Ger.
tain advance and then sudden stop.
page. The youth of Ireland gifted be-
yond most nations with intelligence
vivacity and mental alertness) are
suddenly confronted with a blanS
wall. The teachers, the managers OF
the schools, the professional and mid
die classes, those who might study
technical knowledge and foster indus
tries remain in the modern sense OF
the word entirely uneducated. AS fa1
as practical science is concerned Ire
land is living in the Middle Ages. Nc
permanent educational advance is pos.
sible till the demand for National
University is satisfied.
Behind this lies the question of the
national life and it's expression in the
National parliament. Many with whom
1 conversed assured me that with the
settlement Of the land question the
present proprietors would cease to agi-
tate for Home Rule, and that the ma
ton would settle down in contentment.
l am unable to share this view. Ger
tainly the raw edge Of discomfort at
which the people are continually fret
ting is almost entirely agrarian.
can well believe that more orthodox
and less impatient methods of agita-
| ton might succeed the present violent
appeal. But that the persistent pa
tient demand of united people for
the restoration Of their National parlia-
ment would continue have no manner
of doubt whatever; no manner Of doubt
| either that such demand would soon
become manifest as completely recon-
clable with security of empire. The
Irish for the most part would be loyal
if England would only allow them
| il we did not continually thrust them
into the position of choice between 10y
atty to their race and religion and 10y
atty to their conquerors. Nothing was
more pathetic in my latest visit to Ire
land than the sight of the same audi
cnce cheering vehemently alike the vic
tories of the Beers and the herosm of
their own soldiers in the battles
against them. "They can't get on with
out the Irish.' heard as the continual
boast Of the peasants, and many of the
| priests and others seemed convinced
| that the fcats of the I'ublnS and the
| Inniskilings must have made a differ
encc in the English attitude. and that
the revelation of their worth and graft
itllde for their assistance must have
impressed England with the value Of
gaining the sympathy and affection of
the people producing these Invaluable
soldiers.
Such in brief are the results Of my
own experience. am aware that
these are not the popular opinions
The clamor is all for the old policy of
crushing and stamping under. "rhc
Times which knows it's audience, is
starting Il fresh campaign in favor of
the suppression of the league and OF
calumny against the Irish leaders. On
this particular question. since the
greedy acceptance of the PiSott forg
cries, it possesses a splendid record OF
consistency. All it's conclusions arc
vitated by two fundamental fallacies
First, it continually asserts that tho
Irish discomfort is a product not of q
body or mind diseased, but of agita
tors who foment disturbance for mon
etary gain. This accusation can be
treated with contempt; no one serious
ly believes that John Dillon or Michae
Davitt or John Redmond are fattenine
on the pay Of the peasantry; the Irist
party, whatever it's deficiencies, is Ger
tainly the cleanest-handed united body
that has ever sat in the imperial par
lament. The second fallacy is quite
honestly believed by many educated
persons. 1t is, that the present lead
ers do not really represent the nation
that they mainthin their position by
terrorism; that there is great body Of
moderate opinion now afraid to speak
but capable Of being called forth BY
genial fostering on the part of England
to overturn the united demand for self
government. A few weeks in IRELAND
would dispcl this fond Illusion. Crit
icism of the Parliamentary party an(
its methods there is. indeed. enough
Ireland has always been the home o
free criticism. Some lament it's mod
GRAFTON: some think it's methods misdi
rcctcd: many regret the absence Of ,
Parnell. But apart from such criti
cism as this, am convinced that tn
Irish party represents the unchange,
demand of the whole of Ireland out
side the suburbs Of Dublin and tn
corner of Ulster. The English gov
. eminent long refused to acknowledg
the accented leaders Of the Boer ma
ton. Mr.. Chamberlain threw repeate
scorn on the idea Of negotiating wit
= them; but peace was only renders
possible through their official recogn
', ton. And no peace is in the least dc
gree possible in Ireland till the Ems