The Irish standard., 1902-07-12
Presented as a Specimen of the Oratory of
the Youngest Member of
the Irish Party.
Believes That Physical Force Movement
is Good Thing in Erin at
the Proper Time.

instance, always cooperating in every.
thing that goes for the public good of
Ireland, remembering that while they
are proud OF their own civic dignity,
they are still true in their allegiance
to the sacred cause of Irish nationality
lchrcrs).
Gentlemen, il may too, be some en-
couragcncnt to you tn know that since
many of you have left Belfast bet
ter ANA Il higher ana n hoicr spirit
prevails in that community which for
almost century has been the tlleater
wherein have been enacted so many
diSgraccful scenes of religious bgotry
and intolerance, so ScnndalOus in a pro-
grcssvc age of national progress. You
VIII be glad to know that that spirit
has fast been dying out, and there pre-
walls now more liberation among Prot
cstnnts and Catholics, a growing feel
ing OF trust and brotherhood among
men differing I'm religious persuasion
(chccrs). The people Of Belfast have
come to see that there can he no
equality i'm citizenship, no mutual
trust, no purity Of administration and
no municipal progress so long as their
city is torn asunder by discreditable
feuds, a disgrace to the community
in which sucll things were possible.
Therefore I think it is encouraging to
find that better and llolicr spirit pre-
vHis and that Catholics and Protest
ants are swiftly coming to realize
what Thomas Davis has so beautifully
stated In the declarations:
"What matter that Mt different sllrines
We pray unto one God?
What matter that at different times
Our fathers own the sod?
In fortune and In name we're bound
BY stronger links than steel;
And neither can be safe nor sound
But in the others veal"
cloud npplausc.)
That is the spirit which is largely
dominating the civic life of Belfast to-
day, and when the better understand
ling is more thoroughly perfected I
look to better chances higher pros-
pccts ana nobcr opportunities for the
Catholic people in Belfast who have
SO long been oppressed by this intOler.
ant and bigotcd spirit in the commu-
nifty.
Now. gentlemen, ! know that in
asking me here tonight you have asked
me to come here. not only because l
am Il fclIow-citizcn of yours, but be-
cause | happen to be one Of those ap-
pointed by the Irish Race Convention
to represent the Irish people on behalf
of the United Irish League feel that
you should be proud of the fact that
the convention in Dublin selected a
Belfast man for the purpose Of carry
'INhis tribute was by no means u per-
sOnal one to me; it was the tribute of
the nations gratitude to the men who
through good and evil report i'm the
days of Ircland's dark fortunes, when
torn by bitterness and dsscnsion. prac-
tically stood united, and Belfast gave
it's support to the men who for the
moment they thought best were work.
ing honestly and loyalty for the future
destiny of our country; it was a trib-
ute to the city of Belfast, and in that
respect alone accepted the mandate
given me- and l am proud to say that
in a very large measure we have been
successful in building deep and strong
and powerful the foundations of a
mighty and progressive Irish national
organization here in the United States
(checrs).
When Mr. Redmond and myself
came to America we declared our au-
thority, and our authority was re-
spected. Our authority was the man
date given us by the greatest and
most powerful national convention
that ever assembled in the Irish capt.
tai. We delivered our message to the