The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-17
MAY NOW TALK OF
IRELAND'S FUTURE
D. w. LAWYER Sees Hope of In
dependence i'm the Wynd-
ham Land Bill.

Heretofore the burden of our talk has
been Ireland's past; but now we may
speak with confident anticipation of Ire
lands future" said D. w. LAWYER yes
terday in an address at the picnic given
by Division No. 2. A. o. H, at Schwartz's
grove, near Como. And in these words
he struck the keynote of the spirit which
pervaded the assemblage. yos,-01 a
With all of the weather conditions ia
vorable the picnic was a distinct success,
and in the course of the afternoon and
evening nearly 1000 people visited the
grounds. Every preparation had been
made for the entertainment of the mem
bers Of the order and their friends, .so. ,s-,
Mr.. LAWYERS address was one of the
early events of the afternoon programme.
He was introduced by D. J. Keefe. presi-
dent of Division No. 2, and spoke very
briefly, but he inspired in his hearers, a
spirit of true Hibernianism He said that
fifty years ago a speaker on an occasion
of this kind would feel it necessary to
preface his remarks with an apology or
at least an explanation as to the motives
which had brought the people of a foreign
nationality together in free America. This
is no longer necessary, for the people sof
Irish blood in America have shown that
their first fealty is to America, and the
people of the United States and eff the
world have learned to know whyathey
gather in the name Of Ireland. Another
reason, he explained, is that in the past
few months the Irish question has ass
sumed an entirely new phase. Heretofore
the burden of the talk has been of Ire
lands past; but now it will be of Ireland'S
future. He spoke of the Wyndham land
bill which has passed both houses of par
lament and now only awaits the signature
of the sovereign, and this measure he
said is a contamination of the movem ent
started by Charles Stewart Parnen and
Michael Davitt twenty five years ago. Mr..
LAWYER spoke Of the meeting which he at
tended at the Rotunda in Dublin in 1877.
the period Of the inception of the Land
league, and at that meeting he heard set
forth by the men he had named the prin-
ciples of the Land league platform, which
have now been realized. He paid high
tribute to Charles Stewart Parnell, who he
said would be more highly appreciated by
future generations than in the present.
The speaker commented with some
force upon the fact that the Wyndham
bill was favored by the leaders of all the
different parties in parliament. and point
ed out how sentiment has changed in a
quarter of century. He recalled the
prophecy of John Redmond and William
O'Brien, that the land bill was but the
threshold of home rule for Ireland and
an Independent government.
Credit for the success Of this movement,
he said was due to such organizations as
the A O. H., for it had been through
their efforts that sympathy with the cause
of ireland had been aroused and kept
from Tagging, and that sentiment had in
time been changed He said he had been
a member of the order himself for eighteen
years and he would advise all young men
to join it.
The gathering was very largely made up
Of young people, but there were also a
number of the older ones present through
out the afternoon. An orchestra furnish
ed good music for dancing and a pro-
gramme of races and other sports fur
nished amusement for those who did not
care to dance.
A fat mems race was won by NJ Gil
lespie against one other competitor, and
the event was keenly enjoyed
A race for fat women was announced,
but none could be found who would regard
their obesity as a qualification for ra-
. cling, and 1t was changed to a lean wom-
ems race with no better success. Then it
was made merely a women's race, and all
sorts of entries f1ocked in The event was
won by Lillian Plankes, of 875 Front
street.
Mart Kirby est Lafond street won a
mems race, and Mamie Clarkin, 900 Union
street, girls race.