The Irish standard., 1903-10-17
party, against the National organiza-

party, against the National organiza-
ton. If ever there was time when
Irishmen should speak with one voice.
and when all appearance of dissension
should be put down with firm hand,
it is now, when we are on the eve Of
Il general election which will shatter
English parties, and when if united
the Irish party will be able to exercise
an influence greater than at any time
since the act of union CHEERS. And
yet at this moment what do we find
in the county of Meath, where the
people are as sound and as patriotic
as in any spot i'll Ireland, but where
from carelessness and apathy the Or.
ganizatiom is weak? We have today
the spectacle of Il threatened attack
upon the Irish party and the National
unity of the country "a voice-"Tim
Healy'D. 1t is difficult for me to
realize or believe that this threatc
contest can take place, and, above all.
it is difficult for me to believe that
Mr.. John Parnell will allow himself
to be used as an instrument for attack
upon the unity Of Ireland; but this is
question not Of personality, but of
the highest and most sacred principle.
If the contest does take place, of
course, the result will be n foregone
conclusion. 1t is not, l assure you,
for the purpose of influencing this
election that l make this allusion. 1t
is unnecessary to do that. The COM
mon sense of the people is sufficient
to prevent such IL ludicrous disaster as
an election going against the Irish
party and the Irish orgalliZa ton in Il
country with the history of Royal
Meath trheerS,. 1t is not for the prlr-
pose of influencing the election make
this alluSion. but it is for the purpose
of pointing the moral which is uni
verS;,l i'm its application all over Ire
land. that without National organi-
Zation strong and united there is no
safeguard against the most ridicul-
Gus, aye. and sometimes the gravest
scandals, and against grave injury be-
ing done here and there from time to
tim" to the National cause by Il mere
handful of Observation-Disclosures. Let this
great gathering, therefore, take home
with it this lesson, that the first, the
highest. and the most sacred duty of
al! political duties ut this moment is
10 spread and strengthen the organZa-
ton of the United Irish League.
IIverywh"lc the people are practically
sound. but where they arc diSorgan-
lied they are weak. and even helpless.
Where they are organized. they are
absolutely safe against all dangers
whether from within or from without
The present political situation is. in
decd, IL strange one. 1t seems that
MIR. Bnlfour desires to keep his party
and his government together during
the whole of next session. II he car
res out that intention to try and keep
together all next session his party.
then make no mistake about it. every
day during the session we will have
i'm our hands the power of life and
death (cheers). Mr.. BalfOur may re-
main in office. but the Irish party will
be in power (checrs), and that power,
you may take for granted, will be used
by us without the slightest cOmpunc-
ton to forward the interests of the
Irish cause, and for no other object
whatever and without the slightest
regard to the wants or the wishes Of
either the Liberal party or the Tory
party. This is Il time above all others,
therefore. for closing our ranks, and
end, as 1 began, by appealing for
unity, for religious liberation. for a
spread of the blessed spirit of cOncila
ton which is abroad to-day in Ireland.
Our past has been full of factions, of
class hatred. and scctarian rancour.
Let us, in Gods name, bury the past
forever (hear, hear); let us preach the
doctrine that every Irishman, what
ever his class or creed, whether lie be
Catholic, Protestant. or Presbyterian,
or whatever his origin, whether Crom-
wellian, Williamite, or Celtic, shall
have a fair field to work for Ireland;
and let us preach that in such a union
is to be found with absolute certainty
the future Industrial prosperity and
national freedom of our country
(cheers).
Mr.. Samuel Young. NJ. p. briefly
addressed the meeting amid consider.
able interruption.