The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-01-23
REDMOND AT w ATERF0RD.
Irish Leader Delivers Powerful Ad-
dress on Irish Affairs,

crowded and enthusiastic meeting OF
his constituents in the Theater Royal,
Waterford. For considerable time
previous to the opening OF the pro-
ceedings every part OF the building
was filled to Overlooking, and when
Mr.. Redmond appeared he was greet
ed with tremendous cheering. The
chairman of the Irish party, who was
accompanied by Mrs. Redmond, arriv-
ed i'll Waterford at two o'clock, and
was met at the station by the mayor,
Mr.. J. A. Power, and Mr.. J. ]. Phelan,
and drove to the Imperial hotel Be-
fore and after the meeting several
bands, followed by large crowds, par
AIDED the streets, says the Dublin
Freeman.
On the motion OF Alderman Knox,
seconded by Alderman Whittier, the
mayor took the chair.
Mr.. Redmond, who was received
with loud and continued applause, then
addressed the meeting. He said:
"Mr Mayor, ladies and gentlemen:
The situation, by reason of its infinite
possibilities and hopes, is full OF deep
est anxiety and the gravest responsible
ity to those who have in their hands
the conduct OF the national movement.
The land act is working slowly and
painfully. Unexpected difficulties have
been discovered in its drafting. The
spirit OF Cancellation shown by the
people is not being reciprocated by the
majority OF the Irish landlords; and
there is no doubt some disappoint-
ment OF the high, and perhaps the
extravagant hopes that were aroused;
but let us not forget that the act re-
mains, that it is great measure, that
its defects can be- and undoubtedly
will be, easily remcdied in the near
future, that landlord scli-intercst will
speedily sink landlord hostility, and
that nothing can ultimately prevent the
working OF a measure which in my
judgment is destined in compare
lively small number Of years to put
an end to landlordism in Ireland (hear,
hear). Now with the disappearance
OF landlordism there will disappear the
chief obstacle to home rule (lear,
hcar). There are some English poll
ticians who believe or who pretend to
believe that by our acceptance OF the
policy oil the land act we have ADAM
doncd, or at least that we have post
poncd, our demand for home rule 1t
is time to undeccive these gentlemen,
and | say here to-night-and | wish
my words could reach them, too-that
the demand for home rule will now
once more go to the front, and that
we will speedily make English poll
tlclans OF all parties understand that
no concession OF any sort or kind
whatever on any other subject will in
duce us to postpone for one hour our
insistcnce upon the restoration OF Ire
laRls rights and her independence
(hear, hear). Ladies and gentlemen.
the session which will open now in
three or four weeks will present I'M
usual opportunities for pushing on a
national demand English political
parties are to-day broken and disor-
ganized The great anti-Irish major
ity OF l5o-wherc is ii to-day? Why.
the government, i'll my Judgment, can
not survive this session except with
our aid, and the Liberal party cannot
succeed to Office without our votes
Qhcar, hear), The position is, there
fore, full OF hope, and it is also full Of
difficulty, 1t is position calling for
the most delicate handling and the
most cautious strategy The situation
may change, and possibly will change,
week by week, day by day. and per-
haps hour by hour. on the floor OF the
House OF Commons. and would be
little short OF mailman, were I, under
these circumstances, to discuss or
sketch a plan OF campaign which must
depend from day to day upon the de
Nclopmcnt Of the situations; but, ladies'
and gentlemen. there are certain broad
lines that may be safely laid down. In
the first place this golden opportunity,
one OF the opportunities that only oc-
cur once in a generation. will newt
ably slip away from us, and cludc our
grasp, il Ireland does not remain
united and organized (hcar, hear). A
great Englishman once said that Eng
lands highest interest was peace.
say lrelanl's highest interest is unity.
Without unity we can advance no great
cause i'll Parliament, without it we
can't even reap the fruits OF the vic
tories we have already won. In cs-
sentials. | am happy to think to-day.
there is no difference OF opinion
amongst Irish Nationalist. and | say
we would be a nation OF fools If we
allowed differences OF opinion on non
essentials to disturb our councils or
to weaken our ranks. I have no fear
myself, no fear whatever upon these
points. believe VIC will go back to
Parliament united party. the only
united party that will go back to
Westminster (hcar, lcar). So far as
the National organization is concern