The Irish standard., 1904-08-27

L regard any member OF the Irish par
ty as wanting in his duty who does not
give his full and loyal support to the
man whom that party has elected zap
plause). I am not here to say have
always seen eye to eye on every ques-
ton with every member of the party,
or even with the chairman. l have al
ways held we are entitled to express
these differences of opinion as frankly
as needs be within the lines of the
party (hear, hear), but once decision
is arrived at our duty is to loyalty ac-
cept the wisdom of the majority of
the party. Our strength in politics in
the house of commons is that we are
able when the division comes to act
as one man.
SPEECH BY REDMOND.
Mr.. Redmond, who was received
with loud applause, said: 1 am sim
cerely grateful to you for the warmth
and cordiality With which YOU have
received this toast. and l am grateful
to Mr.. O'Connor for the WAY he has
proposed it. He has truly spoken of
the difficulties of the position to which
l was unexpectedly called some years
ago. These difficulties he has not in
the slightest degree exaggerated
uear, hear. They We're enormous.
and he has truthfully said that no one
was less confident than l was us to
the possibility of successfully full
filling the duties imposed upon me. 1t
is true that l was called to the posi-
ton after having taken an active part
upon one side in ten long years of in
ternecinc STRUGGLE struggle that had
left. as has been truly said, many open
sores. When l was elected to that
position my first conception of my duty
l could to close those open wounds.
(Applause)
l was elected to the chairmanslip
of this party unanimously, and can
say now what has been my sentiment
all through and ever sincc-I would
not for one hour remain chairman of
this party, as representing any section
of the party; and as soon as l found
did not represent the genuine senti-
ment of the party as Il whole would
instantly resign the honor conferred
upon me (applause). And l think
may make this further claim without
egotism-that during those years
have faithfully reflected the sentiment
of the Irish party loud cheers. Thl
difficulties which have arisen within
the last year do not minimize. They
can only be met by a firm determine
tion on the part of the people of Ire,
land and their representatives here tic
allow nothing to Interfere with the
unity and efficiency of the Irish move
mcnt Cloud npplause). Now l listened
with the greatest attention to the
speech of Mr.. Blake, and I may say
to him that tonight | sent for publica
ton in the papers in Ireland tomorrow
morning Il letter addressed to the IriSi
people which, by the most happy coin
cidencc. really rc-echocs in substance
the spirit of Mr.. Blake's remarks
In this letter l state to the Irisl
people it would be little short of mad
ness il in the peculiar circumstances
of this momcnt-witll the possibilities
of home rule before us, and with Ill
the other circumstances of the moment
We turned aside from the practical
work of dealing with the living issues
of the present to enter upon a barrier
and fruitless and most mischievOu.
controversy as to events past and gone
and as to differences that arose from
those events that it is the highest in
terest of Ireland today to forget Zap
plnuse).
And announced in this letter that
for my part would decline to take ain,
part in any such controversy, and tina
begged the Irish people to conccn
trate their attention upon the present
upon the situation which has nov
arisen-and not to fritter away OIL
energies and time in discussing VIVA
mistakes this man made or that maj
made two years ago, but to concell
trate our efforts upon pushing in tn
autumn and winter before us the M
tional policy established so as to NEE
the necessities of the present mme
date situation (applause). 1 believ
for my part that the country will re
spond to the appeal of Mr.. Blake an
to the appeal which I today tele
graphed to the press. l believe til
overwhelming majority of the peopl
of Ireland are determined that moth
ing and no one and no set of me-
shall be allowed to interfere with til
unity Of this movement applause
Now, I have the distinction-if, In
| deed, it Is distinction In an Irish pol
tician-that am of very sanguln
disposition. I have no misgiving
whatever as to the future I believ
with reference to the land questio
and the laborers' question, and all sin
liar questions in Ireland, that we ar
on the right road, and that in spite q
the difficulties and dangers of the mt
ment, we find no serious obstacle |
the way of pushing our way to SUI
cess (applause).