The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-09-24
THE IRISH ENJOYS,

1t is gratifying to all friends of the
Irish cause in this country to know
that Mr.. Redmond and his collea CUES
CT the Irish parliamentary party who
are now in this country are meeting
with substantial financial assistance
i'm the East. Irsh-Americans have for
a long time literally assisted their
friends in Ireland. That they have
done SO for such length of time un-
der most discouraging circumstances
is the strongest kind of proof to their
loyalty to the cause of Irish national
ity. There are some, of course, who
question the wisdom of contributing
any more to the program of the Irish
party. They have no faith that Eng
land will ever grant home rule to Ire
land as a result of agitation. Mr.. Red
mond has frankly stated that this will
be his last appeal for aid from the
Irish in this country. He has told
them that he believes. that home rule
is now in sight and that it will come
peaceably. He has told them that in
case the program of his party fails he
will frankly tell the people of this
country that it has failed and that he
will not again call upon them for
money.
There is no doubt that the present
time is crisis in the affairs of Ire
land. A general election is near at
hand. Chamberlain, who destroyed
the Liberal party, has wrecked the
Unionist party by his protective tariff
schemes. Salisbury is dead and the
Duke Of Devonshire is back in the
Liberal party. What the Irish lead
ers expect and hope for at the coming
election is that the Liberal party will
be successful in defeating the Balfour
party and leaving the balance of power
with the eighty odd Irish Nationalists.
There is no doubt that the hopes are
we'll founded. But it costs money to
carry on an election in Ireland til
same as in this country. The Conserva-
tives will contest every Irish seat
where there is n possibility of sue
cess. Mr.. Redmond and his colleagues
desire to hold the seats which they
now have and to gain more. Members
of parliament receive no salaries.
Most of them are poor men unable to
pay the expenses of Il canvass. There
are no sources in Ireland from which
| funds for a campaign can be collected.
The Irish party is thus driven to ap-
peal to us for aid There is mucn
reason to believe that the Irish are
nearer to success to-day than they
were when Gladstone was alive and
ut the head of a strong Liberal ma
jority. There is no such opposition to
home rule now as there was then.
England realizes that the Irish ques-
ton is the greatest drawback to the
empire. The Irish landlords are no
longer afraid that their lands will be
confiscated. The religious question
no longer stands in the way. The
Irish people have shown their freedom
from religious bias time and time
again. With Mr.. Redmond on this trip
there is distinguished member of
the Irish party-Mr. Donelan-who is
a Protestant representing a constitu-
ency that is almost wholly Catholic.
Mr.. Russell is another Protestant who
until recently was an enemy of home
rule, but who is today an enthusiastic
Nationalist. All Ireland is practically
united in favor Of home rule. The
leaders are not all united on the best
method Of accomplishing the end, but
all desire the same result. Better yet
there is strong feeling in England
that Irish opposition is becoming dan
gerous to the empire, and there is a
disposition to disprove Of the trouble
some question. At no time has there