The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-01-23
day to see that these two great
weapons are placed at the disposal of

ireland. Now, when Parliament meets
it will be our duty to raise the ma
tional question (hear, hear).
"O'Connell once said, ireland is
occupied, but is not governed That
is true to-day. Ireland to-day is &C.
cupied by hostile force, for what
goes by the name OF government in
this country is unworthy OF the name
OF government (hear, hear). 1t is
not merely despotism yelled by sham
constitutional form, it is not merely
government carried on from day to
day i'll opposition to the will OF the
overwhelming majority of the gov
erned, but it is, on its merits, bad
government, rotten government, an
eStravagant, corrupt, and inefficient
government 1t is the most costly
government in the world. The cost
OF the government of Ireland per head
OF the population is double the cost
Of the government of England. 1t is
a corrupt government. 1t is main
tanned by the distribution of enormous
brides to certain classes of the popu-
lation, and it is as true to-day as it
was of the time with reference to
which MIR. Lecky used to say that the
whole unbribed intellect of Ireland is
against the English government in
this country (hear, hear). In every
department OF government the most
eNtravagant cost is accompanied with
the most disgraceful inehiciency. In
great matters, such as education tech
meal instruction. industrial develop
ment, the government is quite as in
efficient as it is in small matters, such
as not being able to build single fish
ing pier that will not crumble in a few
months into the sea. I say a govern
ment that is inefficicnt-tl1at is, en-
travagant, which governs badly under
which the country is becoming depop-
ulated and impoverished, where indus
try is arrested, where education in all
its branches is starved and stunted,
where every class, except the place
men, are dissatisfed-such a govern
ment, whatever its origin has no
justification for its existence. When,
as in the case OF our government, we
find it has that character, and, in adj
dition, it has its origin in the crime
and shame Of the act Of union, l say
it is a disgrace to civilization and al
most to humanity.
Let me take an example of gross,
palpablc, admitted incf1iciency and
misgovernment, such an example as,
standing alone, would, in my judg-
ment, be sufficient to condemn the en-
tire system Of rule to which we Irish
men are asked to be loyal. The great
masses OF the Irish people to-day are
excluded from the benefits and adj
vantages OF university education (hear,
hear). The history OF the world has
been a history OF the spread of uni
vcrsities, of democratic universities,
brought down to the level of all
classes of the people, such as the uni
vcrsities in Germany, such universe
ties i'll America, such as the uni
versities in England, and in a special
manner such as the universities in
Scotland, but Ireland admittedly is the
most backward civilized nation in the
world i'll the question Of universities
afforded to its people (hear, hear). 1t
is true there is a great and famous
university founded as result OF by
gone spoliation, maintained for the
benefit OF small minority OF the peo-
pie. The majority of the people of
Ireland do not attack that university.
They do not want to attack it. What
they ask is that they shall have equal
ity of treatment This claim is adj
mitted to be just 1t has been adj
mitted to be just by English ministry
after English ministry, and by English
statesmen after English statesmen, for
the last 30 or 40 years, and yet the
grievance has remained unrcdresscd
Generation after generation Of bright
young Irish lads grow up without the
advantage OF university education, and
the English government to-day stands
sell-condemncd before the world as
unwilling to redress an admitted
grievance, and one that poisons the
whole lie Of the Irish nation. The
treatment of this university question
taken alone, in my judgment, would
prove the English government of this
country to be inefficient and indefens-
ihle. have during the last two or
three months rclrained from speaking
in public upon this question, because
| was aware that certain negotiations
were on foot. For these negotiations
the Irish party had no responsibility
whatever. We were not a party to
them. The usual course was being
followed. Whenever the English gov
crnment in Ireland is considering
question Of the rcdressing of Irish
grievances they consult everybody ex-
ccpt those who are the elected repre-
sentativcs OF the Irish people, and for
months past every nonentity, every
busybody, has found willing ears in
Dublin castle to listen to their views