The Irish standard., 1904-09-24


ccption which John Il. Redmond, the
leader Of the Irish Parliamentary par
ty, and his colleagues, Captain A. ].
G. Donelan and Patrick O'Brien, re-
ceived last Sunday evening in the Bos-
ton theatcr from Mayor Collins and
some 1000 men and women of Irish
blood and extraction.
1t was not a mere "hurrah" meeting
or greeting which these ENJOYS from
Ireland received, says the Irish World.
1t was a meeting which not only cX-
pressed in speech and resolutions the
confidence which the men and women
of Irish blood in Boston and vicinity
feel in John Redmond and the S5 men
who are fighting with him in the cause
of Ireland in parliament, but it's full
significance was perhaps more definite
ly expressed in the $4,000 which was
subscribed at the meeting to support
these men in the coming parliamentary
elections.
In response to the address of wei
come by Mayor Collins Mr.. Redmond
spoke as follows:
"NTr Mayor, ladies' and gentlemen
l thnnk you with all my heart for the
kindly welcome that you have given
to me. ] am heartily glad to be back
once more in Boston, BECAUSE looking
back over my political career, recog-
nizc with gratitude and pride that over
and over again, whenever have come
here l have gone away strengthened
and encouraged by the good will and
the expression of confidence Of the
people of this city.
81 cast my mind back over the years
covered by my own political career.
My memory goes back to the days
when, twenty-thrce and half years
ago, I was elected first to serve Ire
land in the British parliament; and l
think that 1 can best fulfill my pur-
pose tonight by recalling to your men,
ory the state of affairs that then ex-
listed and the state of affairs that eX-
lists at this moment.
"When I first entered the British
parliament the situation was full Of
gloom and mems hearts were filled
with dependency. The great and GAL
liant effort to free Ireland by the force
of arms by the Fenians had failed
For the time it had absolutely failed,
and the constitutional movement as
1t was called, the parliamentary move
mcnt, had sunk into deserved contempt
in Ireland by reason of the fact that
those who went to the British parlia-
mcnt to speak in the name Of Ireland
went in reality to join one or the 9TH
cr Of the English parties and to ad-
vance their own social, political or
personal affairs.
"Whcn l entered the house the great
mass of the Irish people had not the
privilege of the vote. Today, while
we have not manhood suffrage, we
have household suffrage, which means
in practice very nearly the same thing;
but when was elected twenty-thrce
and half years ago, only a small
section Of the Irish people could vote
for members Of parliament at all.
"Take my own case. 1 was elected
for the comparatively, for Ireland,
flourishing and populous town of New
Ross. The population consisted Of
many thousands, but the number of
voters registered were only about 300
that is to say no man had vote un-
less he had a large property qualifi.
cation. Now, the result Of that was
that class Of men were returned to
the English parliament who did not
represent the views of the mass of the
Irish people. Parnell was only able
to gather around him party of about
40 men out of 1O3 members, and of
those 40 there were not 20 who were
constant in their attendance, or, in
deed. I might say, sincere in their pro-
fcssions.
"Your mayor in talking to me this
morning reminded me Of what Wendell
Phillips (applause) said when he came
here at the end of 1870 to meet Par.