The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-11-04

county Councils and the Distric
Councils, and judging from the effec
of that beginning we could hope fol
great things if we mad more contro
over our own affairs in the future
because think any person who reads
the newspapers and especially pays
attention to the transactions Of these
local bodies throughout the country
will see for himself that they are
working well for the public interest
They give their services most will
the purpose of promoting the publ
good and they have developed since
the passing of the Local Government;
Act. l should not, perhaps, say they
have developed, because they had ii
before, but had not the opportunity
of showing it. But they have mani
tested an amount Of business tact
and aptitude for managing public af-
fairs which proves clearly that II
they had far more in their own hands
they could do far more good.
I'VE have heard great deal Of de-
volution lately. but I trust that in the
case of Ireland it will be evolution
trust that from these local bodies
we will have evolved the grand hope
and desire of the whole of us-Home
Rule for Ireland-(prolonged applause)
and until we have that I don't be-
lieve that Ireland will be seen al
her best, whereas If we had full con-
troll Of our own affairs l am perfectly
sure the country would become pros
porous and we would not have to
complain so much of the depopulation
of the country, which is the natural
consequence of bad government and
misgovernment, and we would moi
have to complain so much Of the pow
erty of the country, because am sure
that the same talents and the same
energy and the same vigor which
makes Irishmen prosperous in every
country in the world except their own
would make them prosperous in their
own country also If they got fair play
my predecessor, Mr.. McGettigan
in a jesting way used to say that Irish
men were not to be Judged in the VAL
ley of Josephat-that they were to be
Judged in Barnet's Gap, in the Coun-
ty Donegal; and the reason was that
an Irishman never got fair play out
of his own country. I think the very
converse is the truth, because an
Irishman never got fair play in his
own country; and wherever he gets
fair play outside it, he shows that
he has those qualities that would make
him take leading place either in civil
affairs or local government or whatever
position he might be put into. We
have had great soldiers in foreign lands
even great generals; we have had
great statesmen in foreign lands and
we have had great financiers in for
eign lands; but when we come home
to our own country we find that we
are dwarfed by nature; but we are
made dWarfs by the government I'M
der which we live, and until we put an
end 10 that government, as far as we
are concerned in the control of our
Irish affairs, we will continue to be
dWarfed.
Il think the day is approaching, and
that the young people may live to
see 1t, when we will have more COM
plete control over the affairs of our
country, and be able to administer the
affairs of the country in keeping with
the wants and with the ideas Of the
Irish people. 1t is impossible for
strangers to govern us we'll; but
think we could govern ourselves If we
were allowed TO do so. I think we
have some little earnest of what may
come in the future in the case of the
local bodies, and my own wish Is that
the influence of these local bodies may
extend, and that in the near future
they may have a much larger share
in administering the affairs OF the
country than they have at present.
loud applause.l
His eminence, In the course of his
reply to an address from the County
Committee of Agriculture and Tech
nical Instruction. said:
The proper and natural foundation
of successful agriculture or technical
instruction is to be found in what is
denied to US in this country-a sound
university education. We stand In
great need Of giving a higher educa-
ton to the young people Of the coun-
try, and an education Of which they
can avail themselves without the sac
rifice of conscience. That need, as
you justly observe. has been acknowl-
edged by Prime Minister Balfour. who
has acknowledged 1t over and ovel
again, and members Of the Liberia
Government, such as John Morley
have acknowledged 1t. 1t Is acknowl.
edged by all parties, both Conserva'
tives and Liberals: and, as you justl,
say, there is only one thing standing
In our way, and that is the preju'
dice Of a small section of the people o
our own country here.