The Irish standard., 1906-10-20

remains unaltered and unalterable for
a native parliament with a responsible
executive having power over all purely
Irish affairs. and that nothing short Of
this can satisfy the aspirations of the
Irish race. Further, we deem it our
duty to declare, while we believe the
Irish people are prepared to give fair
consideration to any scheme for the
extension of popular power and re-
sponsibility, no change which does not
give to the freely elected representa-
tives of the people full control over
the affairs of Ireland can be accepted
or treated as settlement of the ma
tional question, or can bring peace or
prosperity to Ireland"
This, which as to the fundamental
principle of the Irish National move.
ment, is the platform of the United
Irish League of Ireland and of the
Irish party, is also the declared ana
unanimously adopted platform of the
United Irish League of America. Next
in Importance is the indispensable re-
quirement of unity in the home organi-
zation, as to which the delegates at
Philadelphia voiced the earnest senti-
ment and desire of all patriotic Irish
men when they declared their belief
That the maintenance of national
unity in Ireland is the first and the
main essential to success; that this
can only be secured by maintaining the
old organization Of the Irish party as
it was established by Parnell, based
on the signing by each member of the
party of a pledge to sit, act and vote
with the party, and the loyal observ-
ance of that pledge by every member;
such pledge, or who, having signed it,
does not act in accordance with it,
ought not to be elected by National
constituency in Ireland Or recognized
as Nationalist representative"
In face of this unanimous declara.
tion of the convention of the United
Irish League of America it will be i'm
possible for any one in Ireland to
truthfully claim that among the Amer
lean friends and supporters of the
Irish cause there is any sympathy or
sanction or countenance whatever for
ntr y,1o
proved of and accepted by the Irish
party under the leadership of the
chosen leader, John E. Redmond. No
room, has been left for any mistake or
doubt on this point. The American
League in convention assembled has
proclaimed that it is for the principle,
the policy, the means and the methods
of the party and the organization in
Ireland and for nothing else-that its
duty and resolve are to follow where
Ireland leads" as the new president,
Mr.. Ryan, plainly declared in his elo-
quent address at the convention. "It
is not ours" said he ito dictate to
Ireland either the methods or the
means they should employ, it is ours,
to follow where Ireland leads, and it
is to proclaim that faith in the face
Of all the world that we are met here
today"
This, Of course, is no new departure
In the program of the American
League. It has been it's faith" from
the establishment Of the organization
and will be so to the end of the move
ment which will be the consummation
Of the gerat purpose of the existence
of. the league in Ireland and the league
in America. And that the latter will
be true to that purpose and indefatig-
able in the prosecution of it in the fu-
ture as in the past is fully assured in
the character and record of it's official
directors, to whom T. P. OConnor paid
tribute so well deserved in thus re-.
marking on the choice of Michael J.
Ryan as the new president:
Il am going to tell you my private
instructions. was told by the leader
Of the Irish party that If the organiza-
tion were to be deprived of the ines-
timable services Of that splendid Irish
man, that unsurpassed orator, John F.
Finerty, then there was one man above
all others whom so far as We had the
right to suggest, we would desire to see
John Ffnerty's successor, and that was
Michael ]. Ryan. And, therefore. it was
that took upon myself the great lib
erty Of urging upon you, Mr.. President,
unwilling as you were, to take on your
shoulders this heavy burden. I will say
nothing as to the other onicers. There
is only one John O'Callaghan in the
whole world. and when I come to the
third ohicer. can only say that in T.
B. Fitzpatrick breathes the man born
for the treasureship."
All the branches and all the MEM
hers Of the ToaDi,a In Aroorsoo ,,,,,,