The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-09-07
ysur alterations been inserted in it??"

Il have no doubt that 1t would, yet
we were asked to make this compro-
mise. Meanwhile we are going to
press for and expect University bill.
q bill amending the Land Purchase act
: Of 1908, giving compulsory purchase
! powers and breaking up the great
grazing tracts. We introduced a bill
to this effect anil carried it by one
hundred and fifty majority last May.
We are awaiting the action Of Lord
Dudley's commission. who are still
considering the question before pro-
ceeding further with the bill"
do you think that the National
movement in Ireland and America will
suffer by reason of this setback"
1T most certainly will MOTTO any
material extent. at all events. One
must be prepared for this sort Of thing
In politics. 1 feel sure that the Ma
tional movement will rapidly rally from
this mere temporary disappointment,
and that the sober thought of your
people will soon realize that the re-
lection Of the bill was a blessing in
disguise.
"The amendment Of the Land Pur-
chase act and the University bill are
important We want a National Uni
versity in Ireland The Dublin Uni
: versity Is an ascendancy institution
what you might call a class institu-
ton in America. We want Univer-
sity where rich and poor will stand
upon an equal footing without respect
to class or creeds. We want no re-
1igious tests. We will press. and ex-
tons We shall raise the Home Rule
question also in the next Parliament.
don't think the government will in
troduce an amended bill. but We will
press the question. however. We will
also raise the question Of the over
taxation Of Ireland. Ireland is over
taxed to the extent of three millions
Of pounds (fifteen millions of dollars)
annually. The Financial Relations
Committee, the majority of which were
Enlishmen, found that to be the cor e.
rect figure.
What Importance do you attach
to the Sim Fein movement in Ire
land?"
mo Importance whatever. There's
:, nothing new in the Slim Fein business.
There always has been a. revolutionary
movement here. and So far as it is
!. honest 1 have no quarrel with it. A
movement of that kind is made of
!. many sorts of people, but there are al
ways cranks, soreheads and frauds
connected with it. The doctrines Of
Sim F'ein-the policy Of relying upon
ment of. the Parnell movement. 1t
!, was never stronger than it is within
/. our ranks today"
you do not favor the withdrawal
OF the Irish members from Parlia-
ment?"
:, Most emphatically no! The with
i drawal of the Irish Nationalist men,
, bers from Parliament has been against
j. the policy of every National party
from O'Connell's time down to our
own day. 1t is an absurd and dishon-
: est cry. There is nothing in the
whole matter worth botherng about.
J So far as the Sim Fein is an honest
movement wish il luck; SO far as it
Is fraud it has no backing anywhere
in Ireland. We are anxious to have
the question decided by vote of the
people as soon as possible This would
put q quietus upon the whole business.
!, There are critics and false prophets
willing to disrupt every great move
!. ment. Every temporary check affords
? them the opportunity of employing
!, their mischievous tactics.
"They thought they could take adj
vantage Of the failure of the Govern.
ment to meet our wishes. They were
the sequel will prove. Why, was
never more confident of the ultimate
Success of our movement I have never
tried to raise false hopes in the
hearts Of our countrynen at home or
abroad. "A thing that is worth win
ming is worth fighting for. We have
lost no ground. Things have come
SO easy to us in recent years that we
are inclined to grow respondent I'M
+ der a mere temporary disa ppointment.
Think Of the hard fights we had. and
. the many, many reverses we sustained
during the days of the Land League
!: and the National League. but we tri-
umphed in the end.
I'VE shall triumph in the movement
for our government in the near flu
ture. The obstacles which barred our