The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-08-03

John Redmond, NJ. P. chairman o!
the Irish Parliamentary Party. made Il
most important pronouncement on the
Irish National Movement at a grea.
meeting held under the auspices of
the Battersea Branch Of the United
Irish League of Great Britain in st.
Joseph's Schoolroom. Battersea says
the Irish World. The hall was thronged.
and large gathering of people. being
unable to find room inside. Rev. ].
Newton, rector of East T3attersea.
moved: THAT this meeting of the
Irishmen of Battersea. declares it's
complete confidence in the Irish Par
liamentary Party. and its distinguished
leader. John Redmond. and expresses
it's firm determination to continue the
fight for satisfactory measure of
National self-government for Ireland" :"
Mr.. Redmond then rose to address
the meeting, and was received with a
great outburst of enthusiasm. the anl-
ience rising and cheering for. several
minutes. When silence was restored
he said To the student Of politics
the present Irish political situation is
extremely interesting. It's develop
ment will show where with the advance
of education and the growth of local
government in Ireland the people of
Ireland, as a. whole, nave grown In
political wisdom. and have advanced
in steadfastness and steadiness and.
may say in doggecness which seem
to me and to all others qualities most
needed by our race to bring the present
Irish controversy to- a successful issue.
In the last twenty-five years the
people of Ireland have received great
political and educational training
They have learned to value the stead
fastness and perseverance of political
unity and discipline and I say that the
great political disappointment which
came recently upon Ireland would, in
all human probability. a generation
ago have broken up the National forces
and inaugurated a long period of weak
ness and confusion; and I say to you
that today that political disappoint-
nent will. in my judgment have an
exactly contrary effect. and will speed
lily lead to still greater consolidation
of the Irish National forces. and to a
period OF greater earnestness and
vigor in the National movement than
any Of us have seen in our lifetime.
That breakdown of the effort of 'he
government to deal with the question
of Irish National self government
caused widespread disappointment and
no little irritation in Ireland.
Whether the hopes of Ireland for a
satisfactory settlement of the National
question in this parliame were too
high, and who were responsible for
raising these hopes too high, are ques-
| tions that I don't propose to discuss.
| I may. however. say this for myself:
| hopes in the minds of the Irish people.
All through last autumn and winter l
repeatedly at great public meetings
warned the Irish people that there was
strong probability Of the government
measure proving little better than an
abortion, and continued this warning
right to the end, l may remind, those
listening to me. who were present upon
| the occasion, that so late as the great
Queens Hall meeting on April %,
repeated that warning. bare fort
night before the bill was introduced:
But whoever is responsible for the
peoples hopes having been raised too
high, we are face to face with this, that
the breakdown Of the government
measure has caused amongst our peo-
pie at home and abroad widespread
disappointment. But the gravest mis-
apprehension exists in this country to.
| day-as it always has existed in this
country about Irish affairs-as to, the