The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-01-30
The Memory of its Immortal Founder Honored in the
Place of His Birth and Burial by His
Grateful Countrymen.
LAB0RS OF MICHAEL DAv|TT EL0QUENTLY TOLD
Administered Deadly Blow to Felonious Landlordism
and Was Leader and Champion of the
Cause of Humanity.

a magnificent demonstration was
held OH Jan. at Stralde which was in
every sense appropriate to tho mem-
Dry or Michael Davitt. and to tho place
in which it was held. Straido marks
the most historic spot in County Ma
70. and one Of the most historic in all
Ireland. There the patriot was born;
there lie is buried. it was at Straida
that his family were cyicted, and when
no returned to ireland in the strength
of his manhood he founded at his
birthplace the organization that was
to effect the downfall of Feudullsm m
Ireland. The second object of tho
meeting was to voice Mayo's opinion
OH the necessary amendments Of the
Land Bill which WILL if passed rid
Connacht Of the evils that have made
it a synonym for poverty and misery
The meeting was held within five
where the Father Of the Land League
first saw the light Of day. 1t is just
possible to see at that spot, by u sort
Of outcrop of treated stone, that some
human agency had Ut some time inter-
fcred with the level process Of nature.
On all sides there is rich, though roll
plough nor spade has touched 1t. When
Michael Davitt was corn it was nearly
all in tillagc; and now II will be worth
something to tho descendants Of ;he
people who were cvicted from 1t years
ago. ...
| The principal speaker on tho occas-
had recently returned from America.
In the course of his address he said
in part:
1t is a. great pleasure to me to meet
tho people of Mayo ut Il spot hallowcd
by tho grave OF Michael Davitt md
immortalized in Irish history as the
birthplace OF the Land League. And
| it is a still greater pleasure to mo to
find that the name Of Michael Davitt
has yet tho old power to charm tho
hearts Of the men and women of Mayo,
and that tho principles of the Lard
League arc still tho guiding principles
and the handspring CT their politi cal
thought and action. it is good for Ma
yO and for Ireland that such Is tho
case; that tho namo Of the Father OF
the Land League should be honore1,
and the principles he fought for ana
suffered for should DO cherished mi
maintained.
If at any time We need the stimulus
of q great example of courage and
stcadfastncss and fcarlessness and an
thusiasm in tho fight for Ireland, that
tho study OF the life and work of Nil
chael Davitt. Hc, at any rate, was a
man whose good faith was never open
to question; whose honesty was admit
ted by friends and fo,s. whose actions
never belicd his words, who was
sprung from tho people. who sided
with the people from first to last, and
who never could be be ught or cajoled
into bending the knee in the house 1C
their opprcssors. He was tho sworn
foe Of felonious landlordism, his life
was devoted to It's overthrow, and 20
him more than to any other man was
due the Land Act Of 1881, which pro-
nounced the doom Of that thrice lc-
cursed system and made it's final ex-
tinction inevitable. Michael Davitt
knew the strength md the weakness
both Of the landlords and Of the peo-
pie.
He knew, that with few exceptions,
the aim Of the landlords was to- suck
the very life-blood out OF the people,
in the shape of rent, and that the
whole forces Of so-called law and Dr.
der were on their side; but that The
people had the power, If they had the
will, to strike the landlords effectively
in the most vulnerable part Of their
anatomy, namely, the pocket by, COM