The Irish standard., 1909-12-18
4 GREAT SPEECH BY ], T, REDMOND
on THE IRISH PARTY AND THE BUDGET
Which He Explains Why the Party Of Which He the Lead
Did Vote For Against the Financial Bill its Third
Readng the House Of to the Echo
At Enthusiastic Meeting in Dublin.

In = magnificent speech in Dublin.
John b. Redmond explained the atti-
tude OF the Irish party on the budget.
showed what 1t had accomplished fo,
Ireland during the past four years and
what 1t intended to do in the future.
He said in part: '
We are on the very eves at this NOM
ent Of one of the greatest constitutions
al crises that has arisen during the
last three quarters of century-a crisis
in which the interests of ireland are
deeply concerned--a crisis in which the
most deadly enemy Of Ireland. the pow
er of the most deadly enemy of Ire-
land. is for the first time in our life
time seriously threatened with extinc-
tion (applause). And, fellow country
men, there never was time when It.
was more certainly the interest Of ire
land to think clearly-and think sane
ly and act unitedly-and yet at this
moment Of supreme Importance to the
whole future Of our country we find an
amount Of dishonest criticism, of play
ing to the gallery, Of cant, Of dishonest
fault finding, and trsacherous attack
which might well induce q stranges
! coming to our shores to believe that
( IT,. U ...3 = d a
| Ireland Was quite obliviouH to the SER
ions crislsx which Ia confronttn her.
and indeed, perhaps. to believe that
ireland was quite incapable OF any SER
ious political thought at all. 1t is the
old story with4which our history, un-,
fortunately, is but too familiar. At
every moment Of difficulty and of trial,
at every moment, on the other hand,
when some new vista. of hope seems to
be opening before Ireland, the enemies
Of the National movement outside that
movement, become active in attack and
active for mischief (hear, hear, and
applanse). Now, let me foY moment
call the country's attention to the char
acter of the attackers (applause).
There are three distinct classes Of peo-
pie at the present amoment attacking
the Irish party. First of all, there is
the old Orange gang, led on this occas.
sion by the Irish Times" having found
as its new prophet Mr.. Arthur Samuels
K.C., who apparently thinks that by
abusing the Irish party, and abusing
me in particular, he will increase his
| Qualifications for the position he SO
ardently desires, Of falling into the
shoes of Mr.: James Campbell as men,
ber for Trinity college daughter and
applause). Therefore, SO far as these
! attacks are concerned, I put them on
one side simply making this remark,
that personally regard these attacks
az the highest testimonial to the hon
esty Of my Intentions and the value Of
| my work Cloud applause). There is
another class. The tariff reformers, led
4 by Lord, Dunraven and men of similar
4 kidney. Now, as to tariff reform, I
have always been very cautious in MY
utterances. And what does tariff. re /.
form mean? Does 1t mean the giving
TO the Irish people the power Of pro-
\ tectings Irish industries against Eng
land?5 Or does 1t mean enabling Eng
land to keep German goods out Of the
\ market whilst crushing out the pos
4 sibility Of our reviving our industries
which she destroyed7 7. (applause). I
have asked. for the information. but,
] until get that information am GER
'1tainly not going to allow the National
I: movement, and the Irish party, so far
!, as am concerned. to be roped In
\ blindly on the side Of tariff reform
which, 20. far as we know 1t today
\ would not be the smallest value to Ire
land in the smallest degree (hear, hear
The third set OF persons at present
j, who are attacking the Irish party "a
made up OF our old friends the political
4 cranks (hear, hear). The cranks, gen.
j. tlemen, we have always with us. cling
Ing on to the skirts Of political moves
/ ments in this country. They have
;. always clung on to them, and, sup.
pose, they viii continue to cling on
n But II is well. that we should seriously
y ask the country TO consider who arr
\ they and Whist are they. They arr
! men who have always been dissruntiet
arc men who have always had 4
}constitutional kihk IN thefr cilaractesl y