The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-11-13
THE CITY OF CHICAGO
GREETST.P. .0'CONN0R
His Countrymen c Respond to
the Call for Aid Issued by
John E. Redmond, Leader
Of the Parliamentary Party,
in a Manifesto to M.J.Ryan
of Philadelphia and Pledge
Themselves to Contribute
$25,OOO for Erin.

Representing the younger Irish
Americans of Chicago and the citizen
ship of Irish extraction, which has felt
itself called upon to enter the lists
in what is considered the final struggle
between Ireland and Great Britain for
home rule, Medill Mccormick declared
that $25,000 would be raised here for
the support of John Redmond and
Irish patriots in their fight for the in
dependence of Ireland, says the Chicago
Citizen.
Men and women stood on their feet
and cheered the announcement to the
echo. The pledge of aid followed ad-
dresses of speakers who recounted the
suffering of Ireland, its approach to
freedom through years of misery and
oppression, and the present situation,
where the picture Of freedom shines
vividly.
Many were moved to tears, and wells
Of patriotic affection were opened, and
when the sentiment was crystallized
into concrete promises Of aid for the
oppressed land, enthusiasm ran ram
pant
Ten days of America makes me feel
five years younger" said Mr.. O'Connor
after an enthusiastic greeting by the
n,,Is -, &l@%
we are witnessing a new birth among
Irish-Americans. You are arising as
never before to the defense Of the faith
erland. With your aid everything can
be accomplished soon that we have
hoped and prayed for for centuries.
II believe we now are at a great
crisis; that the struggle which is now
entered upon between Ireland and
Great Britain is final. The situation
politically in Great Britain is such
that in it's denouement the nish party
must come out stronger and in such
power that it can force the question
and the adoption of home rule.
"This situation is brought about by
the new budget. If it is rejected by
the House of Lords freedom for Ire
land will follow at once. Those of you
who believe in the efficacy of prayer
get down on your knees every night
and pray that the House of Lords may
reject the budget. If the lords do that
it will be signing their own death war;
rant. For a general election will fol-
low, probably in January and the ques-
tion then will be whether the people
shall be ruled by themselves or by the
House Of Lords. It will be the ann1-
hilation Of the House of Lords, and
you know how favorably we feel to-
ward anything like that.
But even in the event that they
have not the backbone to reject that
budget, the question of home rule will
come up at the second session of par
Lament. 1t probably will be rejected
by the House of Lords. But only once.
When it comes up again we will force
down their throats the pill of home
rule and they will have to swallow it
whether they will or not"
Mr.. O'Connor went over the history
of Ireland during such periods as 1846
and 1881, when famine visited the
country, and men, women and chill
dren, forced to turn over wheat, oats
and everything but potatoes to the
landlords as rent, fell dead by the
roadsides along which went wagons
loaded with grain. He painted vivid
pictures of evictions through which
thousands were driven from their
homes on failure to pay exorbitant
rent.
Il do not tell you these things be-
cause they are ancient history" he
said. "The year 1881 is not ancient
history. That is when entered par
lament and when our party was form
ed. Those days Of suffering are over
but we should not, in the dawn OF
prosperity, forget those who have suf-
fered for the country we have labored
to bring to freedom.
Three thousand heads Of families
are now tilling the soil, and within fif-
teen years 100000 people in Ireland
will be owners of the land from which
they gain their sustenance. We have
gained nine-tenths of all we have
striven for. We have our schools bacl
and our university. Ireland is not di.
rided. Three-fourths are working ear