The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-10-23
NO MONUMENT YET To
LATE IRISH LEADER
st. Gaudens Masterpiece of
Charles Stewart Parnell is
Not Finished for Lack of
Funds, Though theChieftain
Has Been Dead for 18Years
His Statue Will Grace the
Majestic Thoroughfare in
the Capital of Ireland.

This week of Oct. 9, says the Dub
lin Freeman, falls the anniversary of
the death of Charles Stewart Parnell.
1t is eighteen years since he passed
away The national monument in his
honor and memory has still to be
erected. This is scarcely creditable to
Ireland and Dublin Under any circum-
stances it would not be creditable:
under the circumstances of the case it
is almost positively discreditable. For
practically all that Ireland and Dublin
nave been asked to do is to supply the
pedestal and the great column for the
majestic statue by Augustus st. Gau-
dens which has been presented to the
capital of the nation by Irish America
practically alone. The case was so
well stated in letter addressed by Mr..
Augustine Roche to Mr.. T. c. Har-
rington, MP. as representing the Dub
lin committee, that we here reproduce
that communications: 1--WE regret very
much to learn that little progress is be-
ing made with what we must all regard
as the national memorial to the great
est Irishman Of our own or perhaps any
other time. 1t seems incredible, but it
would appear to be the melancholy
truth, that the material aid necessary
for the progress of the work of the
memorial is not Forthcoming. It would
be too humiliatinE to believe that this
could be due to any -forgetfulness or
lack Of gra ftude towards the man to
whom the farmers and laborers of the
country, and the dwellers in the cities,
which depend for their prosperity on
the country, over their present marvel
lcusly different status to that which
prevailed thirty years ago, when Par
nell put his hand to the plough. Under
the unhappy circumstances surround
ing the probable suspension of opera
tions at the monument owing to lack of
funds it seems travesty at once of
patriotism and honor to the glorious
dead that excursionis.s should proceed
from Cork and other distant places
to pay cheap and empty homage Much
better IL they remained at home and
subscribed what the visit would cost
them to the monument fund. In the
fervent hope that some sense of their
responsibilities may dawn on my coun-
trymen, especially on my fellow-citi-
zens Of Cork, enclose you a cheque
for 10 pounds. AS is sufficiently well
known, have incurred certain obliga-
tions regarding the erection of monu-
il, tho present crisis connected with the
monument in the capital, all our efforts
should be directed towards the i'm
mediate completion of the national
monument"
There is no need at this hour to dwell
on the immense services Of Parnell to
Ireland, to. Irishmsn of every creed,
and, indeed, of every class. It is not
too much to say that if the outlook be
today better than it has been since the
generation was born, if the breasts of
Irish Nationalists be filled with hope,
and if at the moment even the oldest
OF them promise himself the spectacle
Of an Irish legislative assembly, the
work Of Parnell is the origin of the al
tered prospect and the hope. The move
n,ent he virtually created, and which
he led with such unerring political
acumen, must rank amongst the most
eventful and successful in the history
OF politics. 1t affected the country
through and through. and today all
parts and sections of the country are
feeling the beneficial results, for, des-
rite what our enemies may say, the
results have been in the main beneficial
and are likely to make for permanent
good. With far more truth than the
great Swift might Parnell have said
ireland is my debtor" Farmers and
laborers, and the dwellers in our cities
ory warm corner in their hearts
Why, then, is it that the paltry few
thousands necessary to finish this great
- national memorial have not been forth.
coming long since. It cannot be that
the people are not dsinclined to lie,
the memory of Parnell and his mighty
deeds for them pass cut of mind. Tha
would be the blacklist ingratitude. Bu
then we are faced BY the fact tha1