The Irish standard., 1909-02-27

The following report Of the second
days session of the Irish National
League convention in Dublin is taken
from the Freeman's Journal of that
city:
Mr.. Redmond took the chair prompt
ly at the hour arranged, called the
meeting to order. and announced that
Mr.. J. P. Boland, NJ. p, would move
the resolution in regard to the Irish
language in the new National Univer.
sity.
Mr.. Boland was received with great
applause, and he had not gone far in
a very able statement of the case for
compulsory Irish in the University,
when 1t was seen that he had the SYM
pathy of a majority of those present.
If the University, he said, did not
make Irish test at entrance. the
University would not be Irish except
in name. He dealt withtwhat he de-
scribed as the so.called difficulty Of
learning the language. He refused to
believe thafzh in$lls.nt boy or s,rl
could not get suffiSient knowledge Of
it in six months, or, at least, in twelve,
co pass the matriculation examination
In the subject. There must, said Mr..
Boland, be no faltering with principle
in this matter, and Irish must be made
compulsory from the very first day the
University opens It's doors. II the sons
Of Irish exiles, and people from foreign
lands, come to the new University it
would he simply because 1t was pure
ly an Irish University. and not a mere
imitation of English or any other for.
eign universities. Not. to make Irish
compulsory would be blow to the
nation. Mr.. Boland spoke several
times in Irish amid applause. and when
he finished he was loudly cheered by
the convention.
The resolution WAS seconded by the
Rev. Malachy MacBrennan, Co. Gal.
way. He was warmly received. He
opened his speech by saying that he
was greatly encouraged by the state
nent Of the standing committee Of the
Bishops that this was question open
to fair argument. This was not merely
a language question; 1t was national
question. and the new university may,
according as tho question is decided.
be great help or great bindrance
to the National cause. Watch every
movement of the senate, said Father
MacBrennan-the senate is nominated
by the British government. and the
National element on 1t is in a most
decided minority. The Irish people
were much attached to the principles
Of their religion. but they should be
equally attached to the principles of
nationality. There should be no COM
promise on the question. Give the SEN
ate no loophole Of escape. The sug-
gestion of time limit was most
dangerous one: This remark drew
forth "A Voice" to this effect
, They'd then take lOO years.
Mr.. Dillon followed on the opposite
side. He was received with great
cheering, but when he announced that
he felt 1t his duty to oppose the reso'
luton, there was considerable dissent.
expressed. however, in a very friend
ly way. Mr.. Dillon began by referring
to the correspondence on the subject
that has been conducted in the COL
umns Of the Irish press during the last
two months, which, he said, humor-
ously, was perhaps carried on with
just little too much vigor. When he
said he was opposed to the resolution
there were cries Of Shame" When
he said he might be in minority in
this matter there were cries Of Right
! you arc" Mr.. Dillon's arguments
i! we're attentively listened to through.
out, and at one point 1t seemed as IL
they were about to bring conviction
to the minds of the delegates. He
pointed out that he and his friends
used to be sneered ut for pressing for
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