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 Landordism
and Was Leader and Champion of the
Cause of Humanity.

A magnificent demonstration was
held Oh Jan. ut Straide which was in
every sense appropriate: to the mem-
ory OF Michael Davitt. and to tho place
the most historic spnl III County Ma
70. and one of the most historic in dll
Ireland. There the patriot was born {:
there lie is buried. it was at Straidn
that his family were q. .ictcd. and when
no returned to ireland in tho strength
Of his manhood he founded at his
birthplace the organization that Waa
to- effect the downfall of lTeudnlsm N
Ireland. The second object OF tho
meeting was to voice Mayo's opinion
OH tho necessary amendments OF the
Land Bill which will, if passed rl
Connacht OF the evils that have made
it Il synonym for poverty and misery.
Tho meeting was held within five
hundred yards. and in wow of tho spot
where the Father of the Land League
first saw the light Of day. 1t is just
possible to see at that spot by Il SOFT
OF outcrop of treated stone. that some
human agency had Ut scme time inter-
fcrcd with the level process Of nature.
On all sides there is rich, though roll
| ing, pasture land. For two generations
plough nor spade has touched it. When
Ill
all in tilagc: and now II will be worth
something to tho descendants OF :he
people who were cvicted from 1t yca:s
ago.
The principal speaker on tho occas
ion was Joseph Dcvlli, M. F., who
had recently returned from America.
In tile course of his address he said
in part:
II is n great pleasure to me to maet
tho people of Mayo ut n spot haIlowcd
by tho grave OF Michael Davitt md
immortalized in Irish history as the
birthplace OF the Land League. And
it is n still greater pleasure to mo tn
find that the name OF Michael Davitt
has yet the old power to charm tho
hearts Of the men and women OF Mayo,
and that tho principles OF the Lard
League arc still the guiding principles
and the handspring cf their political
thought and action. 1t is good for Ma
yo and for ireland tiat such is .hc
case: that the namo Of the Father OF
the Land League should be honorc ],
and the principles lie fought for ana
suffered for should be cherished mi
maintained.
If at amy time We need the stimulus
stcadfastncs, and fc;rlcs sncSs and an
thusiasm in tho fight for ireland, that
much needed stimulus will be found in
tho study OF the life and work Of Mi
chacl Davitt. He, at any rate, was a
man whose good faith was never open
to question; whose honesty was admir-
never belicd his words, who was
sprung from the people, who sidc3
with the people from first TO last, and
who never could be ught or cajoaI
into bending the knee in the house If
their opprcssors. He was tho sworn
foe of felonious landlordsm, 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 ac-
cursed system and made its final ex
tinction inevitable. Michael Davitt
knew the strength an1 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 lifc-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 il they had the
will, to strike the landlords effectively
in the most vulnerable part Of their
anatomy, namely, the pocket, by. COM