The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-01-30

binat1on against rack re nting and ex-
! tortion. IIo knew too that invincible
as was the power of the people, wh,n
united and determined in defence Of
their homes and their freedom, they
We're apt to be too trusting and TOO
their generosity or thei; patriotism IN
behalf of d class whose record Of on
preston and wrong WAS without par.
allel in history.
Michael Davitt never made war on
the landlords as individuals, except
In so far as they became insepurable
from landlordism as (; system. But
against the system he waged WEE
without ceasing. 1t was an i'll day Cor
Irish landlordism when the Davitt Ga.
mily were thrown gu. of their little
home, and sent forth, penniless and
fricndless. to make their way in tlls
world. Who that witnessed the scene
Of their eviction would have dreamed
that, after long years. II. the prime 3r
manhood. that little dark-eyed by
would come back to Ireland with the
memory Of that burned into his brain.
and that there on the site OF the hum
bic home Of his fathers. he would M
auguratc the movcmen that was 20
end only with the extinction Of tho
system which had driven him forth to
perish, like thousands of his race, il
God had not preserved him to become
their avcngcr and dellverer?
His being turned a6rift on the world
with his parents, his boyhood and
youth, the loss OF his right arm while
working in Lancashire mill, his COR
nection with tho Fenian movement,
his loyalty to his comrades. his awful
sufferings in penal servitude, his 81
forts at sclf-education, his manly cour-
age and independence Of character his
sclf-sacriflce and devotion, his inl-
mense achievement, his rugged hons
csty and modest simplicity, the whole
story OF his life is unsurpassed in the
most precious lcgacies which he nas
bcqucathed to his country. I do not
think / could recommend to the young
mon Of Ireland any more fascinating
or profitable study than the life Ind
writings and speeches Of Michael Oa-
witt. His sympathies We're always with
the class from which he sprang. He
was tho son of a farmer, and from
childhood he was Injured to hardship
and toll. Tho cause OF the farmers,
therefore, that is, Of the very small
and OF the workers in the towns, was
always dear to him. and he never
missed All opportunity Of helping 1t
forward.
In an Irish Parliament, Michael Da-
witt would have been champion and
one Of the natural leaders Of these
classes. He always held that it was
the duty Of tho farmers, once their
own position had been improved 20
assist in ameliorating the condition Of
the laborers, and he was not slow TO
denounce, in no measured terms, those
selfish farmers who, having got all
they, wanted, were grasping and mean
enough to oppose the claims of the IA
borers. Tho cause Of the workers N
the towns he made his own from the
start, and he taught them that their
cause and that of the agricultural III
borers were interdependent ',nd
formed only different parts Of the sa ne
great social problem.
Michael Davitt was enong the first
to recognize the great possibilities for
both of an understanding between the
workers OF Ireland Ind Of Great Brit
ain. The landlords aud the capitalists
were the enemies Of both, and it was
only by the cooperation Of the two
democracies that the privileged posi-
ton Of these classes could be success
fully assailed. When this fact is re-
cognized by tho British democracy. 1t