The Irish standard., 1910-02-12
AN EXCELLENT POLITICAL SPEECH BY
A CATHOLIC PRIEST Of MONAGHAN
In Behalf Of James c. K Ladne Protestant Patriot Who Was
the Nationalist Candidate for Parliament Against Popular
Tory of the District Named Knight---Hone Rue Will Not
Injure thr Protestants of Ireland

In the election for North Monaghan,
Rev. James ]. McNamee, C. c., deliv-
cred splendid address in the inter-
est of the Nationalist candidate, James
| c. r. Lardner, Protestant, and saiG
in part:
! Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Electors:
The electral struggle in which we
are now engaged has one unique and
very pleasing picture, namely, the
high personal appreciation in which
both candidates are held, not merely
by their respective supporters, but
also by their political opponents. Cur
brilliant young towns,nan ia the abso-
lutely unanimous choice of the Ma
tionalists of North Monaghan, and l
am sure that he stands 80 high with
even the Unionists OF the constituency
that they would all gladly say, ie we
must be represented by q Nationalist
then let us be represented by Lard
L
there is no personal hostility to t:e
Unionist candidate; indeed. our cl:;ef
regret Is that so honorable a man
should allow himself to be put for
ward as the champion OF so bal a
cause. For this reason, we are saved
the bitter personalities. the torrents Of
q , abuse and .exhibltiops-ci bad temper
}. that, are, 80 .regrettable a reatursS ot
: elections elsewhere; and we are en-
abled to raise the question at issue
altogether above mere personal issue
j to the higher intellectual plane of pr,r-
$ ciple and policy. 49,.
Now, / know very well, and you
know what Mr.. Lardrer's policy Is
! It. is the social, political and moral
regeneration Of Ireland, through a
system of self government which will
. commit her destinies to those best able
. > and most willing to take charge of
them-her own sons. To that policy
our country committed itself m,1e
: than a quarter of century ago, Wien,
breaking away forever from the tram
mels of Whigism and Toryism, She
= was the first county in Ulster to take
her stand with Parnell for Ireland
= (Applause.) From the position sne
then took up Monaghan has never wa
vered, through good report and i'll re-
= port she has stood firm. She will
u never return member to Westmln-
= ster to be merely unit in either OF
the English political parties; she will
- only return a man who will run d!le.
glance to neither, and who with his
Nationalist colleagues will use Lotl
J" as opportunity offers to advance til.
cause of Ireland. (Applause.).
Now, what policy has Mr.. Knigh
to put before you? FIe has no posi-.
tive policy at all, no constructive pol
icy whatsoever. His policy is a mer.
i. negative. No home rule. We will no
have our country manage her own af
- fairs. We will continue to let Eng
land manage them in her own inter
- est. Or rather, perhaps. we have NJ
-, country; we are but England's garri
=, son here, and we mean to maintain
t., her power in this country, and to keel
the mere Irish under our feet.
~ Now this is the most extraordinar.
" attitude that ever any considerable
hodv of men took IN in the histOr,
{. Of the world. In every nation unde
r. heaven the people love their country
1e rejoice in her victories, weep for he
uf sorrows, resist any interference b1
~ outsiders in her business, everywher
IN in all the world save in Ulster. Goo
~ old Walter Scott asks with amaze
y ment-
,g "Breathes there a man with soul 8
,YI dead
Who never to himself hath said,
e. This is my own, my native land
'n He knew little of Ulster or he woul
u not have asked, that question. Sue
ch men breathe and live and move an
US have their being in. Fortadown an
re Shapkhill Road, men without coun
ds try and without cause, who clin
W madly to the last remnant of ascer
dancy that they once enjoyed ov'
ed their fellow countrymen, and soon'
than endanger shred Of 1t are pr.
J pared to send Ireland to the dev