The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-06-18
IRISH INFLUENCE
IN GREAT BRITAIN
A Determining Factor, to a Great
Extent, in Making or Unmakine
Governments.
The Recent Convention of the U. l.
L. in Belfast Affords Food
for Reflection.
Men Prominent in Every Profession
Took Active Part in the
Proceedings.

lOCOOO1l1S0.
The annual convention of the
United Irish League of Great Britain
recently held in Belfast, affords abun-
dant food for reflection and subject
for comment, writes o. B. M. in the
Catholic Union and Times.
This organization represents the
Irish who are domiciled in England,
Scotland and Wales. They deserve
for the present hour more particular
attention than any other body of Irish
men in the world. The convention re-
called and was evidence itself of the
fact that the Irish are no longer mere
ly hewers of wood and carriers of wa
ter in the cross channel country. Men
prominent in every profession in
Great Britain took part in the proceed
ings. Roughly speaking, the Irish in
Great Britain number about 100000.
They are thoroughly organized for
political purposes and always ready
at the command Of their leaders. In
this respect it is estimated that at
election time the Irish vote controls
at least 40 and probably 60 parlia-
'mentary seats, counting from so to
12O on a division. Hence, for some
years to- come this Irish influence in
Great Britain will, to great extent,
be a determining factor in making or
unma King governments. Taken in
conjunction with the Irish party from
Ireland, they will be able to show
that if they are not allowed to govern
their own country they will govern
England and the Empire. :
Sympathy for Royal Family. >
One of the first acts of this con-
vention in Belfast was to pass reso-
lutions of sympathy for the bereaved
Royal Family, and to send messages
of coincidence to the Queen Mother
and to the new king. This Is we'll
worthy of note. Be it remarked that
the greatest enemies of Ireland are
the exclusive Tories of Great Britain
and the ascendancy party in Ireland
itself. Centuries Of religious and ra-
cial ascendancy have woven into the
brain of these Irish Unionists, the
conviction that the country is theirs
and the fullness thereof, and that the
native race should remain in a con-
dition of inferiority. They pose as
loyalists; they trade in loyalty, and
they carry on continual campaign
in England to convince the English
public that all Irish Nationalsts are
disloyal, that every Irish movement
is rebellion, and that Home Rule
spells separation. Posing thus as the
only loyalists, they get the fat jobs.
and on these they thrive. It must be
confessed that the average English
mans objection to Home Rule Is meas
ured by the credence he gives to
these calumnies. AS matter of fact,
the Irish Catholics have never been
dislopal to the crown. Their fault in
this matter has always run to the
other extreme. They fought for Eng
lish monarchs who were worthless
The most worthless Of all was, per-
land, James II. But he was the legiti-
mate sovereign and the Irish fought
for him to the last ditch. The mani
festations of Irish sympathy since the
late kings death are not spasmodic.
O'Connell the greatest Nationalist of
the last century, always referred to
the Golden link of the Crown
Smith O'Brien, the greatest rebel, de-
clared that his grievance was not
with the crown but with the united
parliament.
If, however, Irishmen in the past
had manifested this loyalty as they
have done for the past month, it would
have been misrepresented and misin-
leA pIeteu III 11h6inhu W oHoW lHdt
Ireland was pacified, and that the de-
! mand for self-government. was but
the play of politicians. And so the as
cendancy party has worked the game
in England and against Ireland. But
the game is well nigh played out !;
and these Irish in Great Britain have