The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-05-04
DUBLIN CONVENTION
MARKED BY HARMONY
Ireland was Never More Completely
United Even in Palmiest Days
of ParnelI.
Not a Single Voice of Discord
Marred Great Demonstration
in Dublin.
The English and Irish Democratic
Forces Standing Together for
Popular Measures.

Party strife is gradually regainng
its hold on English public opinion and
interest in the Irish convention was
intense The tories were hoping for
repetition of the saner results as at
the Irish councils on the bill and filed
their papers for several days with
confident prophecies of the breaking
away of this section or that from John
Redmond's acceptance of Premier AS
quith's Home Rule bill, says T. p.
O'Connor in the Chicago Tribune Of
April 2S.
All these hopes were absolutely
false, and now the tory journals raise
the opposite cry that the convention
was too carefully machined to allow
any difference of opinion. AS a mat
ter of fact, however, the convention
was too gigantic to allow machining
by anybody and no attempt was even
contemplated to interfere with its
absolute freedom Of decision.
The only apprehension Of the orr
ganizers OF the convention was that
the crowds would he so cverwhclm-
ing as to lead to the impossibility of
finding sufficient SPACE ana thus there
was chance of disorderly rush and
gSeat disappointment. These peril.
We're averted by the holding of two
conventions simultaneously, one in
doors and the other in the open air.
which were addressed alternately by
Redmond, Dillon. Dcvlin, myself, and
others.
Synboized Great Improvement.
impression not merely by its size but
by the appeal and spirit. Nothing
could I've more eloquently symbolistic
of the gigantic improvement of Irish
conditions through the land other re-
forms won by the Irish party during
the last quarter century. as every
delegate was well dressed. sclf-re-
strained, and thoughtful. Though the
convention was too gigantic for q dis
cussion OF the details of the bill, every
one had evidently grasprd It's main
features, had discussed them in every
roadside in Ireland, and had come
with a mind made up and a firm de-
termination not to allow faction or
folly to- interfere with Ireland's chance
OF getting all the essentials of free
dom which the bill offers.
Thus, after Rcdmonds speech ex.
planning the bill, no further debate
was desired and the only reason why
the next speaker secondng Redmond's
acceptance of the bill was heard was
that he was the lord mayor of Cork
who had just beer elected unani-
mously and who has been i supporte,
o: the Irish party and an opponent ol
William O'Brlcn. This marked the
slow triumph of unity over faction
even in the small corner held for.
merly by O'Bricn.
When the acceptance of the bill was
put to the convention in a scene o.
immense enthusiasm, the absence o
one voice Of discord gave as remark.
1 able an expression Of unity as thu
nations of the world ever saw. Thre,
things stand out in relief from tn,
first is that there is greater unity II
| Ireland than ever in It's history, no
excepting the palmicst days of Par
nell's leadership, and that there is al
absolute intrustins of Irisn dcstinie
today to Redmond and the Irish part!
by the whole Irish people.
The second was the unbounded en-
! thusiasm in the reception Of Glad
stones grandson and the third wa.
the generous acceptance by Irelant
OF .England's proffer of a firm friend
ship on the basis Of equality and JUS
tice, as embodied in Asquith's bill.
Despair Seizes Tories.
The high hopes of the Home Rul
ers are made higher by the announce
ment Of the determination Of the gov
ernment to press on to the furthe
stages of the Home Rule bill withou
delay. The tories were almost speech
less with amazement and despa