The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-17
DAY OF REJOICING.
st. Patrick's Day Has Double
Meaning to Irish.
Should Celebrate Home Rule,
Says Thomas j. Brennan.

St Patrick's day-what fond recol-
lections doth it call forth to Erin sons,
and, moreover, to Irish exiles. 1t
draws the attention of the world to
the little Emerald Isle and her political
struggles. Each anniversary is made
the occasion of bright prophecies by
orators and poets. The scattered sons
of Erin gather at festal boards to dis
cuss the progress of Home Rule At
last an anniverSary-~has arrived and
well may they rejoice because the work
of those long fought years they are
about to reap. What is this boon that
t. Sons of Erin seek? 1t is the right
to legislate for themselves and main
tain separate parliament, where her
representa- tiVeS can make laws that will
advance the prosperity and happiness
of their country. They ask for a politi-
cal Hberty-the birthrfght of a long
suffering people, and. the demand of
this enlightened age, which at last is
Well-nigh granted.
Immediately after the passage of the
Home Rule bill through the house of
commons by a majority of ITO in it's
favor, Mr. Redmond NJ. p. who steered
the ship of Irish freedom through
many a trying storm, on behalf of the
Irish party made grateful acknowledge
ment of the assistance of Americans
who had helped him and his associates
to carry the fight for self-government
to success. His statement to the
British and Irish press was, in part,
as follows:
RedmOnd's Statement.
''On behalf of the Irish party and the
Irish people, 1 heartily congratulate the
British nation on the passage of the
third Home Rule bill through the house
of commons and tender to the Liberal
and Labor parties, to the Scottish and
Welsh members and to their supporters
both in and out of parliament, our
ORG for WI
they championed to victory the cause
of justice to Ireland.
1.-The Home Rule bill is the charter
of liberty for Ireland and an act of
part of Great Britain, and as such it
will be accepted by the Irish nation at
home and abroad.
THE passage of the bill into law is
assured and the effect of its opera
ton in Ireland will be not only to in
augurate new era of peace and pros
perity, but to weld together Irishmen
of every creed in an indissoluble bond
of brotherhood and of happiness of
their motherland''
What a happy thrill is sent to the
heart of the Irish person or of those
who ever studied Irish history when
reading the above words, because they
are glad that the bitter strife between
Ireland and England is at an end.
The Nationalist, under the leadership
of Mr.. John Redmond have succeeded
in bringing about Home Rule, because
they knew that the mere evolution of
time would secure an act of parliament
which would enable ireland to control
her own destinies and to put herself into
a position of prosperous and SELF
supporting nation. 1t was only the
foundation of their prosperity They
had a country in which their population
was dwindling, where their trades were
decaying and where their agriculture
was not as efficient as it ought to be-
and to cure these maladies the house
of commons found it necessary to pass
the Home Rule bill.
Opponents Routed.
The Balfour, the Cecil and the
Chamberlain groups whose alliance
was founded on the hatred of Ireland
and a stern resolve to keep her weak
and enslaved, are now flung in disorder
before the assaults of an awakened
democracy. Their only plea against
the Home Rule bill was that the rest
of ireland would overrule the north.
but the Protestants of the south are
willing to accept Home Rule in full
confidence and liberation of their Cath
Ole countrymen. 1t would appear that
they are perfect savages in ireland,
filed with venom and -ef1e deepest re-
ligious bigotry, but this is ludicrous
caricature of the real conditions that
exist there. The Irish Catholics recon-
cile the profoundest religious convic-
ton with the profoundest respect for
the religious convictions of other peo-
pie. Is there any possibility of any dan
ger to libertieS-Social or political-of
the minority, and the Nationalist
party included tile Catholics and the
Protestants of Ulster2 If there is any
danger, Irish Professionals require no
other safeguard than the Protestant
len, IF England Scotland and Wales