The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-01-20
Evil In Store Now
The Outlook For
The Emerald Isle
CONTINUED from page ~

at is almost certain that if terms
be arranged between Lloyd George,
Bonar Law, Carson and Redmond an
essential condition will be the imposi-
ton of CONSUMPTION upon Ireland, with
the consent of the Irish leaders and
the alleged or assumed consent OF
the people. This is what the country
is now up against. This we must reso-
lutely oppose.
1--WE are not in the least concerned
about the Party truce and anxious
though we are for the achievement of
our national rights, we must above all
things be on our guard against being
deceived and entrapped into hasty
settlement. When Ireland is in the
enjoyment of such self-government it
will be the function of the elected rep
resentatives Of the people, deliberat-
ing in Ireland, to decide whether mill
tary service will be enforced or to
submit the question to a referendum,
as was done in Australia.
Great Irish Possibilities.
1.-THE time is pregnant with great
possibilities for good or evil affecting
the national cause. The circumstances
call for the utmost vigilance. The duty
of the hour is to be thoroughly pre-
pared and organized. If we relapse
into stolid Indifference or remain in
active we shall fail in our national
duty. There are some who seem to
think that it is not necessary to do
anything at present, but that we should
remain passive and wait for the next
development. This is the attitude that
betokens national imbecility. 1t is
nothing short of criminal folly. Those
who hold this view must be devoid of
any sense of responsibility.
MANY people who were sincere Ma
tionalists and anxious to secure gen.
silent when Mr.. Redmond was lauding
the Act on the Statute Book as a Char
ter of Liberty, because there appeared
to be so much apathy among the peo-
pie. Nationalism as understood in the
days of Parnell seemed almost extinct,
so that many of us were glad to accept
any tangible acknowledgement of the
right Of Ireland to self government.
"The fact, clearly demonstrated by
the Rising of the Easter Week, that
many gifted Irishmen were ready to
sacrifice their lives for that which
seemed dead or rapidly dying had
magnetic effect. 1t restored the nation
to consciousness and revived the Ma.
tional spirit.
THE revolt against Mr.. Redmond
and his party, which was the outcome
of the intense indignation at their &C.
,ceptance of the Lloyd George propos.
ais, had also a salutary tendency. Both
causes combined to bring about new
conditions favorable to a reunion of all
virile National forces-a reconciliation
of divergent sections.
~ 0uHi 6uOUts
Cali earnest Irishmen should COM
bine in making supreme and final
effort to secure our full national rights.
They should join in supporting with
their whole strength and vigor the de-
mand for complete self-government.
An opportunity now presents itself,
the like of which has not existed since
Grattan and the Volunteers secured
legislative independence in 1882
1--WE must rise to the occasion. Now
Is the appropriate time to heal all
old wounds, to put an end to all dis
sensions. The occasion is urgent, the
conditions favorable. The people are
willing and ready to respond. No pal
try or personal consideration should
be allowed to stand in the way.
Let us present our claim in a con.
crete form. Let us mobilize our Ma.
tional power and support our demand
with the irresistible strength of a
United People.
"The Irish National League has sup.
piled a platform wide enough for all
to stand on. The league upholds the
policy of independent opposition to
English parties. The abandonment of
this policy by Redmond has had disas-
trous consequences to the movement
led by him. His eagerness to pander
to English opinion and English senti.
ment, to be we'll thought of and we'll
spoken Of by English Ministers and the
English Press, was painful and humili.
ating to every self-respecting Irish.
man.
intoIerable Taxation.
''The Home Rule Act, 1914, does not
purport to make Ireland a self-govern
ing nation. It does not confer the es
sential powers of self-government. II
provides form of Home Rule with q
Parliament, to which very limited
powers are delegated. This is to be a
strictly subordinate Parliament-not q
National Parliament in any real sense