The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1918-03-09
JOHN REDMOND, NATIONALIST LEADER, PASSES TO
{ THE GREAT BEYOND.

THE GREAT BEYOND
The death of John E. Redmond leader of the
Irish Nationalist party from the of Irish
affairs (now world afairs) who had played highly
important role therein since the death Parne in
1891. The decade following the that Incompatible
leader of dissension and strife the following
that he had crysalzed into such magnificent and effective
unity This faconal contention, always, fostered
by English reachery and political machinaton until the
Irish party almost reduced impotence 1t fell to the
lot of Redmond reune the smembered fragments and
his familiarity with the and policies of Parnel was
the which enabled him accomplish this difficult
task Under his leadership the National again came
back into prestige and dignity in the British Parliament
and from it remedial for Ireland
notably the passage of the Land Purchase Act of 19O3
the most sweeping land reform in it's tragic history.
The prospects for Home Rule frightened, the Lib
erals under Campbell and later under Asquit
having pledged their and support of the great
objective of the Irish Finally in 1914 the Home Rule
bill enacted into statute but suspended in opera
ton because of the world Its enactment in the
unsatisfactory form to which finally reduced was
regarded signal victory for Redmond and his cowork
Irish party although that have since
transpred in the worlds history have tended to diminish
the Importance of that achievement
1t was connection with reform and
the Home Rule bill that Redmond displayed his eminent
powers of leadership and his skill in parliamentary
cedure AS valuable and trusted lieutenant of Parnell
he had acquired much of the skill of that master states
the ntricacies of British politics. and he had the
adrOitness and eOquence put this knowledge to
teal in securing the of reform legislation for
his suffering country He welded to the idea of con-
stituiona agitation against the of violence
and force that of his countrymen driven in
desperation to adopt the only effective of wrench
justice and selfgovernment from the By
of his adherence this standpoint and what
his opponents characterize his weak surrenders
lentess he had in later estranged of
his followers from his support Nevertheless he retained
the full confidence of his parliamentary associates to the
end
Meanwhile there has into Ireland vigorous renas
soul and under the directing power of the
Sim party The policies leadership of the Nation
alists have been challenged and great extent repudi
ated Controversies still going in Ireland and else
among the friends of the with respect the
issues which Redmond took such firm stand 1t
would be ungracious here the merits of these
questions which there such honest and sincere
diversity of opinion But in this connection feel that
it is only fair remind all rishmen and friends of the
Irish that the world has taken stride
ward since 1914 The principle of democracy in
men for example, has been hammered into the minds and
hearts Of the people of the whole world through the medium
of the world and the question Irish
is universally recognized only application OF
that great principle to particular Neither the
British parliament the British people receptive
to this fundamental concept four they to-
day Redmond at the time of the passage of the Home
Rule bill dealing with different Britain from
that of oday-a fact which his ippant and nconsderate
critics to have overlooked In the perspective OF
history only will be possible to apprae his distinguished
services for his country at their true value but it but
fair at the the part of those who would
pass judgment upon his conduct political affairs
in mind the radical changes that have taken place in these
four never-tobeforgotten years. Neither Redmond mol
any other could have anticipated them, soaring
the strongest pnions of imagination We living
time which not and could not have been fore
Swallowed by genius calculation prophecy wherein thu
statesmen of land have fallen into Shall Red
monds errors-if such they werenot be considered IL
light those Of the other world administrators
Is the Irish Convention awaiting St. Patrck's Day t.
it's report is of the right kind appro
pirate could be selected from the years calendar