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Show THE NEW UNITED IRELAND. Already the clouds have rolled by and the sun of promise arises over Ireland. W. J. Onihan briefly describes the conditions he found there npon a recent visit and contrasts the new with the old to make the heart rejoice. The land act takes effect on the first of November. Already the knowledge that the Irish people will come into their own gives vigor to patriotic and social endeavor. It is manifested mani-fested everywhere throughout, the island. The anticipation an-ticipation already has assumed the shape of reality. It is as if the reforms were in full force and effect and tomorrow is some time next year. This achievement was wrought by the Irish people peo-ple alone, counting the assistance so generously rendered by the race and its descendants in America Amer-ica and elsewhere. It came through the incessant agitation and splendid maneuvering of the Irish members of parliament. Home rule, the land for the Irish, were ever lefpre them. It was as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Behind Be-hind that sentiment stood the Irish National league on both sides of 'the water. At length the British admitted 1hat the demands of the Irish were irresistible, that it would be dangerous to reject re-ject them. Therefore, for the peace of the empire, ' the landlords were bought-out. A sum reaching into five hundred million pounds, to be taken from the British treasury, represents the amount the Irish peasantry will pay, some time in the future, 'for coming into possession of the soil their an; cestors were pillaged by Strongbow and his conquering con-quering successors. Wc do not recall any act in history to strengthen strength-en the power of mortal suasion so forcibly as the .agitation the Irish presented. It had taken years of incessant struggle, yet not so many years. It had overcome the strongest opposition in parliament parlia-ment and out of parliament. It was never discouraged dis-couraged by apathy, never cast down by the misleading mis-leading if not guilty opposition of those who wished to turn moral suasion into armed conflict. ; Now that the battle has been won, the victory is so great that those who achieved it can be charit able to the faction, for the. ones who advocated physical force never expanded beyond a faction. Great hearts beat in the breasts of many of this faction. Irish blood boils over the memory of Irish persecution, over the memory of Irish martyrs. It cannot, help it. The name of Robert Emmet should fee as sacred now as if 'twere cold lead instead of land reform the British gave the Irish. Robert Emmet's anniversary, falls on the 20th. Over that. memory every Irishman should pledge unity with a resolution to make Irelaud an Emmets Em-mets Ireland.- All the dignities of rank which ihc British government might bestow on Irishmen would be a shadow; all the wealth of the kingdom with its colonies would be a bauble, compared to the treasure of love, which Irishmen bear for the name of Robert Emmet. |