SIR THOMAS ESMONDE ON UNITY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 42, 5 August 1892, Page 15

SIR THOMAS ESMONDE ON UNITY.

The following is the sptech made by Sir Thomas Esmonde at the late convention of Eildare :—: —

It is to be regretted, gentlemen, that the necessity has arisen for a change in the repesentation of this country. Individually I dteply deplore the necessity. It is at a considerable sacrifice of personal feeling that lam here to-day. But, since tbe necessity has arisen we must meet it. Since the supreme interests of the country demand the sacrifice of personal feelings, we must make the sacrifice (cheers). For, as Irish Nationalists, we must lay down as a cardinal principle for our political guidance, to allow no personal consideration to stand between us and our duty to Ireland (cheers). We have tried conciliation and conciliation has failed. We have spared no effort to bring back our opponents to the National ranks. Our efforts have been in vain. We have gone as far as we possibly could for the sake of peace. If we are not to have peace the fault is not on our side, and our opponents will probably agree that the country now will hear of no more compromise (hear, heir). It only remains to face the situation. We must pursue the course, and the only course, which our duty marks out clearly and unmistakably, and which the safety of the cause requires (cheers). We must appeal to the verdict of our countrymen. Our case is this— We stand under the old flag and for the old cause (cheers). We stand for a united Irish Party, independent of all English parties, and pledged to maintain the continuity of the policy which has brought our movement to the very verge of success (renewed cheers), We are pledged to our countrymen to miss no chance of securing the victory of National principle, and to leave nothing undone to bring liberty first, and then prosperity and happiness to every section of our people (cheers). If you require a guarantee for its fulfilment what better can you have than that of our past record ? (cheers). We are not fond of blowing our own trumpet. We are not inclined, nor have we ever been inclined, to prate of our patriotism, our honesty, our devotion, our zeal, our independence, our incorruptibility— and all the rest. We have no time for that sort of thing. We prefer to leave ourselves and our characters to the disinterested and intelligent criticism and judgment of the nation at large (cheers). Our only purpose is to work lor Ireland, and the only reward we ambition lies in the consciousness of doing useful work for Ireland (renewed cheers). It is only when we are denounced as unfit to work for Ireland, and not to be trnsted to serve her, that we call in the farmers of Ireland and the labourers of Ireland as witnesses in our behalf. We ask them what we have done for ttem. We ask them how we have done it. And we put it to them— not upon the score of gratitude, we utterly refuse to beg for thanka— we put it to them upon the grounds of selfinterest. We ask them whether or no are they better off than when we took their case in hand, and if they are better off through our exertions are we not worth the continuance of their support (hear, hear). They know well enough that whatever has been gained for them has been gained by the labours of a united Irish Parliamentary Party ? (cheers);

Whatever else they want can only be gained by a united Parliamentary Party (cheers). Bat whatever else they want will molt certainly be won if they return to Westminster a united, disciplined, organised body of men, who being united will be independent enough to compel tespect to their demands, and to obtain the fulfilment of their desire (hear, hear). Thtre are practical if selfish reasons why you should use every endeavour to return Mr Minch and Mr Kennedy at the head of tha polls, bat Kildare men have higher and nobler instincts to which I may appeal, and, gentlemen, is it not the strangest irony of fate that we should be compelled to struggle to-day for a united Irish party in the very district which 100 years ago was the nursery of United Irishmen, and in support of these same principles for which so many of oar forefathers laid down their lives I (A delegate—" We all remember Henry Grattan." Cheers.) No doubt our methods and theirs are diffeient. They used their pikes (cheers). We use our votes. But they fought for Irish liberty and so do we (cheerß). They fought for equal, civil and religious rights for every Irishman, and so do we (loud cheer 1 ). They fought for the recognition and the securing of Ireland's rank and title among the .nations of the earth. We do the same (cheers). Our cause is their cause. We are their children ; we inherit their principles. They laid down their lives for Ireland (cheerß). We would lay down ours to-morrow if we could serve Ireland by so doing (loud cheers), They failed because discord rent them asunder. Shall we fail, and for the same reason, gentlemen 1 (Loud cries of " No, no.") No I We shall not fail, at all events in patriotic Eildare, unless Kildaremen have entirely forgotten the teaching and the lesson, the Bpirit and the heroism of '98 (loud and prolonged cheering).