At Cork last Sunday, Mr. William Redmond, addressing an open-air
meeting, said the people were getting tired of Parliamentary action, and that "if they could not bring back some sort of legislative reform, then he should say the time had come when Irishmen should drill themselves rather than sign ballot-papers," and quoted Mr. O'Brien's recent remark that England's danger would be Ireland's opportunity. That has been the language held by at least one section of the Irish people, ever since the Union, and yet that language would be a vast deal more to the point, after Ireland had obtained a Parlia- ment and executive of her own, than it is now, and, in our belief, would be much more popular in that case too ; for the threatening of the weak is a much more agreeable and fascinating occupation than the threatening of the strong. On the same day, at Limerick, Mr. Clancy said that if the Irish did not obtain Home-rule "they would, at all events, be a thorn in the side of England." Certainly, and a much sharper and more formidable thorn if they did obtain it, than if they do not.
Previous page
