Speech by
Maud Gonne
at
The Limerick Athenaeum
1900
[Source: Limerick Leader 14 December 1900. Original captions and text layout].
IRELAND AND HER FOREIGN RELATIONS
Eloquent Lectures By Miss Maude Gonne.
On Wednesday night a lecture entitled "Ireland and Her Foreign Relations," was delivered by Miss Maude Gonne in the Athenaeum, under the auspices of the Limerick Young Ireland Society. There was a very large attendance, and Miss Gonne got a most enthusiastic reception. The Mayor presided, and amongst those on the platform were Messrs James Connery, B C; J H Moran, solicitor, B C; John Godsell, B C; J. Power, Hon Secretary, Limerick Young Ireland Society; Alderman Thomas Prendergast, James Moloney, BC; T B Gough, B C; P Moloney, B C. Amongst the audience were many Unionists, who seemed to take a deep interest in the proceedings. The Boherbuoy Brass Band performed a remarkably fine selection of Irish Airs, under the baton of Mr. Moane, before the proceedings opened. As Miss Gonne, accompanied by the Mayor, came on the platform the "Marseilles" was played, the audience standing while the well-known strains filled the air. Mr Power, Hon Sec, read the following letter from Father Kavanagh, O S F, President of the Society:
Franciscan House,
Henry Street,
Limerick
December 12th, 1900.
Mr Power,
Secretary,
Limerick Young Ireland Society.
Dear Mr. Power
In reply to your letter, I beg to say that owing to the fact of our community being on retreat this week, I cannot have the honour and pleasure at presiding at Miss Gonne's lecture. Miss Gonne has set the womanhood of Ireland a bright example by her zealous advocacy of the cause of our oppressed country, an advantage which they might follow with credit to themselves and with great advantage to their native land. Afflicted Erin calls upon her daughters as well as upon her sons to uphold her cause. I fear, however, that the cause of freedom of Ireland, of which Miss Gonne is so fearless and strenuous an advocate, can make but little progress till our schools, at least our voluntary ones, are nationalised and our people are taught to speak the language and to know the history of their own country.
I remain, dear Mr. Power.
Yours faithfully,
Rev P F Kavanagh.
The Mayor, who was received with applause, said that as they perceived from the letter just read, he owed the honour of presiding there that night to Father Kavanagh not being able to attend. In any event he felt it was his duty to be there to join with
Father Kavanagh and the citizens of Limerick in giving Miss Maude Gonne a reception (hear, hear). It afforded him considerable pleasure to see such an audience there that night; an audience seldom seen in the Hall, because it is proof positive that those who acted with him in securing the Hall for Miss Gonne's lecture were complying with THE WISHES OF THE CITIZENS OF LIMERICK (hear, hear). It would, certainly, be a strange thing in the city of Limerick if Miss Gonne could not get a hall to lecture in, particularly when they knew that the hall belonged to the people. He hoped that the spirit, which prompted the objection to let the hall, had received a sufficient check to prevent its being again repeated. Miss Gonne had not come for any political purpose. She had come there to place her services at the disposal of the Young Ireland Society, which was not a political association but an
association whose object was to educate the young manhood of Ireland to know those things that are necessary to make Ireland a nation (loud applause). He then introduced Miss Gonne to the audience. Miss Maude Gonne, who was received with enthusiastic cheering, then proceeded with her lecture. She said it was strange how for the past century Ireland's foreign relations HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED. The building of a friendship abroad based on mutual interests, on mutual sympathies, on mutual hates does not seem to have seriously occupied the attention of any of the various leaders who have held the political destinies of Ireland in their hands, yet if it is of importance to free and prosperous countries to cultivate foreign relations and make friends and allies for themselves in the world, how far more important is it for a country like Ireland, whose national existence is menaced and assailed by the greediest and most tyrannical of modern nations. In the past the men who carried on the struggle for national independence did not thus ignore the world, or refuse to look outside their local political horizon. The great northern chiefs were in constant communication with Spain in the time of Elizabeth. Indeed, many times in her troubled history Ireland has received comfort and sympathy from Spain, but by far the most important of all her foreign relations, was the military relations which existed in the past between France and Ireland, and which form a bond of sympathy never to be destroyed. Even today they influence almost unconsciously the feeling of the French people towards us and prepare the way for us if we but knew how to take advantage of it. In 1693, James II was making his feeble effort to withstand William III. France, under Louis XIV, had reached the highest pinnacle of glory, yet it was not beneath the dignity of THIS SPLENDID MILITARY POWER to make a military exchange with Ireland. Six thousand French troops under Count de Louzon, came to Ireland to assist the cause of James II. They fought for him at the Battle of the Boyne, and with the exception of the Irish Cavalry were the most efficient soldiers in that unequal battle. At the same time that those six thousand French troops were in Ireland, six thousand Irish soldiers, under Lord Mountcashel, went to France, but, Miss Gonne continued, here in the town of Sarsfield, I have little need to remind you of the bravery of the Irish Brigades, and of the way they upheld Ireland's honour by fighting for the enemies of England, even as today John McBride and the Irish Brigade organised by him saved Ireland's honour in the Transvaal (loud cheers). The lecturer then proceeded to refer to the period of the United Irishmen when their council SENT WOLFE TONE TO PARIS as their ambassador to negotiate for French assistance. Ah! how near we were to freedom in '98 nearer than we have ever been since. If the large French armament which in 1796, under General Hoche, which sailed from Brest to Bantry Bay, had been able to land, what a prosperous and happy country Ireland would be today. In the following year, thanks to Tone's untiring energy and perseverance, the Batavian, or Dutch Republic, with the help of France, undertook to equip another expedition to free Ireland. Again the weather was against us, and after waiting two months the troops had to disembark owing to scarcity of provisions. The English Government having discovered the important role played by United Irishmen abroad, the policy of coercion was carried on with double vigour in Ireland, and every effort made to goad the Irish into open rebellion. It was when the rebellion of '98 was crushed out in blood and England held Ireland tighter than ever in her deadly grasp that the long looked for expedition from France succeeded in landing. On August 22nd, 1798, General Humbert and some thousand French soldiers landed at Killala, and in spite of the fact that England had 150,000 trained troops in Ireland, the French succeeded in taking the whole province of Connaught and winning the famous battle of Castlebar (cheers). As was said before, during this century Ireland's relations with foreign nations seemed to have been COMPLETELY NEGLECTED unless we count the relations with America which have grown up, not from any conscious effort on the part of our leaders but owing to the emigration of millions of our fellow countrymen who have been driven by English made famine and misery from their homes, and who by their racial vigour and intelligence have gained a preponderant place for themselves in the great Western Republic. Here again the influence they wield does not help the Irish cause as it might, because the diplomatic side is almost entirely ignored. The Irish vote in America is too often divided, the larger part voting Democrat, believing that party to be the most hostile to England, and to England's financial influence; the other part voting Republican, because they think that the tariff supported by the Republican party will injure England, and that the Imperial policy of expansion may some day BRING ABOUT A COLLISION between Imperial America and the British Empire.
Thus in America, chiefly for want of a settled foreign policy and a study of foreign relations in their bearings on the Irish cause, we find the great Irish element neutralising themselves, until it becomes possible for the Government of the country of Washington to refuse its shores, crowned by the statue of Liberty, to two poor Irishmen, Fitz-Harris and Mullet, whom England had punished so cruelly because they refused to turn traitor to their country and their comrades. Fitz-Harris and Mullet were forbidden to land because England would be displeased had they been welcomed by their countrymen in America. Yet the power of the millions of Irish might wield in America is enormous, and it is all but wasted except for the generosity which prompts the poor Irishmen escaped from the grinding evils of British law to send their hard-earned money to help the old cause they love and will love till the day of their death (loud applause). America is more a source of weakness than of strength. America attracts our people too much - the temptation to fly from England's tyranny to "The Land of Liberty" is too great, and many of our boys who should stay at home and face poverty for the sake of the National cause, and our girls whose work it should be
to build up our race, go over to America and get lost to Ireland, and alas, too often sink into the terrible mass of struggling misery on which the colossal fortunes of those American millionaires we hear so much about are built. Emigration is destroying Ireland, it is carrying out England's work of extermination. If we want to free Ireland it is not be deserting her (loud cheers). We must stay at home and fight for her (renewed cheering). Miss Gonne then dealt with a most important subject - our trade abroad. She said that much could be done to establish commercial relations between Ireland and the continent, but not through England or by looking to England. It was against England's interest that Ireland should be prosperous, and she will always use her influence to check any chances of Irish prosperity. But, in spite of England, by a little initiative and energy, on the part of our manufacturers, much could be done to FIND MARKETS FOR IRISH GOODS abroad. An enormous amount of Irish lace is
sold in France, and at very high prices, much higher than the same articles ARE SOLD IN IRELAND. Miss Gonne asked the head of the lace department where he bought the lace in Ireland and he said it was got in London, and had to pay such a price for it there that but little profit could be made on it in France. She told him the price that would be paid for the article under discussion (an Irish crochet lace collar) in Dublin, and he seemed surprised, and asked her for and address to write to, so that, if possible, the next order, which was of over £1,000, for crochet lace could be placed directly in Ireland, and so do away with the English middleman (cheers). I saw the whole correspondence, said Miss Gonne, which passed on both sides over this affair. Ireland got very little of that order, and I was not surprised, for not being in the habit of trading directly with France, or fulfilling such large orders, they seemed so unbusinesslike to the quick Frenchman that I am afraid he returned to do business with the English middleman only probably he somewhat reduced the profits that
gentleman was making (hear, hear). I feel sure is some of our manufacturers took the
trouble to study ways of direct communication with France and other European centres, and had agents in Paris, they could do a great deal of business. Miss Gonne also referred to the sale of Irish Tweeds and woollens in France, and contended that Irish manufacturers should have agents of their own on the Continent. They would SECURE LARGER PROFITS and be able to pay their employees larger wages. The manager of a very large drapery establishment in Paris told her he tried to get his buyers to buy Irish tweeds directly from Ireland, but had found great reluctance on their part to do so. It was he who told me of these commissions given by the English middlemen, and said this was probably one of the causes of the reluctance of going directly to Ireland for Irish goods. But perhaps, continued Miss Gonne, I am getting too political for some of the committee of the Athenaeum, and the members of the Young Ireland Society of Limerick would never forgive me if did that, so I am now going to talk of the Irish Brigade; I know that will be a safe subject and pleasing to all of you. I consider that John McBride has done more for Ireland by organising the Irish Brigade in the Transvaal than any living man. It saved Ireland's honour at a time when there was great need. The English Press, and the English news agencies all over the world (for England does not neglect her foreign relations), and as John Mitchell so well pointed out, she takes care to HOLD THE EAR OF THE WORLD. English news agencies, I say, were publishing the fact abroad that sixteen thousand Irishmen were fighting for her in the Transvaal, and the world was crying shame on Ireland and saying that the Irish were miserable slaves and deserved to remain so. I need not, before a society of which Father Kavanagh is the president, dwell on the awful crime an Irishman commits against his motherland by joining the English army and wearing the uniform of his oppressors. Father Kavanagh has done more with his courageous tongue and pen to check recruiting than anyone. It is difficult for anyone not living abroad to fully realise the harm done to the Irish cause by the publication of the fact that Irishmen can be found voluntarily to wear the red uniform of shame, and the work of creating sympathy for Ireland on the continent which I and my fellow workers on l'Irlande Libre has been trying to do for many years seem very much compromised. The Editor of Le Petit Parisian, a well known French paper, which has generally been friendly to the Irish cause, told me plainly "It is no use telling us of the Irish National movement, or expecting our sympathy with your struggle, when there are thousands of Irishmen fighting for England against liberty? What is the use of meetings and demonstrations? Keep your countrymen out of the English army if you wish us in France to believe in your sincerity." And this is the feeling everywhere, though, perhaps not quite so hardly expressed, but when in spite of England's efforts to deny or to ridicule the fact, the news got out that there was an Irish Brigade fighting on the side of the Boers, and French officers who were out in the Transvaal testified to the wonderful courage DISPLAYED BY THAT BRIGADE. The whole situation changed. Yes, it was deplorable that Irishmen should be found to
fight in the English ranks, but in every country there are black sheep and men who
bring disgrace on their people, but, at least, the Irish people were on the side of the
Boers, and Irishmen were fighting on their side for freedom, and so the French gave the Irish Ambulance men, sent out by the Transvaal Committee, a grand reception on their way through Paris and many were the cries of "vive l'Irlande" may she too soon be free," which echoed at the banquet which was given in honour of the men who were going to the Transvaal, and later on, in July, when the Irish delegates were received by the French Municipal Council, M Escudier, vice-president of that Council, openly wished success to our causes. The news came that whole regiments of Irish soldiers were being made prisoners and of Irish regiments shot down by the English guns because they would not fight against the Boers, and the Irish soldiers got the credit of having stampeded the mules and sympathy for Ireland arose on the Continent. When Mr. John O'Leary, Major McBride, myself, and the other delegates from the Transvaal Committee who presented the Irish address to President Kruger, drove through the assembled crowd of French people on the way to the station to meet the President on his arrival in Paris, there were long and loud cheers of "vive l'Irlande," VIVE FREE IRELAND." We were the only foreign delegation who were admitted by the French authorities to a place on the platform for the arrival of Kruger. I shall never forget, when later we presented those Irish addresses to the President at his hotel, I could hardly speak I felt so ashamed that we in Ireland are not fighting as the Burghers in the Transvaal, instead of only presenting addresses. Thank God, Major McBride was there, and suddenly the old President recognised him, and held out his hand, and his voice rang out as he thanked him for the brave deeds he had done, and complemented the Irish Brigade "vive l'Irlande, vive la liberte," cried the crowd, who waited round the hotel all the while the President was in Paris, as they recognised the Irish delegation when we came away. They had been ordered not to cry "down with England," but they made up for it by crying "vive l'Irlande," and certainly no cry could be more displeasing to the English. I have told you about the sympathy there is for Ireland in France. We can always count on the French Press and French public opinion for support in our struggle for independence. Some day events may make it possible for France to help us STILL MORE EFFECTUALLY, but fellow-countrymen, we must first show we deserve help and are worthy of it. No one will fight for you if you are not ready to fight for yourselves. That thought should be always in the back of our minds, so that when the occasion comes we will not let it slip by. Trust to yourselves first by all means, but do not let us forget our foreign relations. The ground in France for sympathy for Ireland was all prepared by historical tradition, by fraternity of blood, shed together on many battle fields, but is required years on unceasing work on the part of one or two of us to make that vague sentiment towards Ireland a living reality among the French people. One year, I counted that I had got two thousand notices on Ireland in the French Press (applause). Far more might be done in this direction if the leaders of the Irish people would only turn their attention to it. What has been done in France should be done in the other capitals of Europe. Where-ever England has an enemy, there Ireland is sure to find a
friend. The Foreign Press should be regularly supplied with news direct from Ireland, not news garbled from English news agencies, articles concerning Ireland which appear abroad should be commented upon in our home papers, commercial connections between Ireland and the Continent should be studied. It was a scandal that at the Paris Exhibition, for instance, there was no specially Irish section. This was solely owing to want of initiative on our own part and to our idiotic habit of allowing England to make what ARRANGEMENTS FOR US SHE PLEASES. The French would willingly have granted us a space apart. Why even Finland, which is under Russian rule, and who protests against that rule, had her won little pavillion. It was very small because, I suppose, Finland is not a rich country, but it was there all the same and Ireland had nothing except a few scattered things in the English section, but I felt too cross and humiliated to visit it. And yes we might have a lovely exhibition, which would have been a credit to our country, and would have drawn attention to the fact of Ireland's separate national existence - our wonderful old gold ornaments, the old illuminated missiles, finer than any I saw at the exhibition; our lovely laces, the linens, the woollen goods, our beautiful Beleek china, our Irish marbles, and many other things would have made an exhibition of which we could have been proud. We had no exhibition, and yet for the very reason that England always overshadows and blights our industries. It is more vitally important to us, than to almost any other people, to make our goods known. We had no exhibition, because none of us seemed to realise that there are other countries outside England and America, and that some of those countries are our natural friends, and may be some day our allies. We hear a great deal about tourist development in this country, and
with that deplorable habit we have got into, we at once turn our eyes to England and we see a horrible vulgar crowd of people which makes most of us shudder and pray God save Ireland from them, but if a tourist traffic with France could be cultivated that would be a very different thing. Many French people go to Scotland, but few come to Ireland, because so little is known in France of Ireland. There are French travel bureaux and agencies equivalent to Cook and Gazes who organise circular tours to the various countries of Europe. Those might be approached and asked to organise tours and excursions to Ireland. They would easily be made popular in France.
In conclusion it seems to me that connection with England is both politically and
commercially ruinous to Ireland.. But we have in France a people who are almost of THE SAME RACE AS OURSELVES; to whom we are bound by historical and traditional ties of friendship. Let us look away from England and turn our eyes to France, and by strengthening by every means in our power the relations, commercial, social and political, which exist between us and that great Republic, England's policy of grab, greed and plunder must make for her many enemies abroad. Ireland need not share those enmities; she does not share, nor wish to share, England's plunder. Every enemy who England has must necessarily be a friend of Ireland. Let us cultivate such friendships more than we have done in the past. In the present they would be most encouraging, and helpful to us in the future. When we in Ireland will get our chance of striking for liberty, they may be our salvation (applause).
Mr. J. H. Moran said he was asked by the Limerick Young Ireland Society to propose a vote of thanks to one whom he might term the Joan of Arc of this country (applause). He assured them that a more pleasurable honour was never conferred upon him in his lifetime. There was no necessity for him to dwell at length on the excellent treat, which had been given them by Miss Gonne. He would say, however, that they were going to honour the lady who delivered the lecture by conferring
upon her the freedom of the city. In conclusion, he would say: May God bless herand spare her our future usefulness for this unfortunate land of ours (applause).
Mr. Godsell seconded the vote of thanks, which was carried with loud applause.
The Mayor, in declaring the vote passed unanimously, said he trusted Miss Gonne would allow him to add his humble tribute to the thanks, which he conveyed to her. He dare not attempt to speak on the lecture that they had listened to that night. The presence of the lecturer was an abject lesson to them. Who amongst them but treasured some wrong against the Government of England? Who amongst them could look back for two generations without knowing that those they loved were evicted, oppressed, or driven out of the land, and who in that audience not Nationalists would but FEEL SENSIBLE OF THE WRONG done to the Irish people in her foreign relations from a commercial and financial point of view (applause). Miss Gonne enjoyed all the luxury that the plunderers of the people enjoyed, yet she had gone over to the people's cause (applause). She had been stigmatised as a felon and slandered by the English Press because she felt in her heart and soul that she could not have peace in life if she did not share in the misery of the people, and held the people to rise above sordid riches.
A Voice: Cead mille failthe, mavourneen.
The Mayor went on to refer to the suppression of the lecture about to be given by Miss Gonne to Liverpool Irishmen, and said when the lecture was abandoned, there was another arrangement made for its delivery by men who knew HOW TO ACCOUNT FOR THEMSELVES. Here she displayed her spirit of humanity and charity by declaring: "No! I know that you are well able to take care of yourselves, but perhaps there will be near at hand an opportunity of your doing so" (loud cheers).
The Mayor also said that the thousands spent on a convention which had for its object the expulsion of a member of the Irish Party might be better spent in improving Ireland's foreign relations. Miss Gonne, in the course of a brief reply, referred to the fact that there was a large number of ladies present, and she recommended that the women of Limerick should form a branch of the "Daughters of Erin" Society, which was doing such good work in Dublin (applause).
The proceedings terminated, the band playing "God Save Ireland."
END
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