8
right to say to his country, 'Thus far shalt thou go and no farther.' We have never attempted to fix the ne plus ultra to the progress of Ireland's nationhood, and we never shall."
This is the chiselled watchword of all the Nationalist sections. Thousands of quotations to the same effect can be cited from Nationalist speakers. The cry is iterated day by day. Not one of them would be listened to in Ireland if he spoke on a lower key. The ultimate aim of the Irish Nationalists is—Separation from England—Independence from all control by the British Parliament or by a British Executive. "Home Rule," "Federation," "Devolution," whatever the concession if once granted, will be only used as a means to wring further concessions until ultimate independence is achieved. As one of their American emissaries said:—
"The message we bear is from that illustrious leader of our Party, John Redmond. If there is a man who says to us as representing that Parliamentary movement, 'I don't believe in your Parliamentary Ideas. I don't accept Home Rule, I go beyond it. I believe in an independent Irish nation.' If any man says this, I say that we don't disbelieve in it. These are our tactics—if you are to take a fortress, first take the outer works."—Mr. T. M. Kettle, M.P., at New York, as reported in the Irish World, 24th Nov., 1906.
Remember that the Irish Nationalist movement centres in Ireland and is backed by Irish-American Fenianism. No soft words spoken on English or Canadian platforms echo the true ring of Irish Nationalism. They are spoken for a purpose. The driving power is found in the men whom Mr. John Redmond on the 23rd June, 1909, when unveiling the memorial to the
