The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-03-05
4 cenpNmsat = tAs IiiCA.

thought worthy OF being made food for
powder in the interest Of England. We
ara also-let it be noted by those who have
too exalted notion of. Irish valor and
Irish chivalry-in this respect thought
worthy to be ranked in the same category
as the eemi-civilized tribes on the Indian
frontier. IF mere Irishman expects more
than this, he is much harder to be pleased
than, according to his English masters, he
should be. He is equal to the " aboriginal
races among the hills and on the borders of
India" the Belooches and the Pathans,
for instance; and If that does not satisfy
him, he is of m0rtals the hardest to be
pleased. The Times admits the equality,
and Ireland should accept the compliment
with becoming gratitude. "Tbe rude
tribes in the northwest of India, whom in
tt ne of peace zoe find it SO difficult to gov
ern, are splendid material for the army"
So are the Irish. Possibly not SO good ac-
cording to the English estimate, but they
are admitted to have similar qualities, and
cannot be much inferior. The Indians
need only be brought into training and
well Differed by-Englishmen-tof face any
foe, and to beat almost any" Like the
Irish peasant-the wanton peace-breaker
and daring rebel, who is easily transformed
Royal Irish these wild tribes are ca.
pable of being turned to the best use."
Here we have an admission and suggestion
worthy of the profound consideration of
our slippery politicians, who affect to be-
lieve that in union with England, on the
basis of our present relations, consists the
safety and salvation of the nation. The
admission is one which may be accepted as
compliment or the reverse by those
whose opinions differ as to the chivalry
and dignity of the Irish character. If
there be among the hunkey class in Ireland
one who thinks that o comparison Of his
race and nation with Asiatic cattle-lifters
and freebooters, is right and proper, we
will not stop to argue the point with him.
He may be prepared to admit that his
countrymen are honored by the COMPARE
son. We only repeat that we shall not in
terfere with his judgment. But the sug-
gestion involved in the admission of our
equality to the Indians is too pertinent to
be passed over silently. The rude tribes
on the northwest frontier are relied on as
the material from which England will
draw her fighting force in case of Russian
invasion of the Peninsula. The armies
of India, outnumbering and outmatching
the forces of the Gear, would teach Russia
as terrible q lesson as Germany in August
last taught the invaders who called them
selves the Army of the Rhine" This being
predicted of tho Indians when trained and
organized under English leadership, what
might be expected from the waqton
peacebreaker and daring rebel" whom in
times of peace England finds it difficult
| to govern " also7 1t could hardly be
doubted that, when properly ofhcered and
led by Englishmen, he would accomplish
as valorous feats as his Indian counter
part, and in complications nearer home
might be utilized with equal advantage to
England. 1t must be promised that this
! always implies that the Irish should be orr
! ganized and led by English genius and
English valor. Then they would be found,
like the Indians, to be +" sturdy fellows,
ready to go anywhere in war, and only
srck foin irn IN.
ment." This at least is the estimate which
the Times correspondent gives of the In
dian Army Of the future and as that jour
nal itself is graciously pleased to admit our
equality, it is to be hoped that an Irish
| Army, similarly organized, would not be
| inferior to the Asiatic in the mere animal
attributes essential to a mercenary force
| who butcher for pay.
The Times and the English Press gen.
orally have been for some time complain
ing that the business of the recruiting SER
geant is exceedingly dull in Ireland-that
traction for these self-same "wanton
| peacebreakers and daring rebels" The
| Dublin correspondents have been record
ing the decay of the military spirit in the
| Irish people and the Home authorities in
| London, lamenting the change, are sug-
costing expedents by which they hope to
reawaken enthusiasm, and attract the
youth of ireland to the English standard.
With the view of aiding in such a laud-
able design, we give the comparison in
stituted between the Irishman and the In
dian the benefit of our circulation, that the
youth of the nation may entertain a beft-
! ting estimate of their worth and dignity,
and understand their exact value in the
scale of Great British appreciation. We
have NO doubt that the knowledge of the
fact that the Irish peasant is considered
the equal-or nearly so-of the Goorkas,
the Deloocbees, and the Pathans will in
duce him to Gotten more kindly to the
recruiting sergeant, and therefore tend to
the more speedy swelling of the ranks of
the British Army. Nay, more, we allure
him as he values the compliment implied
in the comparison to show his gratitude by
paying married. attention to the next re-
cruiting sergeant he meets Youth of Ire
land, if you think yourselves honored by
being declared the equals of the savage
Goorkas, who butchered their fellow-coun-
! trymen for pay in the recent instruction,
evince your appreciation Of the honor by
making the business of the recruiting
sergeant agreeable and profitable. AS you
honor Irish virtue honor and honesty for