National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-23
DeceIving tho british pennln.

If deliberate attempt TO deceive the
English people In relation to the most i'm
portant question Of the day may be called
enterprise, the London Tmcsmust be placed
at the head Of the list of enterprlsing Eng
lish newspapers. That great journal pro-
fesses TO have made an effort to collect and
collnte the public opinion In that incon-
siderable part Of the world lying outside Of
the United Kingdom-hence lying in dark
ness-on the question Of the expodlency of
acceding to the demand Of the Irish for
home rule. But the profession is palpably
false, and would be ludicrously so, II the
subject were less serious. The opinions re-
ported are all on one side-all opposed to
the concession. The Times, instead of
honestly trying to give the truth, has made
an effort to fortify the conservative posi-
tion and give emphasis to the opposition to
home rule.
The "American view" Of the question is
given in letter alleged TO have been writ
ten in New York, but IL smells Of London
smoke. 1t is absurdly false but its absurd
ity does not cancel its malice. The writer
claims TO have learned by careful investiga-
ton that, aside from the Irish themselves,
there is in this country "no sympathy what
ever with Irish agitation for separation"
Most thoughtful Americans, he goes on TO
state, favor "the centralizing tendency, in
their own country, and while they desire to
see the federal authorities stake over to
their control some prerogatives still re-
tanned by the states" 1t is highly improb-
able that they would be in favor of home
rule in Ireland.
This is so palpably fraudulent that II were
waste Of words to point out the fallacS.
But this is not the worst. The hired liar
pretends to have learned that the Irishman
In America is "never an Americana that he
'hates England and does not love America"
and that our "cowardly and corrupt" poll
ticians are always watchful and willing to
give him aid and encouragement In his I'M
lawful attempts to do injury to England or
involve our own and the English govern
ment in trouble.
Such stuff as this would not be worthy OF
serious notice, or even of wholesome con.
tempt, If it were not used by great news.
paper, In great national crisis, to deceive
the people in relation to question of mo-
mentous importance OF course every intel
ligent American reader knows that there is
an overwhelming preponderance Of Ameri.
can sympathy on the Irish side Of the con-
troversy. 1t is doubtful II, among the
100000 voters Of the United States,
hundred thousand could be found who
would vote against home rule for the Irish
people in face Of the returns Of the recent
parliamentary elections The native Amer
leans have had ample proof of the patriot
ism Of their fellow-citizens who were born
in ireland. They would not deny to Ire
land that which they believe to be the in
alienable right of every people. The man
ayers Of the London Times are not so ILL
informed as to believe the falsehoods which
they print. But they hope that the anti
home rule sentiment in England will be
strengthened IL the English masses can be
made to believe that American sympathy Is
against the cause represented by the Irish
nationalsts. Hence the hired liar is set to
work, and the great metropolitan newspa-
per degrades itself by deliberate deception