The Irish standard., 1889-01-19

one per cent. of her entire population.
The United States are undoubtedl
richest aud most progressive aggrega
ton Of humanity in existence-uGqes
tionab]y the most wholesomely rich
and the most healthily progressive
England is at present their neares
competitor, but they leave her far be
hind. England is rich no doubt, bu
hcw has size grown rich2 By the plum
der of seven centuries; by the robber'
of weaker nations; by the crushing on
CT weaker rivals; Dy the destruction O
weaker peoples: by the imposition O
her tribute upon the industry OF all I'm.
able to resist ter graspng avarce
America has grown rich by honorable
means. She has robbed 30 one, she has
injured no one: she has not sent hel
fleets and armies to ravage aud destroy
the hearths and workshops OF hel
rivals in the peaceful walks Of trade
she has not strangled budding Industries
at one side or the globe to protect he1
manufacturers against honest competi-
tion: nor has she made away with ifs
and sword On the other for the intro
ductjon OF hSr poisonous wares to the
Generalization and debasement OF an
Oh ira branch Of the human race. None
OF these crimes can be Laid at America
door. Whatever she has won, She has
won honestly and fairly. Mankind owe
her gratitude, not hatred. England
has waded 10 greatness through the
tears and blood Of her victims.
Her conQnests are those Of the bullet
and the SWORD. Americas triumphs
these Of peace. Her symbols of victory
are the suade and plowshars. She has
delivered the virgin suil Of her vast
pralrieS; she has released the hidden
treasures Of her COUNTLESS mines; she
has laid her bouEdless forests under
contribution; she has fOstered and pro-
noted by wise Legislation every one Of
the myriad industrious congenlal to her
diversified Topography and climate.
She has chained the subtitle forces Of
nature to the car OF her peaceful pro-
gress. She has girded a continent with
iron roads. Sns has broughG men 5000
miles apart within hail CT one another,
and now 4,50O yni'es OF canal. lao 600
miles railroad, ,76O 900 miles Of telegEaph
Sc 0O0 COO 900, proclaim the Dractica!
success Uf q Ccntury's government OF
America, by and f,r the Americans.
lhe governmento America has made
her what she is. 1t she were governed
as We are governed-Do matter how
great her wealth. no matter what her
IT sources, nothing coulu have saved her
from misery and misfortune, as deep
and disastrous as ours. an Irishman
whose experience OF government is de-
rived from the thing so called under
which he lives, from the loathsone sys
ten of social !eprnsy and administrative
corruption which Eoglish rule in Ire-
land has engeDdeltd. cannot under
stand the nature OF that constitution
which is a5 once the foundation aud
bulwark of American greatness. lie
has been 50 long ground down, treated
rs serf, spuriieu, liisuItei, spaJ upon
by the official rascaldUm Which iDtests
maLely estimate tue character and
meaning OF a government which exists
by the consent, aud works for the good
OF the governed. His embodiment of
government is the policeman. His
ideals OF machinery of administration
are the baton aud the buckshOt of which
he has periodical experience. Ills NO.
ticn Of law is an uncomfortable fact,
always wanting for his protection, al
ways ut hand for his persecution. His
understanding OF ]ustlce is derived from
hearsay, from tradition; and his enjoy
meut Of liberty is chasJened and purl-
fed by periodic faSJs, aud indeed lat
ter!y by total abstinsuce.
In America they haya graduated in a
different school. There they give things
their proper names They do not Call
military uespotlsin, constitutional gov
eminent; hOr perpetual coercion con-
stltutional freedom. They Go noC hold
murderers and thieves the champions
Of law and order; nor the shielding us
criminals as the administration of
justice. With them, the laws are made
ny those who 1--we under them and the
administrators OF the law are the sery-
ants, not the masters or the people.
lhe principle on which the American
constitution is founded is that ''All
men are born equal and the principal
is carried into practice to the very full
lest extent. There are no guilds OF
t11C1Os "OO, USCdOoC
their fathers and grandfathers have
fattened upon tle plunder OF the state,
claim vested right to the entail OF
robbery.
Tue application Of some of these
sturdy republican theories would do US
no harm over here. For my part, my
brief experience Of liberty in America
has opened my eyes to the depth and tie
Of the slavery into which
Ireland has fallen. 1t has increased my
hatred and loathing for the foul and
rotten system, and the ill-fov0red dis
reputable, cowardly clique known as
the government and the governors Of
Ireland. 1t has stimulated my longing
to enjoy, and strengthened my determi
nation to obtain system of government
for my own land, as faithful, as free,
and as representative as the govern
ment Of the United States. We shall
live to see such government estab.
llshed in Ireland. Our sYmpatnizers in
America will second our efforts TO OBJ
tain it. But let us not forget that the
more vigorously we Carry on the fight
the more speedily will it be ended, and
that the more We rely upon ourselves,
and the less we depend upon Others, the
more plainly shall we prove our claim
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