The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-01-18
An Interesting Series o. Historical,
and Other Bright
Sketches.
EHeLAHD's ENEMIES AROUND HER
Russia Has Quietly Nurs ed Her Wrath
.,4 Against the British
People.
Continued from last week.)


could rule Europe, but in addition to its
Importance in his time, must be added
the momentous TO England fact that
should Russia accomplish the above con-
quest she would attempt to capture the
Suez canal and thus close up that route
to England and compel her to 20 around
the Cape of Good Hope. Then in case OF
a Russo ngiisjh war the Russians could
attack india by way Of Herat and also
through the Indian ocean. It may be
said that these are visionary specula-
lions, but ngland does not think so, for
every effort she is making is intended to
guard against one or other of these con-
tingencies To add to her ernbarrass-
ments the great powers have declared
long ago that the Russo English conten-
ton in Asia is not European question
and therefore England can get no help
against the Muscovite when that con-
tention is submitted to F'tlle bloody arbi-
traluent of the sword,'' as It must be some
day. 1t will not be then with her as it
was in the Crilnea when she had France,
Turkey and the subsidized Sardinians
against the Russians, and when France
not only kept her troops from perisning
of cold and hunger, bur captured the
Malakoff and consequently Sebastapoi
Here the old enemy viii have to stand
alone, and il her difficulty is Ireland's OPP
portunity here is the long looked for and
often neglected opportunity. Other diS-
ficulties may come, but this must. All
the arts Of English diplomacy will De
used to postpone the evil day, but in
spite of it all it must come.
Ever since the Crimean war / have
keenlv watched every move Of the rival
powers in Asia, l have read every work
/ could lay my hands on touching that
mighty question, instinct;vely feeling that
it was by way Of this far distant region
the classic ground over whose rugged
steppes Alexander marched TO conquer
India that liberty would come to ireland.
Some ardent young patriot, no doubt, VIII
scott at these ideas and suggest that a
shorter route would be to attack England
in ireland. Well, we have tried that
route for 200 years, and it is covered with
the remains of the bravest men who ever
fought for freedom. The most pathetic
lyrics ever said or sung are the laments
for our heroes. We have had enough of
them and want no more. All the lessons
of the past rise up to warn US against any
more premature rebellions. Either let us
make up our minds to watch and wait,
and pray ana prepare for the time when
England is IN the desperate extremity
which her own writer's anticipate, or give
it ND and leave the work for some sensible
generation. The days OF pixies and pitch
forks and fowling pieces went out with
ever glorious '9S. Poor K.ckhanls sweet
ly solrowful Rory of the Hill" can never
be realized any more. No poet of a. future
rebellion will ever sing again that 1.-The
pixies must be together by the rising of
The moan." Surely we have all had
enough to disiIu5ion us and make us more
practical and less poet:cal.
This is e. gr1nly matter OF fact world
which has little sympathy with dreamers,
and if we wish to succeed in our enter
prise we must come down from the clouds
and stand on the solid earth like men of
the world. The American ReVolution:sts
did not produce one song worthy OF the
name, but they produced great free ma
ton. They bore defeat and victory with
steady equanimity. Bunker Hill was a
British victory, but such good use was
made of it that it is now celebrated as
British defeat. Our leaders must be states
men, with minds broad enough to grasp
and comprehend the movements which
model and remodel the map of the world.
They must be earnest students Of history,
ancient and modern, but especially mod
ern.
They unjust follow England's trail all over
the world so as to find her weak points,
and there are many Of them and above
all they must devote themselves to the
work of preparation, or discipline and pa
thence, SO that when England sustalns
some great disaster to be ready to give
her the coup de grace, and that without
mercy, as we would shoot down a high
wayman or a pirate. AS [ said before,
the time to strike may come and pass
beforewe are half ready. Look at the
state of Europe today. The headlines 0;
a recent London dispatch give it
briefly thus: "Talk of War. THE
Powers Are Tired Of the Turks Duplic-
ity'' salisbury is for Peace tOf
course he isl Others Said to Have
Proposed the Empires Dismember-
ment." England Deeply Agitated.'
"Italian and French fleets Going to the
Dardanelles.'' Germany Also in Full
Accord The Slaughter of Armenians
Still Going on Anarchy in Asia
Minor
No wonder England is deeply agitated
and that Salisbury is for peace when the
following, from the same dispatch tells
how she is regarded by the other Europ-
can ministers: "The diplomatic history
of the century shows England to have
been making threats and demands upon
Turkey, and always to prove the sultans
friend in the end The present strained
relations between Great Britain's and the
other European ministers are due in q
measure to the ever-vexing Eastern
question, and the antipathy of Russia
and England very much so. The Cri-
mean war planted seeds which have
borne a crop of hatred, and England's
subsequently double-faced policy continue
ally added to the enmity engendered. BY
the Crimean war Russia was deprived of
her protectorate over Christians in Tur-
key, and the other European powers de-
clared they would see to the prevention
Of outrages. How they have done it the
events of today may bear bloody wit
ness"
The following gives a good idea of how
desperate Englishmen consider the sit
uation: THE Spectator, which at present
speaks with voice Of greater authority
than any other English paper holds that
the sultan cannot be trusted to effective
ly grant constitution. 1t says that the
solution of the situation lies in either
the powers occupying certain Turkish
provinces, or the deposition of the sui
tan and replacement of him by a success
sor, pledged to reign constitutionally.
The Spectator, in advocating that the
best SD1luf ion Of tho ~, osfinn iS q military