The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-10-02
PASSING THE HAT FOR ERIN.

IN sympathetic article on the sad
condition of Ireland arising from the
failure Of crops, the Chicago Inter-
Ocean says that il the shortage be such
as to call for aid America will be az
kindly disposed and as free handed as
it has been in past times of famine
There is no doubt whatever CT that fact.
but up to date we have seen no dis
position on the part Of the Irish people
to call upon foreign countries for succor.
The only individual who has talked Ct
passing around the hat for Ireland in
the event of famine is the Duchess OF
York. who has been so gratitied with
the hospitality and kind treatment ac-
corded to her during her stay in the
Green Isle that she is DESTROYS of mani
Testing her gratitude by issuing an APP
PEAL on behalf of the Irish peasantry
now threatened with famine on the lines
OF that Issued by the Princess Of Wales
for the poor Of London"
The United Ireland of Dublin. after
complimenting the Princess May on her
kind offer and says:
In other words, the payment Of Irish
loyalty is English aims and the treat
ment OF Ireland as a degraded menhi
knaves or fools, who joined with The
enemies of their country's rights in wei
coming English royalty which is The
cause and source of Irish misery, mis-
rule, and discomfort. should ask them
selves if they deserve no better return
than to have their countrymen treated
| as beggars. Ireland wants no aims. She
wants justice. The concession of her
national rights would save the people
from periodic famine. To offer them
aims while the doner robs them of mil.
lions every year in the shape of OPP
pressive taxation, Is to insult their in
| telligence and to outrage their sense OF
manhood. To the English government
that rOhs them they look for restitution,
and if the government fails to do them
justice, now that the dread terror Of
famine is over the land. and il instead
it gives a landlord commission to show
that rents are too low, the world will
see that a famine fund got up by royal
parsonage in England must be regarded
as a political artifice deliberately con-
ceived TO enable the government TO
shirk its responsibility to Ireland in
this time of crisis. Unfortunately The
condition OF the country is such that,
il help is not Forthcoming from outside.
a terrible winter is before the people.
This fact must be pressed on the gov
eminent in season and out of season,
and if the government thinks that it
can escape responsibility because a
famine fund is inaugurated, whether by
it must be taught that that game can
not be played. Ii the people do not
at this juncture arise in their might.
and as one man. to make their needs
understood. they will deserve no pity
or consideration. They must make the
Tory government recognize its duty TO
the people. and convince them that 'ha
last portion of that duty is to save the
poor from the terrors Of famine. Fur
thermore, if the government does not
take measures to avert the distress that
is sure to arise, the farmers Of Ireland,
who have still to pay rack-rents, will
have to consider whether they are not
bound. by all the laws of Christian
charity. to give succOr to the distressed
at their own doors rather than to swell
long since forgotten the duty that they
owe to the country. II anybody is to
suffer let it be the landlord: he is best
able to put up with a diminution in his
income.