The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-06-04
NOT A FAIR CRITICISM.

The Northwestern Chronicle in it's
leading editorial of last week, under the
caption of Spirit Of Young America"
makes use of the following expression
which is copied with evident delight by
one of the Minneapolis dailies of Anglo
Saxon proclivities:
II there be one land on earth where
this country is entitled to the unani-
nous and undivided sympathy Of its
people that land is Ireland. Yet we
hear many a discordant note where
there should be nothing but harmon-
GUS acclaim for the stars and stripes"
Our esteemed contemporary bases its
comments upon communication adj
dressed by Miss Madge Murphy, Of Du-
luth, to the Cork Examiner, ''in answer
to somo letters" that appeared in that
paper expressing sympathy with Spain
in the present war against the United
States.
Does not the Chronicle expect too
much Of Ireland? Can it reasonably ex-
pect unanimous and undivided SYM
pathy" from a people who are lamenta-
bly, divided among themselves on ques-
tons affecting their own personal well
fare? How can 1t expect national I'M
ity for America in a land torn with fac
tlons' 1t is not at all surprising Chat
some letters" as Miss Murphy says,
have appeared in the Cork paper in
which Americans are charged with sec
tartan bigotry and are referred to as
yankees"
In view Of the information telegraph
ed to Irish papers from lying cores
pondents on this side of the Atlantic
to the effect that the war between
America and Spain is war of religion
that Protestant ministers have urged
President Mckinley to stamp out Span
ish religious dolatry in Cuba, it is no
wonder that some letters" appeared in
tho Cork Examiner against the United
States.
1t must also be remembered by our
ST. Paul contemporary that diplomatic
ally the Spaniards had the best of the
Americans before tho declaration of
war. The Spaniards granted IN armis-
tico to the Cubans and offered them a
measure OF autonomy that the Irish
would gladly accept from Great Britain;
and proposed that the destruction of the
Mano be left to international arbitra-
ton. Spain was avcrso to war and tried
by all possible means to avoid it; but il
was not willing to give the Cubans alb
solCte independence and depart from its
colony without a struggle
Why be surprised at many a dscord-
ant note from Ireland and why expect
nothing but harmonious acclaim for
tho stars and stripes" in this war
against Spain when college professors
like Eliot and Norton, and Protestant
ministers like Dr. Simmons of this CITY.
publicly condemn the injustice Of the
war?
When Irish-Catholic citizens OF this
country are enlisting by the thousands
to fight for the stars and stripes against
Catholic Spain. it appears strange to the
catholic people of Ireland that body
OF Yankee" Professionals at their general
assembly at WinOna Lake, Ind, display
ed their sectarian bigotry by opposing a
Roman Catholic chapel on the West
Point military reservation and appoint
ing committee to present to President
Mckinley. Secretary Alger and the COM
mitteo on military affairs in both
branches of congress "the solemn pro-
test of the assembly" against granting a
site for the erection of a Catholic chapel
without any cost to the government.
Does 1t not appear strange to the Chron-
iclc itself that the Presbyterian bigots
act in that un-Amcrican way at the
same time they recognize with pro-
found and dcvout gratitude the wide
spread and sympathetic expression of
fellowship on the part of the peop!n
or Great Britain with our country in the
present crisis of our national history,
discerning in their fellowship sympa-
thy, common confession, with lis. of
faith in the brotherhood Of the Anglo
Saxon racer"
Miss Murphy is undoubtedly patriotic,
but sho is over-sensitlve in Directing to
tho use Of the word Yankee" AZ ,pplieI
to Americans. 1t does not come from
prejudiced mind like the word Pap
pist.'' as she alleges. when 1t is used by
tho Irish in Cork The word is all
right and has nothing offensive about it.
Every American, north and south, is
not ashamed to be called a Yankee. The
American papers make use OF the word
every day. and many long years ago IT
was used with pride by Commodore
John Barry, OF Wexford, who when hail.
ed by the British naval officer answered:
II am saucy Jack Barry, half lrishman
| half Yankee; who are you?"
The following is from the juneau
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