The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-07-15

their race in the brief but glorious war
OF Cuban independence. Some OF them
fell on San Juan hill and some fell vic
Tins to the embalmed beef OF the Chi
cago packing houses. Those who en-
listed in the volunteer regiments OF the
Northwest were sent to the Philippines
to fight the Spanards, but when the lat
ter were defeated and peace was pro-
claimed they were retained to subdue
the natives and take forcible possession
OF their islands in the interest of Amer
lean plutocracy. How we'll they fought
the Filipinos is evidenced in the list of
the killed and wounded furnished BY
Gen. Otis to the war department.
The war against the Filipinos is only
beginning, and the administration wants
more troops for subjugation
Instantaneous should think twice
before they embark in the ignoble cause
of depriving any people of the right to
govern themselves in any way they
think proper. The Filipinos are as
much entitled to liberty as the Cubans
or the Irish. For many long year
they fought and bled for self-govern-
ment, and deserve to have it. There is
neither glory nor honor nor patriotism
in fighting for William Mckinley and
his land-grabbers in the Orient. Col.
Thomas L. Hartigan, of the Seventh
Illinois, is anxious to fight in the Philip
pines, and has offered the services of his
regiment to the administration. Col.
John F. Finerty disapproves of his ac-
ton and cogently says:
The Seventh is supposed to be regi-
ment mainly made up Of Irishmen or
their sons; but ii they volunteer to fight
a people struggling for the right which
Washington wrested from England and
the right which ireland has vainly fought
Tor through many stormy centuries, they
will have earned the title of Irish Hes
slams, ready to cut the Threats of an
unfortunate people with whom they
have no quarrel and who clearly have
moral right upon their side, for so much
per month. We don't believe the
Seventh regiment, as body, will place
itself in that position. We find no Ger
man, or French, or Polish, or Bohemian
military body doing so. We don't find
the gallant Irish Ninth" Massachu-
sets OF Boston, or the equally gallant
Irish Sixty-ninth' regimen of New
York doing so. We don't find the
representative, independent Irish regi-
ment OF Chicago doing so. Why, then
should the Seventh Illinois, or rather,
its colonel, place the Irish element in
SO unenviable light? If Col. Harti-
gan or any of his officers and men wish
to fight in the Philippines, the regular
army, or its supplementary branch, is
open to them. They are free to act as
individuals, but they have no right to
compromise the sentiment of the Irish
American population OF Chicago and
the country at large. The government
is not begging for the aid OF the Sew
enth. When, it had an opportunity of
sending it to the front, in an honest
cause, it failedto do so. By seeking to
force its services! on the war department,
which has exhibited no sign of accept
ing them, its colonel is placing the regi-
ment in an undigni6ed attitude. There
might be some excuse for Col. Harti-
gan's regrettable action if the president
had called for state volunteers, but he
has not done so. On the contrary, his
military staff have declared that they
don't want state troops and will not &C
cept state organizations.
Col. Hartigan would do we'll to cease
importuning the government to accept
the services of the Seventh. We much
doubt if more than a small minority of
the officers and men of the regiment
could be induced to serve under exist
ing circumstances. The ranks, then.
would have to be filled by very differ
ent class OF men, and their conduct
might not be such as the Irisl-Amer-
lean element could approve of. In fact
that element, as an overwhelming ma
jority. is opposed to the mad conflict in
the Philippines, which is disgrace to
America and menace to Our institu-
tons. Irish soldiers, therefore, should
not be too ready to rush in and show
their thirst for fighting. Everybody
knows they can fight, but there is no
glory in fighting for an unworthy cause.
Let the men who made the quarrel as
sume the responsibility Of their acts,
and send all their wives male relations
to put down the unfortunate and be-
trayed Filipinos. The Irish can afford
to keep out of it-unless Otis should be
driven and pursued by Aguinaldo to
the soil Of the United States. Then, in
deed, every good citizen would feel
bound to do what every Filipino is do
ing now-deiend his hearth and home to
the last extremity.
May Ireland's voice be ever heard
Amid the worlds applause,
And never be her flagstaff stirred
But in an honest cause!
May freedom be her very breath,
Be justice ever dear,
And never an ennobled death
May son of ireland fear!