The Irish standard., 1899-11-04

ing terms that he who reads imagines
he is reading about glorious victory.
1t reminds me OF the story OF the Dutch
comedian in relating the story OF his
fight with the Irishman and his Won
derlul victory, when he said: Il took
myself on my back down, und pulled
dot Irishman I'm top OF me, und put
my nose between his teeth und l held
him there"
1t is strange to me how it happens
that at each encounter the British re-
treat, and the Beers follow them up,
and cut them to pieces, having nearly
killed or wounded nearly all OF their
officers in each engagement, and so
many men that we have no definite
number. while the enemy has lost hun
dreds, or possibly thousands,-it is as
easy to say one amount as another.
1t is strange to me to know why those
hocrs don't stay whipped, and why they
are SO barbarous as to fire On the Red
Cross and white flags in one breath,
and in The next dispatch to say that he
British wounded and prisoners were
being treated with much kindness and
consideration, that ieIl into their hands
during the prccipitatc flight OF the Brit
isll to get out Of range OF the Beers
bullets. This act OF an army to aban-
don their wounded to the mercy OF their
zoe is iii objectionable orc, which calls
Tor the most severe ccnsure from all
nations.
There are but two solutions to this
unusual condition, and that is that the
unfortunate wounded were ovtragcously
deserted by their comrades, the British,
or they fled from the field completely
routed. and in the utmost confusion and
It imminent dancer OF being annihilated
before the deadly onslaught OF the he
rocs oil Majuba Hill.
What do all those victories mean that
the British have achieved it they have
steadily rctreated before the dedicated
ard contemplate Beers?
What is tlle meaning OF 4 hostile force
in the country OF the enemy me IN? Are
hey there by invitation? are they de-
stroying the resources and Gripping
lileir enemy at every point, and driving
them before them like claff before the
wind? Does it look like disaster Tor
the Bocrs 10 capture the stores and
provisions OF their enemy and send cat
tic and products OF the farm to their
rear, and capture and confiscatc the
provisions that the British lett behind
in their hurry to abandon the cities that
tlcy deserted in their llasty flight from
the advancing and always victorious
Boer army?
Does it look like an unbrollcn series
OF victories to abandon such a large
strip OF territory that a proclamation
has been issued by the Orange Free
State annexing the territory deserted by
the British, and compelling these newly
acquired citizens to take tip arms and
fight in the ranks Of the advancing
army?
Away with such rot as the daily press
is dishing TIP to It's. 1t is an insult to
the intelligence OF the American people,
and it is fast detracting from the inilu-
ence OF the press. Such discrediting
and silly statements as those published
by the daily press since the hostilities
began are on par with the state
mcnts OF Our wonderful victories in the
Philippines. and the hundreds OF thou
sands OF Filipinos we slew in the first
battles OF the war, while sometimes we
had a soldier wounded on the toe or
some other insignificant trine.
Why not speak the truth, and call
facts by their right name and not mis-
lead and deliberately lie to the public?
There was a time when we could get
some truthful news from the daily press,
but that time has passed, and truth and
news have become commercial COM
modify, and are twisted and delormed
into the most fantastic shapes to slit
the commercial tastes OF the money
power
l am therefore pleased to recognize
in your journal notable exception TO
this rule. I hope such journals will re-
ceive proper support from an intelligent
public.
| am pleased to state that | have read
your account of the war in Africa with
considerable pleasure, as it contained
clements OF truth that were absolutely
lacking in the daily press reports.
Very respectfully yours,