The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-12-09
Active Crusade is Made Against
Enlisting in the Army.
SENTIMENT EXPRESSED IN BALLADS
Celts of Ireland and Scotland
not Joining the Ranks.

Because Irish nationalists condemn
the war against the Beers the cry has
gone forth among English jingoes and
Irish loyalists that the cause of home
rule has been set back indefinitely if not
irrevocably lost. AS this is but an ex-
preston of the bitter passion Of the hour
its only effect here is to arouse defiant
comment, says the Dublin cor
respondent of. the Chicago Chron-
icle. At best it is silly cry.
Thousands of the English people are as
bitterly opposed to the war as the Irish
nationalists and their denunciations OF
it are not less vigorous, but there is no
talk OF disfranchising these Englishmen
or depriving them of civil rights because
of their opposition. 1t is no wonder,
then, that the Irish loyalist is regarded
with contempt in his own country, for
he takes pride in being branded as a
West Briton and delights in framing
arguments why he should be kept in
subjection. To riglt-tl1nking and lib
erty-lovirg men the attitude OF the Irish
nationalist in this matter is as logical
rs it is natural. Their protest against
the war as all outrageous interference
with the rights and authority of free
people is proof OF their fitness for home
rule. When tory Or unionist talks OF
the grievances OF the Uitlander and at
the same time denounccs the plea for
self-government OF the Irish people he
| awallens all the memories OF the past
when the brutal predominant partner"
used fire and sword and war and famine
to crush the aspirations for home rule
OF the Uitlanders OF this island. The
impcrialist is ever illogical. Because a
few millionaire spectators and miners
in the Transvaal complained OF unjust
treatment England goes to war for
them. But when Ireland protests
against wrongs immeasurably greater
and more CALLING the answer is that be-
cause Of her opinion on an issue which
concerns her as much as it does Eng
land all her grievances are to be per-
petuated and that she has forever de-
stroyed her chance for home rule.
The O'Conor Don at recent meeting
OF the district council of Castlerea re-
fused to sign as chairman the minutes OF
a previous meeting because they con-
tanned a resolution expressing sympa-
thy for the Beers and desire that they
might be triumphant in the war forced
on them by England. He could not, he
said, append his signature to any record
indorsing a desire for the defeat of cher
majesty the queen" He was we'll an
swered by the remark that the resolu
ton was not against Victoria, but
against the Infamous schemes and de-
signs of Joseph Chamberlain and Cecil
Rhodes and others. The O'Conor Don
also said that the declarations OF sympa-
thy of Irish representative men and pub
lie bodies would be used against the
home rule cause throughout Great Brit
ain at the next general election. The
same warning has been uttered by
other prominent loyalists who are not
hostile to the home rule movement.
These men, whatever be their feelings,
are too pessimistic.
The home rule cause will stay in the
front until it is triumphant. AS T. S.
Sullivan, the poet and member of par
lament, writes: "We never gained any
thing by being or affecting to be hum
BILE and obcdient pandcrers to the will
of England; neither did any other coun-
try. Gavan Duffy put the case we'll
when he said that Canada did not get
home rule because it was loyal and con-
tented, but Canada is loyal and con-
tented because it got home rule Ire
land will be treated in the same fashion
one of these days, and wise statesmen
will consider her all the more worthy of
freedom because she attempted no de-
ceit, did not conceal her real sentiments,
but at any risk to her own inter-
ests spoke out plainly on all occasions
in favor of right and justice for every
race and nation all the world around"
The Irish people, too, are carrying
their opposition to the war farther than
mere resolutions of sympathy for the
Beers. They are carrying on a crusade
against the enlistment of young Irish
men in the army. This public feeling
is expressed in the following verse from