Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1899-08-18
FEW IRISH RECRUITS.

~ !" AAsA0AA AsA1SASS ASs
If those who are moulding the Ameri-
can empire into form would realize
how practically unanimous the .Ameri-
can Irish are in opposition to the revo-
luton, we respectfully call their atten-
tion to the Seventh Regiment Illinois
national guard-"the Irish Seventh
That splendid regiment, more than a
thousand strong, responded to the pres
ident's call, when the government de-
clared for the freedom of Cuba. Now,
Hartigan, it's colonel, has obtained
commission in the regular army; and
it was expected that the colonel could
induce large proportion of the rank
and file to follow him in destroying the
liberty of the Philippines. just three
men of the regiment volunteered for
service with him. The action of the
seventh regiment has been watched
with anxiety and interest by the Irish
on both sides Of the ocean. Their
brethren were anxious to know wheth-
er men who enlisted for the liberation
Of Cuba would be base enough to vol
unteer for the enslavement of the
Philippines The out come is graft
flying Three men offered themselves;
but all three wanted commissions as
colonels or captains or generals or
something: Thus be it ever. If those
who aim to found an American empire
after the English model must have an
army for that purpose let them send
their sons. But whatever be the fate
of the Philippines and whatever be the
disaster to the gospel of American
liberty, let the record read that the
American Irish were guiltless of Ameri-
cas- shame and of the Philippines blood.
It is duty especially imperative on
them to understand the situation and
to make no mistake. We repeat again
and again that the problem of imper-
ialism involves the most important is
sue that eyer confronted the human
race 1t is not question for America
alone. It puts on trial every race Of
men on earth who battled successfully
or unsuccessfully for freedom. If the
United States of America is justified in
the conquest of the Philippine Islands;
if in its determination to subjugate
them it is justified in slaughtering and
burning and looting; then the Russian
empire was similarly justified in it's
atrocities in Poland; the unspeakable
Turk was an angel Of mercy in Amer
ica, Bulgaria and Herzegovina; and
the crimes of the beastly Sacsapagh
against the people Of Ireland stand
justified. From the logic of this argu-
ment there is no escape.
And if there can be different shades
to national crimes of this character,
the deeper guilt attaches to those who
in the name of the American people
have committed this nation to the poll
cy of Imperialism. To slay, to plunder
to enslave is the nature Of the Russian,
the Turk and the Englshman. Bat
this government of the United States
was conceived in liberty; it's declara-
tion of independence was accepted as
the measure of national right by every
nation on earth that undertook to break
the CALLING fetters of despotism. It's
flag was the symbol of liberty and law;
it's example was the inspiration of the
oppressed. It stood in all it's beauty
and majesty for a century and a quar-
ter, pillar of cloud by day and pillar
Of fire by night, Illuminating the rough
and bloody pathways of men in every
land that fought for liberty; and now
the light Of its example is being with
drawn; and those who would withdraw
it, to justify the act are compelled to
point to England as model in civiliza-
ton, in justice and benevolence 5.,
If the Ameriran Irish can close their
eyes to those considerations, if they
shall ever become infdels to the gospel
of American liberty; if they assist in
quenching in the blood of the Philip
pinos the same liberty for which their
fathers died, then the race is hopeless
race, deserving to be doomed and
damned and the clamor from their
kindred in the parent island for an in
dependent nation might we'll become
the subject of Kissing and reproach.-
Northwestern Catholic.