The Irish standard., 1899-01-14
A NEW VARIETY OF TREASON.

we ueeuh lue loilOWluS llluely ulteI-
ance of Hon. John Brennan in the
Northwestern Catholic worthy of re-
production on this page, because of its
literary merit and the true spirit of re-
publicanism and Christian honesty that
characterizes it from beginning to end:
According to the newspaper organs
of the administration, which now con-
slider themselves in duty bound to sup
port the declared policy of Imperialism
every man who raises objection to for
eign conquest, standing armies, war
taxes, and a large addition to the pres
ent plethoric pension roll, is a traitor
Loyalty is presumed to be confined to
the civil officers of the government. to
the army and navy, to congressman and
their relatives, to the military satraps
and the members of their families who
are to govern the conquered provinces,
and to the contractors. traders, jobbers
and leeches who thrive upon the woes of
this nation and fatten on the atrocities
incidental to military occupation.
Every man who does not believe in
fastening a soldier around the neck of
every Industrious farmer and laborer is
to be regarded as a traitor and a cop
perhead.
Especially odious is the man of Irish
birth or ancestry who denounces the
proposition of an Anglo-American al
lance. Though his ancestors came to
the United States before the revolution,
though his father died in defense Of this
nations integrity, though his children
were born on American soil and though
the ashes of his parents repose in Amer
lean earth; though his love for this great
land were pure and unselfish as the love
of the angels, still, if he be of Irish
blood he is cautioned to be careful in
his opposition to the proposed alliance
or somebody might accuse him Of Irish
sympathy or of antipathy to England.
This foolish, cowardly fear is mani
Tested by some of our Catholic exchanges,
even by some that are edited by Irish
Americans. They must lean backwards
in the over-reaching of an effort to stand
straight. A plague upon cowardice and
Hypocrisy!
Why will not men have the courage
to see things as they are and call them
by their right names?
What is this Imperialism but an effort
to provide fat livings for civil and
military ariStOcracyp
What is conquest but wholesale rob-
berry. murder and Righteousness?
What is our Wanted humanity" but
pious pretense for the seizure of other
mems lands. goods and homes?
What is our "purer gospel" but an eff
fort to impose new and fashionable
religion by force and fraud?
What is anglo Saxonism" but the
fiction that would Justify an ascendancy
race in this cosmopolitan country?
What is this new-fangled love of Eng
land for America but the surface indica-
ton of conspiracy originated in Lon
don and operated by the subsidized press
and the traitCrous Tories in the depart
ments of our American government:
For our part, we plead no excuse and
offer no apology. Once again We curse
the spirit of conquest and the greed of
lust and blood and lawless gain.
Once more and for the thousandth
time. and with the fervor of fanaticism
and a forty parson power. we utter our
malediction against any power or party
that would weld the link of English con-
nectiOn with America.
And this we do because we love the
United States with all the intensity of
Irish affection, and because of our in
innate acquaintance with the accursed
spirit and practices of imperialism as re-
veaed in the blood-staincd record of
England