The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-12-23

ot. raul Dispatch, which is owned by
| an Englishman who takes the London
lines Tor his guide in all matters relat-
ing to America, poured out bucketful
OF inky slime on the devoted heads OF
| Rev. MIR. Riley and the American-bor1
citizens who addressed the meeting and
based their arguments against imperial
ism and conquest on the sacred princi-
pies OF the Declaration OF independence
and the Constitution OF the United
States. The Johnny Bull who operates
the Dispatch for the Almighty Dollar
and an Anglo-Saxon alliance has the
supremest contempt for such "blarst-
ed' Yankee document as Jefferson's,
which arraigns George III. in such Sc
we're terms; and as for the Constitution
he thinks that this expanding country
has completely outgrown it and that it
should be cast away like an old gar
ment. This Cockney has assumed the
livery OF patriotism to cast aspersions
upon Americans whose shoes he is not
worthy to polish; but if his cuticle is
scratched his real character is revealed.
He has never fought for the Stars and
Stripes, and it is quite doubtful if he
has yet become full-Aedged American
citizen. When such fellow in his
paper attacks honorable men and ac-
cuses them of disloyalty to the republic
it reminds us OF Satan rebuking wicked
ness. This hypocrite says that if the
speakers at the Minneapolis meeting
had used such language in foreign
country the whole party would have
been put in the chain gang. Yes, ii
they were Irishmen speaking in their
own country against English oppres-
sion they would be fired on with buck
slot as in the days of Forster, the chief
secretary, but they were speaking in
their nptive land where freedom of
speech, thank God, is still permitted
under the Hanna-McKinlcy regime.
This graduate OF the London slurns re-
'ers to the people present at the meet
ing as "serpents and to the prayer OF
Rev. Mr.. Riley as "blasphemous." 1t
is an honor for an American to be as
sailed by such consummate BLACKBOARD
as George Thompson, OF the St. Paul
Dispatch.
We are surprised that the Mime
apolis Tribune, which is edited by a
native American, should deal with Rev.
MIR. Riley SO unfairly. But then it is a
rabld organ OF the Mckinley admins
tration, and that accounts for its dia-
tribes. 1t was said OF Edward Everett
that on one occasion he made the most
eloquent prayer ever offered to Bos-
ton audience, and we can say OF Rev.
Mr.. Riley that he made the most patri-
otto prayer ever delivered to Mime
apolis audience-far more patriotic
than the prayer made by Rev. Mr..
Montgomery at the Metropolitan meet
ing OF the imperialists last summer,
which was printed in full in all the
organs OF plutocracy in both cities.
We are glad that the Baptist pastors
of this city have stood nobly by their
prosecuted friend. At their meeting last
Monday they adopted resolutions OF
sympathy for their maligned and mis-
represented brother, and condemned
tile action OF the newspapers. Rev. Mr..
Riley himself explained the prayer and
truly remarked he was the best inter-
prefer of his own invocation. He said
in part:
"What meant to express was this
that my heart did not cry for further
shedding OF blood in the Philippines,
and that I did not believe God desired
it. I supposed it altogether possible that
God had other ways of ending this war
than to do it by additional slaughter
1t never occurred to me for one moment
that any man who believes this war I'M
American would be expected to pray
for the defeat and destruction of the
enemy there. 1t is hardly likely that I
prayed for the overthrow of our armies,
or their defeat, when the press reported
at first my prayer for the preservation
OF the boys and the peace that would
make possible their return to home and
friends. A report of defeat and death
for Our boys in the Philippines would
be as painful to me as it could possibly
be to any man."
Explaining the Course" which the
papers dilated on, Rev. Mr.. Riley said
it was as follows: eve pray for curse
upon every institution that brings blot
or blight to our fair land" He then
continued: ''What I had in mind at that
specific moment was such institutions as
the army canteen, the legalized saloon,
polygamy and such like. I am sorry
for our Presidents sake to have his
name dragged into any such connection.
The public will understand that it is
unlike man who holds my position
and fills my office to have ever thought,
much less uttered, such sentiments as
have been attributed to me-"
The reverend gentleman was right in
cursing the army canteen, the legalized
saloon and polygamy under the Amer
lean flag in the Philippines, and none
but unprinciplcd party organs would
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