The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-01-21
EMMETT AND AGUlNALDO.

EMMETT AND AGUlNALDO.
| The Little Falls Herald asks why the
United States should not free Ireland, as
we'll as the Spanish colonies, and says:
"Of course the Irish are not of the
racial We're de Veres; unfortunately
they are Celtic instead of Anglo Saxon,
but that can be forgiven. And if Eng
land will not be just to fair Hibernia,
let Uncle Sam cry havoc and let slip the
pressed isle, and in the words of our
friend Stivers, let the roar of the
American cannon be the voice of liberty
echoing among the emerald hills of st.
Patrick's isle. And if the flag is plant
ed on the towers of, Blarney castle, who
shall dare haul it DOWN."
! The Irish would receive Uncle Sam
with open arms it, he came to rescue
them from British oppression; but if he
came to seize the, island for the benefit
OF American plutocracy and govern it
by military force, as England is doing,
what advantage would the change of
/ masters be to fair Hibernia? Emmett
, sought the aid OF. France at the begin
ming of the century to drive the English
out, and when charged at his trial with
| being IAN emissary of France" to sub
stitute French for English rule in the
island, he Indignantly denied the accu-
sation. He declared in vehement Ian
guage that if the French came for con-
quest he would meet them on the shore
to prevent them from landing, and
| dispute every inch of ground with them
| until they had trampled over his dead
body.
| Aguinaldo cordially welcomed the
Americans to aid him against the
| Spaniards, but when he discovered they
were coming to govern the islands ty
military force in the interests Of COM
merce. and to make the Philippines an
American colony or dependency, he
threatened to fight the invaders of his
country to the death, the same as En-
met would have done at the beginning of
| the century.
Ireland is undoubtedly dissatisfied
| with the iron rule of John Bull, who las
| 100000 red coats in the country to sup
press instruction, but if Uncle Sam
took the island from England to govern
1t for the advantage of American finan-
cial and commercial syndicates, he
would find the Irish would kick as Wig
orously against him as against their
present Oppressor.
Every nation is entitled to self-gov-
eminent. Some nations may be better
able to govern themselves than others.
but no nation has the moral right to
rule another on the plea of humanity
and civilization. 1t has always been
the plea of John Bull.
In the war of the revolution the
French army and navy assisted the col
onists against the mother country. Per-
haps, without the aid of France Wash
ington and his compatriots could not
throw off the British yoke and achieve
their independence. Suppose that
when the British were vanquished the
French claimed the fruits of the victory
and attempted to rule the emancipated
colonists. Would not Washington and
his brave soldiers Of berty fight to the
death against French assumption of
power, as Emmett and his followers
would have done in 1903, and as Aguin-
aldo and his Filipinos will do with the
United States in 1899 if American troops
will try to subjugate them?
1t is all very we'll for Stivers and
other eloquent fellows to charm the
ears with empty phrases and elicit ap-
plause from the unthinking multitude by
exclaiming that the "rdar of the Amer
lean cannon is the voice of liberty"
when corrupt and selfish men are be-
hind it. To the Filipinos it would be
the voice Of slavery, and they know it.
1t would be the same to the Irish or any
other people to be ruled by military sa-
traps. and If the American flag, as an
emblem of subjugation, were ever hoist
ed from Blarney Castle to take the place
of the Union Jack, every Irishman
worth his salt would make vigorous
effort to haul it down and trample it
under foot.
! If. on the contrary, Uncle Sam de-
manded home rule for Ireland, and COM
PEELED England to free it from the gall
ing yoke of centuries, the Irish would