The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-04-01

land there is pang OF grief, and we
ask the question, Are we compensated
for the sacrifice? The justification of
the war with Spain is the giving of lib
erty to others and not despoiling them
of it, and ii there is one thing more than
another that teaches us the dangers of
holding dependent states, it is the case
of Ireland itself. James Bryce says that
OF all the problems of government that
of the administration Of dependency is
the most difficult; and it is far more diff
ficult for America than for England 1t
is considered to-day that if the demands
of the Irish revolutionists were granted it
would have been far better both for
England and Ireland We should avoid
the danger of holding dependencies for
the benefit of place-holders and pen
sioners. If we exercise control, it
should be to facilitate the development
of the country, and to cultivate and not
suppress the national aspirations of the
! people. Let America be the protector
MINI ssota historical within her in
Qoaietv world; but not
sufter nerser1 to be put in the position
of the English in Ireland drivers
under the forms of law created by the
influence OF corruption or the coercion
OF arms The question of permanently
holding the Philippine Islands is one
that is seriously engaging the attention
of our statesmen. The government is in
doubt. 1t hearkens for clear express
sion OF the peoples voice.
The American patriots, exercising the
divine right OF revolution, enjoying "a
happy and remote situation" as Wash
ington expressed it, far from the old
country, were successful as rebels
against English rule. The French fol-
lowed in bloody uprising. The man
with the hoe became the man with the
pike. Ireland, inspired by America and
France, rose in rebellion, but the fail
ure OF her attempt does not affect the
fact that there was no essential differ
ence between them, only the provoca-
ton was even greater in the case of
Ireland than in the case OF France or
America. These revolutions righted
great wrongs, which would have en-
dured to this day were there not patriots
and martyrs willing and ready to die
The command of the patriot leaders in
all ages has been in the words by an
intrepid general on another field: "Send
ME one hundred men who know how to
die Who can be deaf to cause for
which a man is willing to die? The
Irish revolution, if not successful, is
consecrated in patriot blood, and is
none the less glorious. who are life's
victors? The Spartans who fell at Their
mopylae's tryst, or the Persian and
Xerxes? His judges or Socrates? Pi-
late or Christ?' (Applause)
"All the world loves a lover,' and
all the world reveres pure patriot, and
Emmet is both loved and revered His
motives were as lofty as any that ever
animated the breast OF man. He had
not reached the age when men calcu-
late. He was impulsive and eager to
redress a wrong, not counting the cost
What must have been his feelings when
dragged through the streets of his ma.
tive city to gibbet that was erected in a
public place? What must have been his
feelings when he looked out upon the
crowd for whose happiness he had striv-
en-, but striven in vain? What must
have been his thoughts when he beheld
at last the executioner by his side? I
will answer you: He was made OF
heroic clay and the last thing he thought
of was himself He had enlisted in the
cause OF his country, and nothing could
have swerved him from his chosen path
AS was said of another, so may be it
said Of him, he never shared honors won
by dishonor and never truckled to pow
er, for there is indeed strength in scorn
as there was in the martial fury by which
men became insensible to wounds. So
too, the great Cardinal Richelieu re-
buked his messenger who spoke of dan
ger to his life: "Life, who spake oi
life? I bade thee grasp that treasure as
thine honor, a jewel worth whole heca-
tombs of lives" So Emmett grasped the
treasure OF Irish nationality and gave up
his life in its defense. He preserved his
individual honor and the honor of his
country, and every Irishman is prouder
and stronger because of his martyrdom
His country is better: the world is rich
er. After he was hanged his body was
cut down and his head severed from it
Behold the head OF traitor" History
says, Behold the cowardicc of tyranny. u
Behold the system by which the no
blest men are sacrificed and the vile ex-
alted" ......
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