The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-04

preach peace to Russia, Germany and
France! You would not go to war with
Turkey to avenge the massacre OF Chris
tians in Armenia or to stop the sangui-
nary work OF Abdul Hamid, though civ
ilized and Christian mankind would have
applauded you in the act, but you were
quite ready, with the support of all your
press, all your leaders and all your under
secretaries, to plunge Great Britain and
France into the DEVILS work OF war on
account OF the arrival OF brave French
man with the French flag at swampy
region in the wilds OF Africa.
Then, again, look at the question Of
ornaments, and the cost OF them to the
peoples whose interests they injure. You
print in War Against War tables which
show the cost and strength of European
navics, armies and general war ma
chinery. According to the figures thus
given, the average annual expenditure
upon the armies and navies Of the five
great (ContinentaD powers-Russia, Ger
many, France, Austria Hungary and
1taly-is about fso,o96,ooo. British ex-
penditure on the fighting material Of this
peace-loving nation is f4S,ooo 600. or, say,
nearly 20 per cent. more than the aver
age outlay Of the powers whose arma-
ments you SO much deplorc.
But this is not the worst side Of the
pious hypocrisy which is SO ready to con-
denim in others what it will not see in it.
self Russia (according to the figures in
War Against War; cxpends about IS. in
the pound OF her revenue on war paint,
France about IS. Cd, and Austria-Hun-
gary less than IS. The balance goes for
purposes presumably peaceful. Great
Britain spends more than IS. i'll the
l.ound OF her revenue on MIR. Goshen
and Lord Lansdownc. And this, too, in
spite OF the fact that the insular position
OF your country saves it from the appre
tensions OF invasion that induce the five
great powers OF the Continent to or
ganize large armies and navies.
For all the foregoing reasons. there
fore, let me ask you to direct your cru
SADIE against war in your own country
first. Begin with Downing street and
Pail Mall. Offer Europe some proof Of
that sincerity which your movement will
require If it is to be successful on the
Continent. Never mind your unclcs,
cousins and aunts in America. Don't
drag them into this European business,
at least until you convince them that you
are honest i'll your appeals Tor peace to
powers which, unlike the United States,
are following Englands example in
spending enormous sums upon menkill-
ing machinery Let me suggest, also,
the following resolution, or something on
the same lines, in lieu OF the colurlcss
pronounccmcnt which was adopted at
the Battersca meeting. a resolution
containing a sincere protest against the
evils Of war; and practical proposal in
the interests of the working classes, will
rally the latter around your crusade, and
will insure its success in ccntcrs like Bat
tcrsca The working classes OF the Con-
tincnt will probably support similar
proposal if it is universally adopted i'll
England first The resolution should
read something like this:
Resolved, That this mass meeting OF
the working classes Of -- extends 4
hearty greeting to the peace proposals oi
the Gar OF Russia, and declares itself in
favor OF the humane and enlightened
policy OF disarmament among the great
powers which the Empcror's proposals
clnbody;
That we call upon Her Majcsty's s
Government to lead the way in this cru
SADIE against war and its horrors by stop
ping all the hostilitics against the helpless
colored races OF the Continent of Africa
| now being directed by British forces;
That, in order to offer to European
nations signal proof OF British sincerity
in this peaceful war against brutal war,
We hereby demand reduction OF the an
nual expenditure on the army and navy
i'll the coming budget which shall make
the outlay on these charges in future
correspond with that of the average an
nual expenditure on similar charges Of
Russia, France. Germany, Austria-Hun-
gary and Italy;
"And that balance (fl8,ooo,ooo) be-
tween that expenditure (f3o,oo ooo) and
the sum (f48,ooo,ooO voted by Parlia-
ment for the naval and military purposes
be set apart every year for a State fund,
out OF which to provide old-agc pensions
for the workers of Great Britain and Ire
land"
Such resolution would, in my humble
judgment, if acted upon, prove to Eu-
rope that your crusade for disarmaments
and peace was a sincere and honest
movement. 1t would also receive double
welcome from the working classes Of the
three countries. inasmuch as it would
promote the interests Of peace, and like
wise secure them in their old age against
the penalty Of poverty and the social de-
gradation OF the workhouse.
GOOD LANDS IN MINNESOTA.
The best farm lands to be found ir
the state are along the line OF the Min
ncaDolis and ST Iouis railroad, Pur.