The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-04-07

strongly deprecated in her sovereign?
If you argue that she deserves no share
of our love for the high-minded gen.
erosity which she herself not only loved,
but even initiated in the noble Lafayette,
why confound her in your resentment
with man whose policy she sought to
| oppose by all means short of actual
revolution?
come to our civil war On what
are based these charges OF sympa, for
the South and Of prayers for the defeat
and destruction OF the Union? Your
writer is not aware of the dislike Of
France, which is prevalent even to this
day among Southern sympathizers, pre-
ciscly because they always felt the con-
trary to be the case. Does he not re-
member Englands attitude at this time?
Is there any doubt about this last cir
cumstance? In the absence of other in
dications (and have yet to see any in
support OF his contention) is it not logi-
cal to suppose that France very natural
| ly would have taken, and did take, the
opposite view OF the controversy, SYM
patllizing with the Union most heartily?
Touching the late war with Spain can
we make it crime for heavy investors
in Cuban bonds and properties to pro-
test against war which snatched from
them perhaps the savings OF years?
These, too. were mere individuals Was
the French governments attitude i'll
correct in the least particular? Were
there not caustic comments published
on Our policy in English periodicals by
those dear, everiaithful Anglo-Saxon
brethren OF ours, which cclipsed in saw
age and brutal abuse all that had ever
emanated from the pens Of French jour
nalists? But these were carefully
hushed in this country by our Anglo
Saxon friends, who, on the other hand,
never lost an opportunity OF spreading
lies about France and Germany, and OF
fomenting thereby a spirit OF antipathy
which might rebound, and did rebound
to the benefit of our solicitous and ever
true (D Mother country" To this and
to nothing else must we trace the i'm
preston that France indulgcd in mimi
cal demonstrations which were pure in
vcntions; that the powers threatened to
form coalition which England was
supposed to have averted, but which
to-day is proven to have been nothing
more than imaginary
heartily deplore all signs of ten
dency to throw off the sweet yoke OF a
! friendship which, however much some
| may doubt, has been lasting and true.
We are linked to France by the sacred
ties OF gratitude which is not less
! binding on nations than it is OH indvid-
uals, and the sudden reputation OF
| which would be far from augurng we'll
| for the future moral integrity OF this
| republic We hear SO much nowadays
OF what we owe Great Britain! What
| has the latter ever risled for love OF us?
Are we simple enough to suppose that
that nation who never, until she felt
the need OF a powerful ally and found
herself snubbed by all the European
powers, missed an opportunity OF deal
ing lis wicked blow has suddenly con-
ceiyed for us such dcep=rootcd affection
that in order to show ourselves quite
worthy OF her favors we must throw to
! the winds our most cherished associa-
| tions? What regard has that nation for
Our principles and our ideals OF liberty?
Does she not scOrn, our profer OF
friendly services to show It's by actual
demonstration in her treatment OF the
heroic Boers what she would have done
TO lis had not France helped us CEN
tury and a quarter ago?
What, on the contrary, would be
more natural than continuance OF our
friendship with the only nation on the
European continent that has proved
herself ever the disinterested champion
Of political liberty? 1t is interesting
to note that since our Revolutionary
War down to the year 1870 not one
people has striven for liberty, ETC., that
did not benefit by Frances generosity.
Ireland, Greece, Italy, Belgium, all will
rise to testify to this, and it is safe to
state that had not the late war with
Prussia left France SO crippled as to
make impotcnt her unselfsll impulses
her arm would soon have stopped the
Armenian massacres, as her ambassa-
dor (brotfer, by the way, to the dis
tinguisl1ed gentleman who signed
Spain's treaty with us) was the only
diplomat at Constantihople who raised
his voice in official protest against the
atrocities which were being committed;
while the only reason why the Beers to-
day are being thus ruthlessly exter-
minated must be sought likewise in
Frances present helpless condition,
which makes it impossible for her to
follow as of yore those magnificent
prccedents OF noble generosity which
she has set for herself in the pages OF
history.
Lord Chici Baron Pallcs, in opening
the asszcs in the city OF Limerick the
other day. congratulated the grand jury
upon the fact that there was no criminal
business to be submitted for their consid
Grafton. He said it was the third time i'll