The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-12-22
AH1lPArHY TO THE ENGLISH.

Az ENUkkSus
The Freeman, of st. John, N. B., a
loyal British paper, says that Irishmcn
are incapable of approaching the ma
ny noble characteristics of the Eng
fish people. Perhaps that is true, but
the reason is obvious. There is Il
hereditary dislike to the English in the
breast of every Irishman who loves his
country and desires it's freedom from
the English yoke. The Irish have
known the English rs prosecutors of
their creed and nationality. Even
as Catholics, the English are super
cilious and overbearing to their Celtic
brethren of the faith.
'The original sin of the English
man." says Fr. Thomas N. Burke, o.
P, has ever been his contempt for
the Irish. 1t lies deep, though dor
mant in the heart Of almost every
Englishman. The average English
man despises the Irishman, and looks
down upon him as being almost i'll
ferior in nature. Now, speak not
from prejudice, but from an inter-
course of years, for l. have lived
among them. have known English
men, amiable, gentle, religious, charm
ing characters, who would not for the
whole world, willfully nourish in their
hearts a feeling Of contempt for any
one, much less express it in words;
and yet have seen even these mani
fest in thousand forms that con-
tempt for the Irish which seems to be
a part of their very nature. l am
sorry to say that, in respect to this
feeling, I can make no exception Of
Catholic or Protestant among the Eng
lish. l mention this not to excite an
mostly, not to create bad blood or bit
ter feeling. No; protest this is not
my feeling. But l mention this be-
cause l am convinced it lies Mt the
very root of that antipathy and hatred
between the English and Irish, which
seems to be incurablc. And l verify
believe that, until that feeling is de-
stroyed, you never can have a cordial
union between the two countries; and
the only way to destroy it is to raise
Ireland, SO by justice and by home leg
islation, that her people will attain to
such position as to enforce and conf
mand the respect of their English fol
low-citiZens.'
Tho foregoing words were uttered
by the famous Irish Dominican in the
Academy of Music. New York. on
Nov. -, 1872, in reply to james An
tllony Froudc, the lying English his
torian who was then lecturing against
the Irish in this country. What Fa-
thcr Burke said on that occasion is true
today. though the deep hatred between
the races is somewhat mitigntctl in
recent years owing to the wise states
manShip of the late William Il. Glad
stone who in his declining years vain.
ly attempted to give Ireland the rights
Of self government. of which she was
at the beginning of the century now
ending.
Until lriShmcn are recognized as
the equals of Englishmcn before tho
British law it is folly to expect them
to admire the good qualities which
their opprcssors may possess. Had
lrishmen been granted the rights en-
joycd by Canadians they might he
loyal subjects OF Victoria today in
stead of being the implacabe foes OF
her empire.
Were the Irish an inferior race. were
they cowardly in asserting their rights
they would have long since become
submissive slaves like the Scotch ant
lost their separate and distinct nation
atty by absorption. But though sub
jugatcd, more by broken treaties thai
by force. they have never been con
quered and never will unless they art
exterminated root and branch from
their native soil. The land Of Graf
tan. OF Emmett and OF Wolfe Tone cas
never be subdued by England Will.
she produces such gallant sons rs Viii
liam O'Brien. Michael Davitt ant
John Dillon to expose her wrong.
and advocate her rights to nationhool
The spirit Of independence in thu
breasts of Irishmen can never be ex
tinguished. It Is indestructible. TIL,