The Irish standard., 1900-08-04

AAA~A'' ueiy IL, lueIc was no govern
ment at the time in Ireland. A govern
ment is not composed Of assassns or of
their leaders or employers. There was
instead OF government most delibe-
rate and cold-blooded conspiracy of the
rulers of the country to drive the people
into insurrection in order that when it
was suppressed and the spirit of the peo>
! pie broken by defeat they might pass the
Act of Union and sweep away the last
vestige of constitutional freedom.
Thrice accursed union, which first
emerged from sea of innocent blood,
amidst the curses and tears of an out
ragged and betrayed nation; union, even
in name a mockery; union, monstrous
progeny of human wickedncss, the Off
spring of vice, fostered by corruption
and fraught with innumerable woes to
generations yet unborn.
Under Grattan's too brief-lived par
Lament this country had prospered
wondrously. But prosperity in Ireland,
then as now, was a hateful object in the
envious eyes of England and her rulers
They saw in Ireland then as they see
now, only land fitted to fatten cattle,
to feed them, and starving Irish slaves
to fight for them. Well, they may have
the cattle of Ireland still, but hope not
all the gold OF the grabbed mines of the
Rand will henceforth be able to pur-
chase the service of the men of Ireland
in carrying on an unjust warfare; in
waging war against freedom and tramp
ling upon the rights of freemen. think
the time has come when the Christian
men OF Ireland should no longer suffer
themselves to be dragged at the tail OF
England through the mud and mire OF
every infamy that it pleases England or
her rulers to commit. OF the valor dis
played by the men vino fought at Ark
low need I speak? We have witnessed
lately the splendid courage, the marvel
Gus achievements OF the little nation of
the Beers in fighting against the swarm
ing legions of England. Our minds were
filled with admiration of their courage
and our hearts with sympathy for their
cause. They have proved themselves as
much superior to their enemies in brav-
cry and warlike skill as in genrosity
and humanity of conduct They have
written their names, these simple God
fearing farmers, in imperishable char
acters in the annals of heroism. But
however highly we esteem their valor
we hold that in this quality Our country
men who fought at Arklow were in no
wise inferior Seventy thousand British
troops were needed to subdue 10000
Wexford and Wicklow insurgents; $780,
600 were required to overcome the re-
sistance of about $4,000 Beers.
But consider how differently from
those brave countrymen of ours, the
farmers of the Transvaal and Free State
were equipped for war. The Boer farm
ers had had for long years to confined
against savage beasts and against men
we'll nigh as savage. From their child
hood they had been trained to the use of
the rifle. They had learned to construct
almost impregnable intrenchments.
They had ammunition in abundance, and
were we'll supplied with arms of preci-
sion. They we're led by able generals.
They had long brcathed the air of TN
trammelled freedom, and it had invig.
GRATED their souls, as the active and adj
venturous life OF the veldt had strength.
ened their bodies. Moreover, they were
all united in defense of their country.
OF all these advantages the men who
fought in 'o8 at Arklow and elsewhere
had none (hear, hear). They had moth
ing in comomn with the Beers but their
deep religious feeling, their love of
country, their hatred of oppression and
their valor All that the bravest men
could do these valiant peasants did.
Provided with but one small cannon,
with but few muskets, they could not
carry position held by large body of
trained troops, furnished with batteries
of powerful artillery, and yet they tried
to do it, Filled with the courage Of
their race they tried to do what could
not be done by men armed as they were
Chear, hear). Three times did they
charge with leveled pixies towards the
ene1ny's strong intrenchments; three
times did they face the storm of shot
and shell, from musket and cannon, and
it was not till 700 OF their number, in
Guiding their chief leader, my grand
uncle, Father Michael, had fallen that
they withdrew from the assault. No
panic, no disorder marked their retreat.
Sorrowful, but not dismayed, they quit
ted the field of conflict; their enemies
did not dare to pursue them: They
dared not stir from their intrenchments
till the last pikeman had vanished from
the scene (cheers).
AS long as there are men in the world
who love justice and cherish freedom, so
long will honor be paid to the memory
of men who die in defnse of either. And
when an oppressed nation ceases to hon
or the memory Of those who have SUI
fered or fought or died in defnsee of its
rights, it is surely time that such ma
ton should cease to have separate ex-
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