The Irish standard., 1900-03-03
ATTENTIvELY HEARD BY The JINGoEs
Why Irish People Sympathize
with the Dutchmen.
PRODUCED A PROFOUND IMPRESSION
Burke, Sheridan, Grattan with
American Colonists.


American Colonists.
John Redmond, as the accredited
spokesman of the reunited Irish party,
offered the following amendment to the
Queens speech in the British parlia-
ment, on Feb. 2: "We humbly repre-
sent to your majesty that the time has
come when the war at present being
waged in South Africa should be
brought to close on the basis of rec
ognizing the independence of the
Iransvaal and the Orange Free State" :"
Mr.. Redmond's amendment was, of
course, defeated, the vote being 368 to
66. The minority was composed of the
Irish National members and the follow
ing four Englishmen: John Burns, Sir
Wilfred Lawson, Mr.. Bryn Roberts
and DR.. Clarke, each of whom is in
consequence, marked out for attack at
the general election in his respective
constituency. The speech of Mr.. Red
mond was eloquent, forceful and con-
vincing. He said in part:
I do not rise for the purpose of en-
deavoring to renew discussion about
topics which have been the subject of
discussion for the last week. 1 have no
intention of perpetuating the weari-
some and shameful story Of the incffi-
cheney and insincerity of the diplomacy
which has led this country into war
for an ostensible object which could
easily have been obtained by little pa
tience, good will and little concilia-
ton.
Still less do care to enter into any
criticism of the political and military
blunders which have brought disaster
on British arms since the commence
ment of the war. 1 may say have no
particular sympathy with the recri,nina-
tions which have passed between both
the front benches as to the response
bility for the war.
The sympathy of Ireland is with the
two South African republics. We alb
hor this war; we consider it both i'm
moral and unjust, and we call for its
stePPage,, and VIC declare our intention
to do all that in us lies to maintain the
independence OF these two little repub-
lies, which was won by untold sacrifices
and defended with heroism which is
without parallel in the history of the
world.
l know, of course, that putting for
ward this view in this assembly. must be
unpalatable to members on both sides,
but every sober-minded man must
agree with me that if a large body of
members hold this view it is we'll that
the view should be expressed and
trust the expression of opinion of
eighty members on behalf of the people
of Ireland will be listened to, if not
with respect, at any rate with patience.
The sympathy of Ireland is with the
Beers. Why is this? On what founda-
ton is it based? And what is the ex-
planation of it? I purpose to answer
shortly those questions.
We in Ireland have been accused of
being indiscriminate in our sympathies
and in our views of this war; we are
told we know nothing of the quarrel,
and that our sympathies with the Beers
have one real and only motive, which is
antagonism to England; that we should
be against England, right or wrong,
and have even heard it said that if it
was Germany which was fighting and
England defending the Beers, we
should turn right around, and it was al
legged that if England had gone to war
as she undoubtedly ought to have done
three years ago, to avenge the massacre
of the Armenian Christians, our sympa-
thies would have been on the side of the
great assassin.
l want to be perfectly frank and can
did. There is both truth and untruth in
that charge. 1t is true that wherever
the empire is involved in difficulty or
a complication which diminishes its
strength feeling of hope and satisfac-
ton stirs through the veins OF men of
the Irish race, both at home and
abroad. This is a fact which stares you
in the face, and it is folly to conceal
it. 1t is one of those facts which
statesmen should study and observe and
try to understand. It is not our fault
that it is fact, but yours. It is the
fault of the history which you and your
predecessors have made.
You thought you had got rid of the