The Irish standard., 1900-02-03
A SPLENDID LETTER.
Mayor DARCY. Of Salem, Oregon, In
Behalf of the BOerS.


The following letter from Hon. P. TT.
Darcy, Mayor OF Salem, recently ap-
pearcd in the Portland Orcgonian,
which is English in all its sympathics:
] was much astonisllcd, panied and
grievcd to observe that Americans,
claiming to be OF Irish birth or descent
have been writing to your valuable pa
per, cspousing the cause of England in
her unjust warfare upon the Beers
How an American OF Irish birth or de-
scent could take the side OF England
in her efforts to destroy the two small
republics OF Soutl, Africa is incomprc-
hensiblc to me. Such an American
does not seem to remember the strug-
gle OF the colonies to free themselves
from the unjust oppression of England.
They lack the spirit OF 1916 They do
not realize how the colonsts fought for
their homes and the principles that the
thought of liberty inspires. The Bocr
farmers arc now engaged in a SINH
lar contest, and the Omnipotcnt Ruler
Of all seems to smile upon their efforts
Do these Americans of Irish birth, or
descent, remember the history OF Ire
land, when they assert that Irishmcn
should be neutral or sympathizc with
England against the Beers? Can they
recall the Infamous government Of Ire
land and still contend for this? 1t GER
tainly must be thoughtlessncss on their
part, or they are so circumstanccd they
cannot assert themselves as their hearts
would prompt. If they cannot express
their true sentiments, they should at
least be silent, and not publicly assist
the bully OF nations and the opprcssor
| of the weak and dcfcnscless.
From the time that Strongbow land
cd on the shores OF Ireland, the history
Of the government of that country has
been the most oppressive and unjust
that the world has witncsscd-evcn
worse than the government OF India.
where 100000 OF her people are now
starving; or in Egypt, where Eng1ands
oppressive laws have done their work.
Cromwcllian government, the massa-
ores Of Droghcda and Wexford, the
driving OF the inhabitants OF Ireland in
to the province Of Connaught, and plac-
ing them OH lands especially selected
for this purpose i'll a section Of country
that was very sterile, and where
blade Of grass would scarcely grow?
Can they remember the villainous penal
laws OF ireland, how the people were
deprived OF education, and were made
the hcwcrs OF wood and the drawers
OF water? How brave, sensitive and
intelligent people, with history for lit
craturc and learning Of which any poo
pie might feel proud, were cnslavcd and
deprived Of the advantages OF civliza-
ton because they would not bow their
nccle under the yoke, and "bcnd the
pregnant hinges Of the knee that thrift
might follow fawning"? Arc they un-
mindful OF the fact that in II years, UNI
der the spirit OF the Cromwclian gov
crnmcnt, 100000 Irish were killed, be-
sides the thousands who were banisllcd
and transported from the country? Do
they recall the violation OF the treaty OF
Limerick, and the chivalrous conduct
OF Sarsfcli, which enhances with spc-
cial interest the glory OF his race?
In moro recent times, do your CORE
spondcnts remember the gallant strug-
gle made by Ircland's gifted sons to
save the Irish parliament, and what
trcachery was used to destroy it? Have
they forgotten how O'Conncll was con-
victcd Of treason when he never did
nor counsclcd an act that was not
strictly within the spirit as we'll as the
letter OF the English constitution? They
certainly do forget the memory of
Grattan, Emmett, Wolfe Tone, Lord
Edward Fitzgerald, Thomas Davis,
John Mitchell, Thomas Francis Meagh-
Do your correspondents recall the