The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-03-10


can audience it is not necessary for me
to point out the absurd hypocrisy and
the utter falsencss of England going
to war to give equal rights to the uit-
landers.
"It seems to me that it is a sacred
duty for all who are convinced OF the
wickedness of this war-tllat is, every
one who has thought at all about the
subject-to protest both individu-
ally and collectively and to do all in
their power to help the Beers in their
noble struggle for freedom. To keep
silence is to incur a sort of moral res
possibility for the crime. Ii England
with her overwhelming numbers, we're
ever able to succeed in conquering the
Beers it would mean the determination
of two noble and free peoples. Only a
coward would stand by and watch Il
murderer commit his crime Gap
plause.)
"Amcricans, you never will let your
great republic be so disgraced. To. the
Irish, we who know by terrible and
cruel experience what Englands rule
means, the obligation OF protesting
against this war is doubly strong. We
have seen Our beloved country ruined
and the lives OF her people destroyed
by grinding poverty and famine born
of English rule until of the 5000, 900 OF
Irish people in Ireland when Victoria
mounted the throne only 100000 re-
main. We would help to save others
from the same fate. We know that the
Beers are right and wise when they
say that sooner than see the wealth OF
their country drained away by London,
as the wealth of Ireland has been, and
their country reduced to the same state
of helpless beggary, they will fight and
conquer or die like men. (Applause.)
"These last few days the newspapers
have published the news of English vic
tories. They all are from English
sources, and no wonder that England
is proud to-day and cries that Majuba
is avenged Majuba. where only 200
Dutch farmers stormed kopje and
captured some Goo gallant British SOL
diers. Roberts victory is much more
glorious. AT Paardeberg $4,000 gal
liant British troops succeeded in cap
turing Cronjc and 5000 Boer farmers.
Those 5000 Boer farmers had the OBJ
stinacy to hold those $4,000 British
troops and their greatest general, Lord
Roberts, at bay during eight whole days
-(applause)-and only gave in when
they had no more food or ammunition
left, and when they knew that their
purpose was accomplished and that the
whole of the Boer army and the guns
and the ammunition had passed on to a
chosen and suitable field. (Applausc.)
mo wonder that England is hystcri-
cal with JOY over the great victory, and
coming with that there is the great tri-
umph OF the relief of Ladysmitll. Lady
smith has been relieved without even
firing shot, after four futile attempts,
which cost Butler 1000 men. Butler
proclaims great victory, for one morn
ing they woke up to find that the Beers
long ton,' artillery, ammunition and
stores had all disappeared as if by
magic. True, of the 10000 men whom
we read OF going to Ladysmitf with
General White, only some 5000 remain,
presumably the rest have died OF dyson
terry, scurvy and typhoid; those remain
ing 5000 we read are too weak even to
cheer when Lord Dundonald galoped
bravely into Ladysmith without firing
shot. (Applausc.) Possibly the Beers
felt that the care of those 5000 sick
prisoners would tax their ambulance
arrangements too much and that they
did not wish to waste good food on
them and run the danger of the spread
OF infection by taking them to Pretoria
and, after all, the Beers are humane
people and they preferred to leave those
soldiers to be sent to British sallitari-
ums, where they will have chance,
getting some OF the queens chocolates
perhaps. If they arc fortunate il,
and her howcrs--(applausc)-bcf
they arc ultimately sent to the English
workhousc, which is the ultimate desti-
nation for all England's broken-down
soldiers. applause and laughtcr)
"The world has never seen nobicr
or more hcrocc sight than the Beers
are presenting. They are a brave Cod
fearing people. They have lived honest,
simple, pure lives, and are fighting
against fearful odds for home and lib
crty. Trusting in the righteousness OF
their cause they have gone to face the
whole British empire. Every boy from
IA years and every man under 90 years
is fighting. 1t is a glorious and won
dcriul sight, and the bravery OF the men
and the lcroism OF the men is equaled
by the bravery and lcroism of the wo
men. (Applause.)
"Thc Boer women remind lis Of those
Spartan women OF old. They have
blessed their dear sons and having bid
them go forth with gun in one hand
and bible in the other, they stand the
guardians OF their homes, with their
little ones around them. What are we
to think OF those English who in this
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