The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-04-07
English Fawn on the Strong and
Cypress Weak People.
GRANDEsT LESSON OF THE CENTURY
Since Greeks Faced Persians in
Pass of Thermopylae.

Heaven bless the gallant Beers!
Whatever be their fate, their name will
live forever in the history OF the world
and their renown will be cxtollcd in the
annals OF human heroism. Never, sure
ly, did Drawer men fight in a cause more
just than theirs. The Irish race have
ever in the past been found on the side
OF justice; they are true to their hon
orable tradition to-day, for they arc on
the side OF the Beers, and they feel
proud OF the fact that men OF the,
blood have taken up arms to aid them
IN their struggle against the unscrupu-
lous and rapacious foe-the foe Of free
dom in every land-against England
that nation which in its dealings with
its neighbors displays by turns the
ferocity OF the wolf, the cunning OF the
fox. and the iawning temper OF the
spaniel, says Rev. P. F. Kavanagh in
the Wexford People.
X Is this description of England over
drawn? Can it be truly said that it is
Was there nothing spaniel-like in her
recent advances to America? Does not
her bearing toward France in her Drey-
fusard trial remind you of the craft oi
Reynard, and what more wolf-like than
her fierce rush upon the peaceful Beers
The Assyrian came down like wolf
on the fo1d.'
lhe Irish people arc opposed to the
war waged against the Beers of the
Iransvaal and OF the Orange Free
state. They are opposed to it-for it
is crime against neutrality-suspicious.
the principles Of justice implanted in
every human heart. being wagcd
against an inohcnsivc people, whose
only crime was that they refused to
surrender their liberty to tvrannical
foreign foe, and their lands to a greedy
syndicate.
lhey are opposed to it on the ground
OF conscience, because the war on thc
part OF England is wholly and essen
tIaffy unjust. Should ireland, whom
this war so nearly concerns, be silent
when the rest of Europe speaks?
With the exception OF those engaged
III this war, who should feel deeper
interest in its final issue than ourselves
the people OF Ireland? What Irish
Nationalist does not believe that our
secure hope OF that complete indcpen-
dence which is Our indcfeasible right
and our most cherished hope, is indis-
solubly linked with the humiliation, de-
feat and downfall OF England, and that
every triumph Of hers only serves to
make our chains more heavy and un-
bearable. To use John Mitchcl's words,
She must be beaten to her knees be-
fore she re1axcs her paralyzing grasp
OF our country"
But shall put aside for the present
the consideration of our interest in the
defeat OF England. I prefer to appeal
to the conscience OF the Irish people,
who are as great lovers of justice and
tair dealing as the world ever knew,
and are, beyond dispute, the most con-
scientious race in Christendom, if his
tory does not lie, for have they not
sacrificed life and liberty during long
and woeful centuries for conscience
sake.
l appeal, then, to the conscience OF
our nation SO enamored of justice be-
tween man and man, and so heroically
faithful to that guiding voice of con-
science which is the voice of God. I
ask them is this war against the Bocrs
Just? From every quarter Of our land |
hear the answer coming: "No, no. 1t
is an unjust and wicked war" Now.
what is all unjust war? 1t is, according
to the opinion of all moralists, nothing
but murder on large scale. Again. if
war is plainly unjust, every man killed
IN 1t is unjustly slain-that is. murdered
and all who engage in such unjust ag-
gresslve war are participators in all the
crimes committed during its coursc-if
they toresaw them as they must forcscc.
IT the justice Of the cause is doubtful
then the citizen, if already enrolled in
the army, may engage in it without sin;
II not, it would not be lawful for him
to do SO. But if the war is undoubtedly
unjust, then the man who takes part
in it. whether he be merccnary SOL
dicr or a civilian volunteer, must stand
before his fellow man and his Creator
as a criminal, an unjust slayer OF his
fellow man, an unjustifable Homicide