The Irish standard., 1900-01-06
War Declared Unjustifiable by
Justice Fitzgerald.
CONGRESSMAN SULzER HITS RHODES
Senator Mason of Illinois Was
Among the Speakers.

A great mass meeting under the aus
pieces OF the United Irish societies OF
New York and vicinity was held at the
Academy OF Music last Sunday night
to express sympathy with the Beers and
opposition to England in consequence
OF the South African war. Senator
Mason Of Illinois, Congressman Suzer,
Congressman Cummings and others
addressed the meeting.
Justice Fitzgerald of the supreme
court presided. The entire house was
filled. The proscenium, the boxes and
the balconies were all decorated with
profusion of American flags, the
green Irish embcms and occasionally
the flags OF the two South African re-
publics.
Justice Fitzgerald, after calling the
meeting to order. said:
ut is great honor to be asked TO
speak to this great audience tonight
and to join in expressing Our deep in
digration at the unjustifable war now
being waged by Great Britain upon the
people of the Transvaal and to give
utterance to Our sentiments of deep ad
miration for the gallant stand being
made by the cmbattlcd farmers OF
South Africa in defense of their prop
erty, their lives, their liberties.
THE British, colonial office seems to
have, up to this point, made a mistake
i'll calculating the fighting qualities OF
those farmers. 1t is said that the
colonial secretary will send more troops
to Africa. Perhaps when the yeomcn,
fox hunters and, by the gracious per-
mission Of the queen, the duke OF Con-
naught, go to the relief OF the besicged
troops England's cup may be again
filled with bitterness.
"The great heart OF the American
people goes out to the people of the
Transvaal and the Orange Free State.
They are fighting for the same princi-
pies, they are against the same sover-
cign and relocated soldiers that fought
us century ago and would fight us
tomorrow if they dared and thought it
would benefit them"
Congressman Sulzer spoke next. He
said:
II am not ashamed to have it known
that my sympathy is with the heroic
Beers in their rcsolute cndcavor and
determined effort to maintain their
homes and their independence against
the piracy and the tyranny OF the Brit
ISL crown. l want to see them win in
this contest, because they are right and
deserve to win. Their cause is just
one. No one can honestly dispute that
They are defending their homes and
rcpclling a remorseless invader. Eng
lands attempt to steal their country is
an outrage, an act Of criminal agrees
sion, and should be condemned by the
Christian powers of the world.
"In my judgment, nine-tcnths OF the
American people are against England
in this matter and in sympathy with the
Soutl, African patriots.
"Thc courage OF the Beers in the face
of tremendous odds has challenged the
admiration OF mankind, and their hero
ism against almost insurmountable OBJ
staclcs has won the respect OF the civ
ilizcd world. They are entitled to our
sympathy, and we would be false to
ourselves and to all our history if we
did not give it to them.
These brave Beers are fighting for
republicanism against monarchy; for
democracy against plutocracy; for home
rule against the bayonet; for the SOW
crcignty OF the individual against the
sanctity OF the crown; for the ballot
against the throne; for the love OF home
against the love OF gold; for Saxon
freedom against British tyranny; for the
integrity of their country against
ruthless invader; for the school house
and the church against the army bar
racks and the military fort; for relig-
ious freedom against foreign DONNA
ton; for the frcside OF civilization
against the blazing torch OF devasta-
ton; for. free institutions against i'm
perialism; and, above all and beyond
all, they are fighting a battle for the
rights of man.
"There never would have been trouble
if gold had not been discovered in the
land. The rich find of gold there is
at the bottom of it all. Love of gold