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
pices 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 Bocrs and
opposition to England in consequence
OF the South African war. Senator
Mason OF Illinois, Congressman Sulzer,
Congressman Cummings and others
addressed the meeting.
Justice Fitzgerald OF the supreme
court presided. The entire house was
filled. The proscenum, the boxes and
the balconies were all decorated with
profusion of American flags, tho
green Irish emblems and occasionally
the flags OF the two South African re-
publics.
Justice Fitzgerald, after calling the
meeting to order. said:
'lt is a great honor to be asked tc
speak to this great audience tonight
and to join in expressing Our deep in
dignation 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 cmbattled farmers o
South Africa in defense OF their prop.
erty, their lives, their liberties.
The British colonial office seems tc
have, up to this point made mistak,
in calculating the fighting qualities o
those farmers. 1t is said that TIL,
colonial secretary will send more troop.
to Africa. Perhaps when the ycomcn
fox hunters and, by the gracious per
mission OF the queen, the duke OF Con
naught, go to the relief OF the besicgct
troops England's cup may be agar
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 a century ago and would fight us
tomorrow if they dared and thought il
would benefit them"
Congressman Sulzer spoke next. He
said:
II am not ashamed to have it known
that my sympathy is with the heroic
Boers in their rcsolute cndcavor and
determined effort to maintain thcil
homes and their independence against
the piracy and the tyranny of the Brit.
isf crown. want to see them win III
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 ant
rcpcling a remorseless invader Eng
lands attempt to steal their country is
all outrage, an act Of criminal aggrcs,
sion, and should be condemned by the
Christian powers OF the world
"In my judgment, nine-tcntls of tho
American people are against England
in this matter and in sympathy with tho
South African patriots.
"The courage OF the Beers in the face
of tremendous odds has challenged the
admiration of mankind, and their hero
ism against almost insurmountablc OBJ
stacles has won the respect OF the civ.
ilizcd world. They are entitled to oul
sympathy, and we would be false tc
ourselves and to all our history If We
did not give it to them.
These brave Beers are fighting 70,
republicanism against monarchy; 70,
democracy against plutocracy; for homo
rule against the bayonet; for the SOW
ercignty 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 tho
integrity of their country against a
ruthless invader; for the school house
and the church against the army bar
racks and the military fort; for relig-
ious freedom against foreign domina-
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 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