The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-04-07
REIGN OF ENGLISH RowDY1sM.

REIGN OF ENGLISH R0WDYISM.
Liberty OF thought and freedom OF
speech are not tolerated in England
during the South African war unless
the speakers applaud the action OF the
government in prosecuting it vigorously
against the Beers in the interest Of
British civilization" which means the
spoliation and robbery OF the Dutch
farmers. The Dublin Freeman's Jour
nal has the following to say on the sub
ject:
Recent occurrences in England have
given a new Interpretation to what is
known as British fair play" English
men have always boosted that their
country is the home OF free speech, but
to-day the man who does stand up for
truth and justice has to take his life in
his hands. Mob-law reigns throughout
the entire country, from Lands End to
John O Groat's, and its chosen victims
are the men who have dared to think
for themselves and to hold higher
standards of morality than those pos
sessed by Rhodes and Chamberlain and
the horde OF German Jews who are
clamoring for the life-blood OF the
Transvaal burghers One OF the most
distinguished South Africans OF his day,
Mr. Cronwright- Scllreiner, who came
to England in the mistaken belief that
a fondness for fair play was a leading
characteristic OF his iellow-countrymen
and who desired to put the view OF the
immense majority OF the colonial popu-
| lation before the English public, has the
distinction OF being the best mobbed
man in England He has even been
told that persistence in his attempt to
oppose falseEood with truth may even
read the open Indictment to outrage
contained in the columns OF the lingo
papers can say that there is any exag-
geration in this statement. Ii there
was any doubt that this pandering to
| outrage had not official sanction it is
removed by Mr. Arthur Balfour's reply
to Sir Henry Campbell in
the house OF commons the other night
The leader OF the opposition asked the
champion OF law and order" in Ireland
to take measures to prevent a recur-
renee OF the disgraceful lingo attacks
made upon the persons and property OF
men whose offcnse was that, in conf
mon with the whole civilized world,
they condemned the ubiquitous attempt
to exterminate the republicans OF South
Africa Mr. Balfour's reply is in effect
charter to lingo rowdyisnl. 1t was
hardly less than justification of the
anti-Boer crusade, and there can be no
second meaning attached to his words
when he said, Il feel that the response
bility rests not only upon the local a1-
thorities, but upon those concerned in
those unfortunate proceedings, and also
upon those who called the meeting"
Having patted the disturbers OF the
anti-war meeting on the back, he pro-
cceded to give reasons for the rufl1an-
ism OF his supporters, whose record up
to date is that they have smashed UP or
caused to be abandoned no less than
twenty-eight peace meetings in different
parts OF England and Scotland. The
| discussion which followed, and more
particularly the contributions which
came from the ministerial side OF the
house, cannot fail to have special in
tcrcst for Ireland and Irishmen who
time and again have been belaborcd by
bludgeonmen for daring to assert the
rights OF free speech and public meet
ing. 'The limit to human endurance"
doctrine enumerated by the first lord OF
the treasury is novel excuse for the
JJingoistic onthursts which l,avc-Aliis-
graced Great Britain; but as it has re-
ceived the imprimatur OF such high
authority any doubts as to the propriety
Of the theory must forthwith vanish.
Here in Ireland there are many intoler-
able grievances, which have been borne
to the limit of human endurance" and
ii in much more righteous cause the
majority OF Irishmen should endeavor
to enforce their opinion after the fash
ion approved of by her majesty's min
listers it will be decidedly interesting to
learn how the x-chief-secretary will
reconcile his parliamentary theories
with his Irish practice.
BRITISH ON THE nEFENSE.