The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-06-16
Too Ignorant to Realize Theif
Depth of Degradation.
THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE SERFS
Are Owned Body and Soul by the
Lords Of the Country.

One of the most disgraceful periods
in the annals of this country is now
drawing to its close, says Reynolds
Weekly, of London, England. Amid
calumny and vile abuse we have made
our protest, sustained by the approval
I Of many thousands of noble-hearted
women and men throughout the king
dom and abroad. 1t would be only play
ing into the hands OF our enemies to
dwell forever on the great crime, the
terrible blot on the already bcsmirched
shield of England The Fates are weav-
| ing their web. We who have stood up
for justice and righteousness have moth
ing to reproach ourselves with; the fu-
ture will gloriously justify our action.
All honor to those great hearts who
have withstood the torrent of passion
and prejudice; to them belongs the
crown and the glory; they are the true
patriots and friends of humanity.
1t is not without certain sense of
sadness that one contemplates the in
toxication of the more ignorant por-
ton. That they should rejoice in the
slaughter Of our brave soldiers, drawn
from their own ranks, in war the OBJ
ject of which is to put money into the
pockets OF those who have always been
their enemies and oppressors, is fear
full fact. We can understand whole
nation applauding just war; that they
should go mad over slaughter contrivcd
by the basest of our citizens, the gam
1lers of the money markets, is the grav-
est sign of national degeneration.
But listen: 1t is the policy OF the
governing classes to keep the people ig
norant If the people were wise, or
educated, there would be no governing
classes, such as we know them now.
While this hand can hold pen never
| shall we pander to the passing mood
OF the uninstructed, never maui down
the glorious flag of international JUS
tice.
The startling fact is that at the begin
ming of new century after their faith
crs have gone down in blood and misery
for the emancipation OF the people, their
cowardly descendants seem to revcl in
the rattle of slaves chains. They may
not realize it, but the greater portion Of
the people of these islands are serfs.
What freeman, for instance, would tol
crate for moment the existence of the
House OF Landlords-men the accidcn-
tai sons of their mothers presuming to
dictate or control the legislation OF the
country? We may laugh at the notion
that "an Englishman dearly loves a
lord"; but it is true all the same. And
may we suggest an explanation? The
system of education and social inter-
course in this country is so vile and
boorish; the different classes are so far
apart, that, with the meek humblcness
| OF dog, the instinct of the uncultured
recognizes and fears the appearance OF
seeming generous politeness among
the classes. But the classes, Our aris-
| tocracy, are only savages venecred,
titled Harries and corner boys. Look
| at the records of the divorce court.
And let those who are behind the scenes
tell the tale OF the skeletons in the ars-
tocratic cupboards.
With all the faults of the old system,
England was once nation of free men.
The yeomanry owned the land; the
citizens we're supreme in the towns.
What is the position now? Where are
the yeomanry? A number of young fel-
lows in South Africa, whose fathers,
for the most part, do not own yard
of soil, are miscallcd yeomanry. The
old yeoman has become the agricultural
laborer, dispossessed by the cunning
land monopolist, reduced to the humili-
ating position of being thankful for
blankets and Goals once or twice year
from the thieves who have robbed him.
The sorrow of it! the shame of it! A
people less dullwitted and more imagin-
ativc would rise in their wrath and
thrust these robbers from the soil of
England. AS it is their presence is
made possible by system OF petty
brbes, shameful to be received by peo-
pie who are entitled to claim the land
as their own.
There is something vastly comical in
] connection with this present war to no.