The Irish standard., 1900-09-01


nation was a shelter to his exiled peo
pie in their day of sorrow. He is
proud of all the republic has accom-
plished and believes in it's power to
do more, but he knows that today q
chasm dug with British influence and
British greed lies beside our path of
progress, and willing dupes are striv-
ing to direct our footsteps towards the
horrid depths of European plutocracy,
which are hidden from sight by the
rose-tinted clouds of foreign aggran-
dizement and colonial policy. We are
not prejudiced but we would be false
to the republic If we did not notice
and denounce the growth of Anglo
philism among the richer classes. Ev-
cry day we have evidence Of the well
to do among our people desiring closer
utilization with England and displaying
an in0rdinate love for foreign titles.
We watch with concern the increase of
English syndicates and consequent
spread of the area of English influence.
We deem the settlement of the Vene-
zuelan question to be almost treason
able in relation to the Monroe doctrine.
We point to the sixth clause of the
draft submitted of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty and ask fair-minded citizens if
the agreement included therein does
not mean a treaty and understanding
with the British government on other
matters. We point to the expiring
flames Of liberty on South African
slopes and ask why we are silent to
the appeal of those gallant farmers
The Afrikander fought for freedom,
for home and family as we did in '76.
He converted the desert into a pasture,
but England decided he and his repub-
lies must become vassals to the en-
pire. Across the ocean came the cry
to America for help and assistance,
but Columbia turned her face away.
Sad the hour for human liberty when
the United States of America must re,
fuse to harllen to the appeal Of sister
republics. If the men Of the Trans
vaal fought for riches, for power, for
increase Of territory, we may have had
an excuse, but their fight was for lib
erty. The Hibcrnian remembers the
dear isle across the sea, the land of
his fathers. In the refusal to help the
Boer he sees hopes for Erin quenched,
but his grief is not for his loss, but for
the loss inflicted Oh struggling human
ity. Where will the liberty-lovers, the
enemies of tyranny, the soldiers of
progress turn for assistance, sympathy
and shelter? Alas, where? We came
in our thousands to this great land
because we knew it would be the ref
uge Of the oppressed and the home of
the free. We stood at the foot of
Columbia's throne and cried
"No treason we bring from Erin,
Nor bring We shame or guilt;
The sword we hold may be broken,
But we have not dropped the hilt.
The wreath we bear to Columbia
Is twisted of thorns, not bays,
The songs we sing are saddcned
With the thoughts OF desolate days.
But the hearts we bring for freedom
Are washed in the surge of tears,
And we claim the right by peoples
fight,
OUTLYING thousand years.
Columbia received us with out
stretched arms. We entered into her
life and today we speak as American
citizens anxious for the perpctuity of
American institutions and proud of the
part we played in the history of this
nation. We say to our fellow citizens,
no matter what sun themselves or their
fathers have been born under, no mat.
ter whether these progcnitors came
over in the Mayflower or in the ocean
greyhounds" Of the present day, that
English domination means American
ruin.
The only hope of the British empire
is to ally herself with America. Eng
land has betrayed every power in
Europe. She has lied to, stolen from
and broke faith with them all. She
has done the same with America, but
she hopes that the upper ten, the mill
tary, the imperialsts, will help her to
throw sand into the eyes Of the COM
mon people and link the destinies Of
the republic with those of that syno-
nym for broken treaty and outraged
peoples, the English government God
Forbid l will not detain you, you
know your duty. If from lands afar
off, you know the evils which op-
pressed you there. Do not permit
your Incidence to inflict your expert
ence on your children. To you, chill
dren of the Gael, have but to say,
better sacrifice all hopes for the future
than permit our loved flag, Old Glory,
to be intertwined in union with Eng
lands Union Jack. Prevent America
from being deceived into alliance with
England and that robber among gov
~ L. L. 1>1