The Irish standard., 1900-04-07


show that they were good Irishmen as
we'll as unionists.
To ardent nationalist, however, this
temporary adoption OF the symbol OF
Irish nationality and the hawking about
OF it in England by men glorying i'll the
slaughter OF people who, like the Irish
desire freedom looked little else than
PROCLAMATION. These nationalists can
console themselves, however, with the
thought that this sentiment and demand
for the shamrock in England will not
always be thus strong; like the popular
demand for primroscs on Lord Bea-
consfield's birthday the demand for the
shamrock will decline, especially ii the
Irish regiments depleted in battle can
not be restored by recruiting among
the fighting race
And it was not alone by the wearing
OF the shamrock that the day and the
valor of the Irish troops was commem-
GRATED in England At Windsor castle,
one OF the queens residences the bells
OF the curiew tower rung out in honor
of the day and the drums and pipes OF
the First Grenadier guards played Irish
airs exclusively during the changing of
the guard, the first instance in history.
In the aristocratc west end maidenhail
fern was discarded as a table decora-
ton and the shamrock took its place.
1--WE are all socialists now,' said Sir
William Harcourt some time ago, and
for one day at least all Londoners and
most OF the people OF England and a
good proportion OF the Scotch and
Welsh were IrisEmen This outburst OF
admiration for Paddy is the most
unique compliment in history. In the
theatcrs and music halls punches OF
sfaMrocks were given to patrons and
the Wearing OF the Green was a
feature OF all the programs. And so
Londoncrs heard and went into rap
lures oyer what one OF them describes
as that wonderful song which sets
even the dull blood OF an Englishman
dancing in his veins" And somewhat
humorous to say, amidst all this en-
thusiasm, the wearing OF the green was
made to betoken another feeling be-
sides admiration Tor the Irish soldier
The Rent Payers league" OF London
used it to proclaim grievance by
adopting the following: 1T is resolved
to ask all those who feel unduly the
pressure OF rent to wear small piece
OF green ribbon on St. Patrick's day"
SO it appears it is not the Irish people
alone who are ground down by ex-
orbitant rents.
There was a story current at Alder
shot. the great military depot, that the
queen had, or was about to give a sup
Elementary order to her own regarding
the shamrock, that in future the popular
name for the soldiers OF the queen
should be not Tommy but Paddy
Atkins This report, which is prena
ture, it not false altogether does not
seem to give any cllagrin to the Eng
llsh, but it has caused great indigna-
ton in Scotland. The people OF that
country are naturally jealous that the
queen should pay such marked and i'm
mortalizing attention to Pat when
Sandy claims that as many 'oi his
countrymcn died for her in South All
RIGA as OF the Irish And, in truth, this
preference cannot help to be CALLING to
4 man who, although claiming to be Il
Scotchman, generally takes pride in
hoasting that he is more English than
the English themselves. Is it in the
climate that they should thus minimize
themselves? The true Scots are kelts.
Tor in oldcn days Scotland was called
Scotia Minor" or Little Ireland, and
their language is but slight variation
OF that old Gaelic tongue which St
Patrick spoke. and so they ought not
to be cnvious but proud OF the fact
that their racial brethren killed more
Calvanistic Bocrs than they did May
be, however the burgllcrs' creed and
ritual is not quite similar TO that OF the
kirk and Tor that reason, ii no other, it
is to be hoped the Scots will be given
the advance in all future onslaughts on
the Beers, so that they may avcnge the
discrepancy in prayer. And yet,
wouldn't it be a pity to see two bible
reading races slaughter each other out
oil pure love OF God and Christian civ
ilization?
A cablcgr;yl In received from Lady
smith was. as follows: st Patrick S
evc-good luck to ireland, from Second
Dublin Fusilicrs.' AS a fitting appcn-
dix to this funny incident which hap
pcncd at Brixton, England, may be
noted. There is parliamentary con-
test going on there and while big
torchlight procession was on its way a
great outburst of cheers for the Dublin
fuslicrs was heard. An elderly gentle
man requested silence, and, Selling the
opportunity, proposed that some de-
serving private in that famous regiment
should be nominated i'll opposition to
the government candidate. OF course
he was hooted down, but not unani-
morsly. And yet such an election, as
a correspondent Of a London paper
SAYS. might ..provc to our brothers in