The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-08-10
The British Soldiers Prefer Surrender
to Fighting and Have Lost
Their Prestige.
Old Salisbury Is Suffering From Senile
Decay and Balfour Is Only
Literary Fop.

with it's diamond mines. And it evil
IDENTIFY was Queen Victorias intention
to juggle the Transvaal out Of the
Rand gold mines. The Jameson raid,
however, alarmed the Beers, and they
fastened to purchase cannon and
Mausers and prepare for defense.
Then Mr.. Chamberlain, of Kynochs,
and Alfred Milner-the Col. Saunder-
son of South Africa-conspired with
spectators to bring about a war. All
the meddling with the franchise of the
republic was unwarrantable, and an
act of perfidy on the part Of England,
as it violated solemn treaty. But
Miner and Chamberlain would not
make peace, no matter what conces-
sions President Kruger might offer.
The concession only led to a further
demand, more CALLING than the last.
In fact the negotiations were only to
gain time for the transportation of
enough troops to Africa. Mr.. Cham
berlain-the only clear headed and
forceful member Of the Ministry-had
convinced himself that Kynochs would
make money in case Of war, and that
the longer the war lasted the more
money Kynochs would make. There
fore the war had to be.
The attitude of the English people
during this war of aggression is q
proof of decadence-moral decadence-
Of the gravest character. England
was not in presence of a powerful foe,
she was not fighting for her life or
her honor, she was merely a pirate
fighting for plunder. But what was
the attitude, with hardly an exception,
of all Englishmen? They gloried in
the havoc that they engaged in. Their
ministers prayed to God to bless it..
They pretended that it was patriotic
business. They suppressed every ex-
preston Of doubt as to the excellence
Of their conduct. They misrepresented
their enemy and overpraised their
own troops. They went delirious about
trumpery relief of Mafeking and
vaunted the relief ofLadysmith as If
it was an unparalleled feat Of arms.
In fact, they lost all sense of proper
ton and Of the ridiculous, and could
not understand how absurd it was for
hundred big bullies to pride them
selves on holding out against half a
dozen little boys. It is only a nation
that is going to the dogs that could
make such a sorry exhibition Of itself
as the English have done in. the last
two years.
The whole literature Of the war that
has emanated from English sources is
long and variable apology for the
shortcomings Of the army. They cry
like babies that the Beers did not fore
warn them that they meant to fight.
They should have had military prom
enade like Kitchener in the Soudan
or Wolseley among the pyramids.
They say that the army consists of
lions led by asses, which is partly true
the part about the asses. But the
Tommies were not lions. At the begin
ming of the war they tried to fight
Beers as they fought barbarians
armed with spears and arrows. But
they were shot back. And never since
Buller's time have the quarter million
of English Tommies ventured to fight
in the open. They made surrenders that
were unexplained for cowardice. In
fact, they preferred to surrender rather
than fight. They were commanded by
number of incompetent officers, who
are harsh and unreasonable in their
relations with the men, but who revel
in luxuries themselves and enjoy the
double pay that the war gives them.
Being undesirous Of meeting the enemy
they inf1ict their ignorance Of war on
the men who are half starved, over.
worked and harassed with the discip-
line of the barracks at home when
they should be allowed sufficient rest
and food. Never was the gulf that d.
vides Tommy and officer so wide. The
officer has every luxury of the com.
missariat, every subaltern has ten ma
tives to serve him and two spring
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