The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-02-02
ERIN'S COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE,


seven centuries has always been an
independent Ireland without any con-
ncction with England. Thousands
upon thousands of IriShmen in past
ages shed their blood on Irish battle
fields to preserve their national indie
pendence and cast off the English
yoke. 1t was Il Islander upon the Irish
people for Noltairc to say that Irish
men had fought well for every country
but their own. for amy student Of
Irish history which is not written by
Il Macallay, Il Ero,ldc. OF some other
lying Englishnlan, knows that Irish
men fought nobly and well on Irish
soil OH many Il bloody field.
For over 200 years Ireland has not
had an encounter with England
worth mentioning. The rebellion OF
1893 was fought by the farmers OF
Wexford. Wicklow and Kildare at
every disadvantage. They had pract
ically no skilled military leaders and
but antiquated weapons. Notwith-
this, in the space of four
months they killed some $4,000 of
England's crack troops; and il the
brave farmers were disciplined and
handled they would at that
time, with the cooperation of their
in the other parts of the
island, drive all the troops Of England
into the sea. The number Of Irish,
women and children, who
were slaughtered by the red-coats and
"yeos" in 179S is calculated at $4,000,
which is about twenty-five times less
than the number starved to death dur
ing the early years of Queen Victora's
reign.
What has prevented the Irish from
achieving their independence during
the past two hundred years is lack of
arms and a familiarity with their use.
to the treaty Of Limerick,
which was basely broken by England
shortly after it was signed, it was
that lrishmen could carry IL
sword and case of pistols IL they
thought fit, and could keep gun in
their houses, for the defense of the
same, or for fowling. No one in Ire
land ut the present day. nor within the
recollection of the oldest inhabitants,
is deemed safe to own or carry fire.
arms unless his loyalty to the British
crown is beyond doubt. and then he is
licensed to use them; but the servant
cannot use his masters gun. nor can
any one use his neighbours, without
running the risk of arrest, fine or I'M
prisOnment. While matters remain
thus it is difficult for Irishmen to take
advantage Of any predicament in
which England may find herself, as to-
day in South Africa. But it is our
candid opinion that Ireland will never
receive any thing more substantial
than crumbs from the British parlia-
ment while the Irish make no
preparations to obtain their rights by
physical force. Grattan, during the
revolutionary war. obtained Con-
stitution and free trade for Ireland be-
cause he had $4,000 armed volunteers
to enforce his claims. O'Connell, in
1929, obtained Catholic emancipation
because he had brought Ireland to the
verge Of civil war, and the country ut
the time contained 4 population of
S,OOO,O00. Gladstone abolished the
Protestant church in Ireland in 1869
through fear of Fenianism, and Bal
four will grant home rule to Ireland
in the near future If Irishmen assume
an aggressive attitude and boldly de-
mand their rights. In short time,
lrishmen will not be satisfied with n
provincial parliament and will accept
nothing less than complete indepen-
dence.