The Irish standard., 1901-08-24

'o >Nii>o >hi NVllu lUONllE Oh
as indifferently as il deed of limit
less infamy was no concern of those
who are supposed to repeat and be-
licve in the Ten Commandments at
least once Il week. Well. is it right to
argue from all this. and from the re-
cent abOminahlc barbarism committed
by so-callcd Christian powers in China,
that christianity is a failure after its
l,MW years of propaganda, and ought
to surrender to Mammonism now that
the god Of gold has almost cast the
God of Nazareth ou! of the Christian
temple? a thousand times no; and
the same answer applies to the argu-
mcnt based upon the non-succcss of
the combat we have wagcd for centu-
rcs in Ireland for our liberation from
the sway of England. The verdict Of
failure is no irrcvocablc decree against
the right of nationhood, where failure
arises from the cnemy's superior force,
and not from the peoples willing ac
ceptnncc of his power to rule.
The mission and the privilege of citi-
zcns of Irish birth and blood in this
republic are high and cnviable, and
give them an influence of great moral
thought and action. TO stand first and
foremost as the loyal guardians of tho
letter and of the spirit of that greatest
Of political documents in the worlds
history on which this republic remains
indestructblc while it stands on that
foundations; Il constitution which did
not call into existence the grentest
democratic nation on earth to become
either an Irish America or French
America, but a United States America
OF European races; of peoples repub-
licaniZcd ana redeemed from the class
rule and monarchical systems Of an
old world in which rank was begotten
Of birth or Of corruption, and where
poverty was born Of privilege and Of
repression. This republic is today the
acknowledged leading nation Of the
world. It's mighty propelling influence
is felt everywhere. Its industrial
growth and commercial supremacy will
shape the course of events far beyond
the bounds of this continent. See to
it, therefore, that no European power
shall exploit the name Of your country
or its prestige in furtherance Of selfish
ends or policies of aggression against
opponents who are not your foes, or
for purposes which are not pursued
for your advantage DO not let any
power cmbroil you in it's quarrels with
nations who wish you well, and with
whose boundaries or jcalousies you
have no concern. Don't allow the re-
public to be dragged into entangling
alliances at the bidding Of European
statesmen or on the suggestion Of
lnaudling milliOnaircs who dislike the
country that has made them wealthy
and who prefer to live under the rule
Of kings than in land of presidents.
Amcrica's prcdominance in the world
of enterprise, of skill, and of indus
trial intelligence today is not due to
your millonaires, or to your stock ex-
changes, Or your railway magnates, or
your trusts, but to that enlightened,
brond-bascd freedom won by George
Whsliington's peasant army Of emf
grants, under which race of work
crs have grown and thriven here who
are today the most prosperous and
the strongest because they are the
frcest of civilized people. See to it
that this freedom is not narrowed down
to serve the mere aims of the money
changers Of New York, who are the
transatlantic partners of the money
mOngers of London. Americas wealth
and power reside in her people and not
In Wall street, and while this truth is
kept to the forefront of your public
life the title-scekers of the United
States will never succeed in lowering
this republics dignity to the level of
diplomatic puppet for any European
power in the hierarchy of nations.
was here in this city addressing
the Irish Societies of Chicago fifteen
years ago today. Within that time