The Irish standard., 1901-08-10
NOT OF SCOTCH DESCENT.

A young HILL uaIueu u Arcy scout,
son of the Canadian secretary of state,
protested against the flag of the British
empire being hoisted over the city hall
at Ottawa on the 10Th of July, the an
niversary of the battle of the Boyne.
He called on the mayor and said the
flag should not be used to perpetuate
luminosity between British subjects of
different religions on Canadian soil.
The mayor replied that the ensign was
flown to the breeze on March II, and
why not on July -? Darcy Scott an
swered that Patrick's Day was a ma
tional holiday with the Irish race and
that Protestants could join their coun-
trymen of the Catholic faith in the
celebration; not so the 10Th of July,
which was an Orange anniversary cal
culated to insult the Catholic subjects
of. King Edward and create riots
throughout his realm.
The talk between the mayor and Mr..
Scott has been made subject of con-
troyersy ut the Canadian capital and
much feeling has been excited by CON-
munications in the public prints. An
Orangeman has questioned Mr.. SCOTS
right to protest on the ground that he
and his father are of Scotch and not
Of Irish ancestry. To this Mr.. Scott
has given the following spirited reply,
which we reproduce iii compliment to
him:
at seems to me that any citizen,
whatever his origin, or religious belief,
who desires to see peace and harmony
preserved in n mixed community such
as this, would have been justified in
pointing out to His Worship the May
or how undesirable it was that the
flag should fly on a public building
like the city hall on day set apart,
as is July 10Th, for the keeping alive
of sectional and religious bitterness
and animosity. The celebration Of
March 18th Is far from being a parallel
case-St. Patrick is the patron of all
Ireland, and this day may be, and is,
celebrated by Irishmen of every de-
nomination. I hardly flatter myself
that my nationality is matter of pub
lie interest, but since your correspond
ent endeavors to make it one, let me
say that am, both by birth and feel
ings, n Canadian-by origin, however,
am Irish. My father, like myself.
was born in Canada, but his father
belonged to the SCOTS of Cahircon,
county Glare, Ireland-a family who
have been settled in that county for
upwards of $50 years. So far MS
can learn my family was never Scotch
back Mt least to the time of Edward
I. I am proud to say that relative
of mine, Mr.. Richard Scott, Dublin
solicitor, was election agent for the
great Liberator. 0'Connell, in the his
toric Clare elections, which brought
about Catholic emancipation. Taking
the other side Of the house, my mother
was born in Dublin, of Irish parents.
Let me add that, while first Of all a
Canadian, am in sympathy and feel
ing, intensely and entirely Irish"
The young man who has exhibited
the courage Of denying his Scotch de-
scent and proclaiming himself Irish in
origin. sympathy and feeling in a city
like Ottawa wins our admiration. For
some reason or other the Scotch con.
slider themselves the superiors of the
Irish. Their country is seldom heard
Of, because it has lost it's identity and
is merged in Great Britain, whereas
Ireland is always in the public eye be-
cause it claims distinct nationality
and is struggling for freedom from the
British yoke. The Scotch have no ma
tional aspirations and no desire for in
dependence. Since their flag wen
down in defeat at Culloden 1t has new
er been raised in defiance of England
They have no flag Of their own ant
now worship the Union Jack. They
are more loyal to the British crown
than the English themselves. They
are the degenerate sons Of noble sire'
who bled with Wallace and Bruce IL
the brave days Of old.
The modern Scotch have sold theil
.birthright for a mess Of pottage ant
are proud Of being slaves. They ar,