The Irish standard., 1902-11-01

Size .,..u.es ner policy of calumny
by circulating lies about our people,
about our country and about our
movements. I do not advocate the
employment of similar weapons. l
do not favor striking her back with
falsehoodS, but we could retaliate
with propag anda of fact and truth
which would do her more harm in the
estimation of her rival nations.
"Now, let me ask the American
people outside of our own race, those
who, while not unfriendly to us, are
sometimes severely critical of our mo-
tives and our methods; let me ask
those American people to judge gen
orally Of England's rule and conduct
in Ireland by the fact of her rule in
India today. You sometimes read in
American magazines and American
newspapers laudatory articles of all
that beneticent English rule has done
for the benighted people of India,
>England's solicitude for the welfare
of the people of India, Englands
guardianship Of all the concerns of
her charge in the east. But what are
the facts? 1t has been proven i'll
book recently published by one of the
best authorities on India that more
people, more British subjects in India
have died of famine during the ten
years from 1890 onward than have
fallen in all the battles Waged over
all the world during the last 100 years.
These are staggering figures, but they
are true.
"It is calculated that the total slain
in all the wars of the past century
amount to about 100000, but it is
proved in this work that fully 10000
600 British subjects, of Indian people,
cursed by English dominion, have
died by starvation that might have
been prevented had the Indian people
been governed by themselves. l hold
that we people in Ireland, inhabiting
small country compared with India,
we suffering like the Indian people by
English rule, are called upon whcr-
ever we have opportunity, wherever
in the House of Commons or in Aus
tralia or elsewhere, to champion the
other people that are suffering wrong
at the hands of the English govern
ment (Applause.) 1t is true we may
make no impression upon the pano-
piled Phariseeism of the English gov
eminent, but we will get the ear OF
the world, and, acting upon the ltal
ian proverb, which says that opinion
is the queen Of the world we will try
to get that queen of the world prob
ably to sympathize with our cause al
the more readily when they find that
we are not only striving for our OWL
liberty for the Irish race, but that We
are the champions Of liberty all tho
world over. (Applause)
"Now 1 referred while ago to thu
gentleman in London who takes
charge of the cable news from Lon
don. l was discussing this matte
about four weeks ago with one of TIN
leading editors of France, in Paris
and it is as curious matter for TIL
people of Europe to consider as til
people of America.
LET me mention first the fact tia
there are 23O,OOOOO0 of people OH tn
Continent of Europe, embracing, a
you know, three of the greatest worl
powers, and the most civilized natio
in the world. There are 100000 Q
people in Great Britain. On the cont
nent of America, counting north an
south, you have, l estimate, abou
12OOOO,O0O of civilized people. Now
there are among your statesmen an
your public men in America those VIII
think that the 4O,O00OOO of people j
Great Britain are of more cOnst
quence to America, commercially an
otherwise, than 23O,00O,O00 of peopl
inhabiting the countries of Europe
No, don't think SO. You are nov
spreading out, your commercial an
trading operations almost throughOl
the world, buying up ships and col
templating the commercial cOnQucS
of Europe. DO you not think Il
American citizens-because you III
that even before you are friends &
Ireland great applause)-do you nc
think it is a wiser policy for YOU, fc
your country for the republic, to cult
vate the acquaintance and diplomat
friendship of the 23O,OOO.OOO in e,
. rope than to be constantly lavishil
your friendship and attention on tt
100000 of Great Britain? Gre;
applause)
Il tell you, gentlemen, this is
serious question, this news from Lo
don. Everything that trnnspircs
America, or almost everything rel;
ing to your politics, your commcrt
your society and all the rest of it tn
might interest the people of the con
nent of Europe passes through lie
don. Everything coming from Euro
which might interest you in all the
ways almost passes through Londt
You can see the advantage that
gives to London, and you know no
when the war broke out between tt
nonptrv and Snoin thp r., h1r man