The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-05-02

History presents no parallel to the
persistent struggle maintained by the
Irish people through centuries of op-
preston and persecution to preserve
their national identity. The British
empire has directed it's mighty force
toward the subjugation Of that people
for centuries. 1t has exercised it's
power in different ways. 1t has hurled
overwhelming military force against
the island; it has prosecuted in the
name Of religion; it has attempted
bribery, and finally it has coaxed and
cajoled, but all to no avail. Irish ma
tionality has survived and to-day seems
nearer victory than at any other time
during the past one hundred years.
The Irish people have been oppressed
that their power of resistance might ut
last be broken. They have been i'm
pOverished by foreign landlords and
ruinous foreign legislation, and left
helpless victims of famine and pesti-
lence. The frightful record of Irish
famines within the memory of many
now living, the enforced Punishment
Of the people to all quarters of the
world, and the destitute and desolate
condition Of naturally fertile land
testify to an indomitable determine
ton to preserve the Irish nationality.
Persecution has been suffered so long
that it may be truly said that they
suffer persecution for prosecutions
sake.
The Irish have been spoken of as
tickle race, but their long and sus-
tanned contest against England's op-
preston has taught even many Eng
lshmen that the Irish in adversely are
tickle to perversity. And what has
been the sustaining principle of this
contest? What great cause has pre-
vented the Irish people from accepting
their condition and bowling to what
seemed the inevitable? For no doubt,
il the Irish had peaceably submitted 10
England's rule their treatment would
race feeling, love Of the mother coun-
try, and resentment to foreign rule,
accentuated by religious differences.
The Irish people are distinct race, EN-
titled by every natural law to their
own country, their own government,
their own religion and their own
firesides. The contest which they have
waged to secure these natural rights,
deserves to win OH its own merits and
it will win, because it now has and
will have more and more the sympathy
Of every people in the world. Eng
lands efforts to either subjugate, eX-
patiate, or entirely annihilate an ALL
cient race will fail, because those eff
forts violate natural laws that are su-
perior to and supreme over human
law. Natural justice will assert it.
self. England within the past few
years has been made to feel the injus-
tice of her position toward Ireland.
When the secretary for war Of England
announced in the house of commons
the overwhelming defeat Of Lord
Methuen's army by the valiant, liberty
loving Beers, The Irish members OPEN
ly and loudly, in the house of COM
mons, proclaimed their feeling by APP
plauding. The force of the parable
about a house divided against itself
must ut that moment have been
brought home to the British ministry.
Yes, even British ministers will
learn and yield ut last. The Irish peo-
pie driven from their own land, liv-
ing in the United States, Australia,
Canada, India, South America, South
Africa and every country on earth, are
moulding and creating feeling Of re-
sentiment and hostility to England,
which will force her to accede to the
demands OF the Irish people. A coun-
try may be conquered, people may
be scattered, but race cannot be de-
stroyed without physical humiliation.
England has failed because she has
not recognized Irish nationality. The
hopes and aspirations of the Irish race
have survived English perady and