The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-03-28

live in the hearts of Ireland's sons,
and their lives will be an inspiration
forever To-day Ireland is contend
ing for what every civilized country
possesscs-the right of self-govern-
mant. lomerule in Ireland is not Il
sentiment only. The happiness of a
nation demands it. 1t is generated III
empty harbors, nurtured on piilaged
fields and fostered by cheerless fire.
sides. Twenty years ago the cause of
home rule won the favor Of England's
greatest statesman. William Glad
stone pleaded the cause of Ireland
demanding that to Ireland should be
given what every other dependency
of the crown enjoyed. But after years
Of agitation, after passing the house
of commons by an overwhelming ma
jority, the bill was rejected by the
house of lords. Ireland has not given
up the struggle. Once more she de-
mands her rights. She kneels ut the
temple OF justice. Her peasants see
the fruits of their sweat and toll
drained away in rent and taxes, and
are flung out upon the roadside to die
like leprous dogs The represents
tives of the people are dragged by
armed police. from platforms stained
with heroes blood. Freedom of
speech is denied. Trial by jury is
ignored. The writ of habcas corpus
is suspended
Young Americans, appeal to you.
| ask not for armed intervention. The
dawn of the twentieth century brings
peace. not war. l appeal to you for
moral suasion. England must do
justice to Ireland. Seven hundred
years of tyranny have taught Il les
son of saddest failure. Irishmcn are
demanding Il compulsory purchase
| which will restore the land to the
rightful owners. Will you do your
duty? Will you give your moral sup
port? Your sympathy is more power
full than standing armies and ships of
war. England respects your man
dates. l appeal to you in the name of
freedom. appeal to YOU in the name
of gratitude. Remember the many
fields of fight in which Irish soldiers
have shed their blood for America
Whose We're the lips that first dc.
mandcd liberty or death? In the
darkest days of our Revolution what
desperate valor climbed the heights
of Montreal? When our coasts were
lined with British ships, who first
raised the stars and stripes over
Amcrica's newborn navy? In tho
war of 1912, whose gcmcralSliip dc
Tended New Orleans? Who sailed tho
lakes, met the enemy ana made them
ours? When our land was drcnchcd
III brothers blood and rebel armies
were marching toward the capital of
the nation, whose galloping ride turn
cd disastrous clcfcat into glorious vic
tory?
Let us not forget. Wherever tho
tide of battle rolled for freedom, there
Irish soldiers have blcd and died
Their bones have whitcncd on tho
soil of America, sacred to liberty, and
on the bondagcd sod of southern Afri
ca. They sleep in the lands for which
they fought. Careless alike of sun.
shine and of storm" The gay wild
flowers of spring are shedding frag-
'ancc over their namclcSS graves. Tic
gentle dew falls from Heaven upon
their crumbled dust.
Men of America, let us not forget
Our fOrefnthers have never forgotten
those who have fought for freedom
never forgotten those who fought for
America. The cXilcd sons of Erin are
to-day ready to defend the folds of
our stainless flag. Let us not forget
Let us not rcpudiate the debt of graft
tude we owe to a libertyloving people
Until the Irish peasants look once
more from the doors of their cottages
over fields they call their own, until
an Irish parliament sits in College
Green, until the harp of Erin awakcns
once more the pride of former days."
until the epitAph of Emmett be writ.
ton and Ireland takes her place among
the nations of the earth let us not
forget.