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

ed the land that to-day Expresses her.
Ireland has always been generous of
her blessings. Civilization owes her
many Il debt.
Long has been the struggle of this
Inflated land for the liberty dear to
every man. 1t began eleven hundred
Years ago when the fierce men of the
North rlvagcd the Irish shores. Their
invasion lasted three centuries These
We're three hundred years of merciless
war and plumber. When ut last the
nail-clad warriors from the Northern
sea We're hurled back, the idle Nor
mans descended upon the Hibernian
shores. Since the day on which
Strongbow set foot upon her sham
rocked coast, the history of Ireland
may be learned from the crimson
tombs of the dead" Long ragged the
fight between Saxon and Celt. The
ethics of true conquest were cast
aside, and all the cherished traditions
of centuries were trampled under
foot. The pages of history that re-
cord the struggle are wet with tears.
When conquest failed. English SOW
ereignls adopted a policy of extermina-
ton against whom they called "aliens
in race, country and religion" The
best blood of Ireland was transported
to the slave plantations of the Indies.
The name of Cromwell is a synonym
of cruelty. While the sandy beach
muffled the tread of departing feet.
the conqueror's triumphant march
through the land was traced in mar
tyrS' blood. DefenSclcss men were
murdered. Helpless women were
butchered in cold blood. Innocent
babes were snatched from the breasts
of mothers, and tossed upon the bay
onets of soldiers. Cruelty unspeak-
able! Outrage infinite \ whole ma
ton manacled. scouraged and de-
famed! The land laid waste with
fire and sword! Education banned by
law! Every principle of human right
violated.
In the gloomiest period of the Irish
struggle. the star of liberty arose in
the West. 1t cleaned across the At.
antic, and carried hope and inspir-
ton with it's light. The states Of
America colonized by eNilcd and per-
secuted Puritans grew conscious of
the potency of their grandeur and de-
clared they must be free. British
armies wandering through boundless
forests and dwindling under success
sive defeats We're forced to march in
surrender before the standards of
Washington. And while the breath of
liberty was sweeping over the western
land. patriotism, that virtue which
gave to Paganism it's luster, and to
Christianity it's heroism, was stirring
in the isle across the sea. An army
Of volunteers sprung into being.
Those volunteers refused to Join the
English forces in America. ave, they
reioiced i'll every victory of the Amcr-
can arms. The heart of Ireland be-
gan to beat once more. The pulse of
the nation began to throb again. The
flower of her youth and manhood
ali her braveSt SONS flung themselves
into the struggle. The day came when
Henry Grattan arose in the parliament
of England and moved the historic
resolution. that the king. Lords, and
Commons of Ireland are the only
lower competent to make laws to
bind Ireland" The bayoncts of fifty
thousand volunteers enforced the de-
nmnd. Ireland was united. England
wearied with years of war, submitted
She pledged her sacred honor, and Ire
lands parliament was restored In
the year 1882 Henry Grattan hailed
the independence of his country.
Freedom brought to the land an era
of unexpected prosperity. The rcsour-
ces of the nation were developed; the
land bloomed and blossomcd; mills
factories lined the busy streams, and
the peaceful messengers of commerce
carried away the rich freights of Irish
industry to many a foreign shore.
Ireland was as she ought to be-hap-
py, glorious and free. This great
material prosperity was envied by
Englishmen. They regretted the loss
of government control, and waited for
an opportunity to consolidate the
union. The craft and cunning of Pitt
and Castlereagh proved equal to the
task. They soon found pretext.
When the united Irishmen attempted
to reform the rotten boroughs they
were indicted for conspiring against
the crown. They resisted the foul
charge, but their fate was sealed.
English armies were landed to crush
the fictitious rebellion. Bribery and
vile treachery did the rest. The whole
world knows the story. The present
union was consummated in 1901. Two
years afterwards Robert Emmett
sought to restore the independence of
his country. He was captured and
died a martyrs death.
The pride, prosperity and indcpend-
ence of the country were destroyed.
Despair brOOded over the land
HencefOrth it was treason to know