The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-12-24

manner contributed to bring about
this condition Of mind or heart.
would feel Inundated in my own sense
of self-respect If my convictions did
not draw their inspiration from high
er level. Mans inhumanity to man
has made the countless thousands
mourn, and my heart goes out to the
oppressed III every quarter and section
of the globe where they are struggling
for the rights that God has given them
and which it ought not to lie within
the power of man to deprive them Of.
1T is Il narrowing thought to reflect
upon the crimes that at this hour are
committed against human rights b,
the enlightened nations Of the EARTH
In this century, under the blazing
light of civilization and religion, the
greed of empire still yields it's cruel
sway, and broken hearts and devastat
cd homes still yield their victims upon
the affairs of it's insatiate lust, and re.
ligious persecution still steps upon it's
CHASTITY rounds to silence the prayers
of the afflicted in the tabernacles OF
their faith. 1t has only been within,
Il brief period that Great Britain
wngr, an unloly war in distant lands
thousands of miles from her shores,
the only purpose Of which was to re-
tain in her possession a territory that
she had appropriated by violence in
her funeral march of empire around
the world.
Among all the melancholy scenes,
however, in all this panorama of sor-
row and alliction, there is nothing
that has moved my heart so deeply as
the Touching patlos of Ireland's suf-
fcrings through all the centuries of
her woes. Her picture is without a
counterpart in the history of the world
There is something original, there is
something almost sublime in the struy-
gle that she is maintaining against
her opprc$Sors. SO far as my knowl-
e"Se 'Ateii'S SUCH IL controversy has
never been witnessed before. On the
one hand. the miGhticst nation on this
earth. With almost unlimited resources
on TIE other II people absolutely DOW
erlcss in Il military point of view, poor
to desOlation and crushed almost TO de-
Spalr. but determined to rend their
chains by the Justice of their cause
and the matchless splcndor of their
martyrdom and devotion to it,"
Il cannot tonight enter upon the
slightest details of this historic strug-
gle. While am proud of the achieve
ments of the English people and of
the contributions they have rendered
to the progress of the world, it is NV
deliberate Judgment that the policy
of the English government through
the entire pages of Irish history, from
the earliest to the latest day, viewed
either from Il political or religions
standpoint, and it has always partaken
of both, has been at utter war with
the Providence of God and a mock
cry of religions hottest offices.
Il am aware that marked changes
have lately taken place, that advan-
tageous legislation has been procured
and lasting benefits have been con-
ferred upon your countrymen and that
the peasantry and tenantry of Ireland
have to some extent emerged from the
vassalage that has degraded and en-
shaved them. But, my friends, you
must always remember that you have
/ not reached the shores Of your deliv.
erance, and that if you surrender now
all the land purchase acts and all the
legislation that the British parliament
can pass will never forward your
country to the position that it is en-
titled to hold, because 1 am absolutely