The Irish standard., 1909-05-08

Punch fastened to shrek out its re-
joicing over that even, and to .exult
that so many Irish soldiers had been
swept from the face of the earth. We
shall place before Our readers the ex-
preston of inhuman satisfaction:
It's ill wind that blows nobody
good. The Civil War in America may
have bereft the North of many valu-
able citizens. but has also lightened it
of considerable number of rowdies
and ruff1ans. The following statement,
which occurs among Reuters tele-
grams, will show the fratricidal strife
to have not been quite an unmixed evil
to one party, at least. of the brethren
who have been for the last two years
and half engaged in cutting one an
others throats:
General Thomas Francis Meagher
has resigned the command of the Irish
Brigade. He says that the brigade no
longer exists: The assaults against
Fredericksburg in December last re-
duced the brigade to something less
than a minimum regiment of infan-
try
Except as food for powder, what
use could the Yankees have made of
the heroes lately under the command
of General 'Mea eiler Of the Sword?
They have served their turn, and been
consumed in fitting employment for
fugitive traitors 20 the British constl-
tutional crown. They have persisted as
meroenary soldiers for the price of
blood to subjugate men who are fight
ing for their country. So may the. foes
Of England fall.
But now having used up all their
Irish, had not our Yankee friends bet
ter conclude peace with the South and
cave In. rather than subject them
selves to a conscripton, and begin to
spend really valuable lives in a hope
less struggle? They have worked the
roWdies and the Irish out of the Union,
The rowdies and tho Irish are the
SCUM Of the earth. They are the salt
of 1t. They have improved the scum
Of the earth off the face of it. now let
them stop. have mercy on themselves,
and not go on to sacrifice the clear
grit"
1t is only from England that this
brutal howl of rejoicing over the death
of brave men could have come. 1t
is only an Englishman that could thus
dance on their graves.
Yes. the soldiers Of the Irish Bril-
gade sleep we'll in the red soil beneath
the guns of Fredericksburg, Chancel-
louisville and on other battle fields,
where they freely gave their lives
for their adopted country Where the
fight ragged most fiercely, where the
fire was hottest, where the bayouets
flashed brightest, there. went, the Irish
Brigade to the front, with valor that
extorted adInira ton even from the en-
S'i'J' W iNu I1tC OIL the 00Y
seemed desperate, on them the Federal
commanders relied to avert the threat
cned disaster; when lines and columns
waVered before the impetuous onset
of a brave and skilful enemy, their
part it was to resis. the shock, and give
stability to the army of which they
formed little portion. I'm such service
their ranks dwindled 10 Il shadow. but
their glory grew bright, and their fame
became part Of the history Of the Unit
cd States. and a no less cherished pos
session of their motherland.
Gallant fellows: heroic men. Irish
III every quality OF their nature, fierce
in battle. light hearted in the. CAMP,
ever faithful to their Faith, ever mind
full of their country. whose future glory
was the inspiration nf their noblest
actions, their solacc in the dreariest
hours Of the comprehensive hone that
cheered them in every labor, that made
their wounds seem but bright pledges
OF the coming happiness that irradi-
ated the hospitals in which they s,,f-
fered. and the ground on which thew
died.
And to keep their netherlands dear
memory still cloHer to their hearts.
they placed sprigs Of green on their
breasts and in their caps before rush
ing to one of the dcadliest charges on
record. They did more than this-a
deed vet more touching and more pa
triotic. On the night before they
moved forward to their last great bat
tlc--that battle after which the Irish
Brigade existed but in name--how
were they employed? In making a coll
lection for the starving poor Of ire
land!
1t was Of these men that dirty
Punch dared to speak in flthy and re-
voting language; 1t was on the men,
DRY Of these men THAT it had the base
ness to fling a fou. tongue the hate