The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-10-23

| began to discredit Cook and declared
he had not reached the pole at all,
Cook was astonished, and so were the
American people, but instead of ger
ting angry and calling Peary the short
and ugly word, he simply said the
| records would show whether he had
got there or not. He was willing to
submit them to the examination Of
scientific experts and would abide by
their decision. Imagine if you please,
that an African explorer would have
dared to say that Theodore Roosevelt
had not penetrated the jungles of the
dark continent and killed the wild
animals for the Smithsonian Institute
Do you suppose that Mr.. Roosevelt
would exhibit the same courtesy to-
ward him as Cook did to Peary? His
detractor would have long since been
enrolled as leading member of tho
Ananias club, and the smell of sui
phur would permeate the pages os
Scribner's Magazine.
1t is because of the good temper
and good breeding of DR.. Cook under
the charges of Peary that he has Won
the sympathy of the American peu-
pie. Nobody can fail to admire Dr.
Cook and those who read his story
do not doubt his veracity. He is now
in demand on the lecture platform
and is engaged to speak in the prin-
cipal cities of the country. Matthew A.
Henson, the negro with Peary, is en-
ployed to follow up DR.. Cook to deny
the latter's story, but he will be for
tunate if he escapes lynching at the
hands Of indignant Americans who
want fair play for the intrepid ex-
plorer
Commander Peary issued his charges
against Dr. Cook last week. He had
threatened to show him up as an I'M
poster. and the people were on the
qui vive to learn what he had to say.
His charges have fallen fiat. He says
that Cook only went as far as parallel
80 and then turned back.
He bases his allegation upon what
he was told by the two Eskimos who
accompanied Cook on his hazardous
journey. The statement is also signed
by four companions of Peary and IS
accompanied by map of Cooks trip,
marked out by the Eskimos, as if these
uneducated men could have known
how to do such scientific work. The
narrative of the Eskimos Is given at
length by Peary, with questions and
answers but no affidavits from them
appear in the statement. When DR..
Cooks attention was drawn to the
Peary charges he simply said:
LAS soon as navigation permits
next year, a ship will be fitted out,
probably in June, to bring my Eskimo
companions and my instruments back.
The instruments. feel. are safe. The
natives know they are cached and
will respect that cache. NV records
will be submitted in detail to the Uni
versity of Copenhagen, probably with
in sixty days. They are in course OF
preparation now. From the Univer-
sity of Copenhagen will come the first
decision. From that university COPIES
Of the records will be sent simultan-
eously to all the geographical societies
of the world. l have already replied to
Peary's charges so far as it is NEG
essary at this time. I have sought 10
avoid a controversy and shall let nv
records speak for themselves. I am
sure my instruments will be in good
condition when my vessel goes for
them next summer"
The instruments referred to are
those belonging to DR.. Cook which
Peary refused to bring back. The
naval officer was disgruntled and
angry with Cook for robbing him of
the glory of discovering the North
Pole, and consequently he left Cooks
outfit behind though requested by
Cooks friend to take it along. When
the Eskimos arrive in this country and
are examined before a. competent
board Of scientific experts they will
tell different story from that at
tributed to them by Commander Peary
to discredit his competitor. Truth
IS mighty and will prevail, and the
geographical societies of the world
will do justice to DR.. Cook. Peart
has carried the matter too far. and is
taking Cook at a disadvantage.