The Irish standard., 1912-11-30
THE MANCHESTER MARTYRS.

THE MANCHESTER MARTYRS.
The 23rd day of November was the
4oth anniversary Of the execution of
Allen. Larkin and O'Brien in Man
chester, England. 1t is long time
ago since these gallant sons of Erin
suffered an ignominious death at the
hands of the British government, far
from the land they loved and with it's
bloody minions gloating over their
agonies, but their memories are not
forgotten. On last Saturday, in the
leading cities Of America, Manchester
Day was celebrated and eulogies We're
pronounced on the three Irish patriots
who died innocently of the crime of
which they were unfairly convicted
by an English jury and sentenced to
death by a partisan Judge.
At that time Fenianism was at it's
height and there is no doubt whatever
that it struck terror into the hearts
of Englishmen and intimidated even
the government with Gladstone at its
head. Indeed, that great statesman
frankly acknowledged that he discs
tablished the Irish church because of
the terror inspired by the Fenian or
ganization. Then as now the Orange
men made threats of fighting to the
last ditch if their darling church was
disendoWed. Catholics, Presbyterians,
Baptists, Methodists and others were
taxed for the support of the Estab.
lished Church in Ireland as they are
today in England and Wales and the
Orangemen who belonged to the
Church as by law established had a soft
snap of it at the expense of their
neighbors. The followers of William
OF Orange declared that if they had
to support their own church without
taxing others for it they would kick
the Queens crown into the Boyne.'
They did not do it. however, and now
they support their own preachers like
the rest of the people of the island.
They will have to swallow Home Rule
the same way or get out Of the coun-
try.
1t is agreeable to reflect that the
bad feeling that existed between Sax
on anu Celt in the days of Fenianism
is passing away. 1t is rarely, if ever,
that one hears one word Of racial ta-
tired uttered by Englishman or Irish
man. Gladstone is to be thanked for
the happy change since he advocated
self-government for the Emerald Isle
and denounced the cruelties and afro
cities OF the English in Ireland in
former days.
The celebration of the anniversary
OF the death Of Allen, Larkin and
O'Brien is not intended to revive the
animosity between the two races that
prevailed in their day. The three
martyrs died for Ireland and that is
enough to perpetuate their memory to
the remotest Irish posterity. They
We're innocent OF the crime and died
heroes on the scaffold. AS A. NJ. Sui
livan says in Speeches From the
Dock:
1T may be questioned whether the
martyrology of any nation in history
can exhibit anything more noble, more
edifying. more elevating and inspir-
ing-than the last hours of these
doomed Irishmen. Their every
thought, their every utterance, was
full of tenderness and holiness-full
Of firmness and cheerful acceptance
of Gods will. The farewell letters
addressed by them to their relatives
and friends amply illustrate the truth
of the foregoing observations"
1t is right and proper that here in
America as we'll as in Ireland and in
every country where the exiles of Err
in have found home, the names OF
Allen. Larkin and O'Brien be remem-
bered ON the anniversary of their death
for Ireland. They rank with Emmett
Fitzgerald and Wolfe Tone. mot un-
til the latest day shall their memory
pass away says the author IF God
Save Ireland"-words boldly uttered
by them in the dock amidst their per-
secutors.
THE Philippine ISLANDS.
\ dispatch from Manila, P. L., says