The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-08-21

ago, every paper with a spark of ma
tionality in it was not being seized
and the remainder Of the press sub.
sldized. Fifteen years ago, no Irish
men, who even called themselves ma
tional were felon-setting for the Brit
1sh government. Fifteen years ago,
Irish members of parliament were not
beseeching Dublin Castle to keep
1rish-American papers out of the hands
OF lrishmen. Fifteen years ago, Irish
members of parliament were not 60
Ing into secret conclave with English
government officials, conspiring how
best to Cypress, suppress. and prose-
cute men who were guilty of loving
Ireland beyond England. Fifteen
years ago, Irish representatives were
not openly selling their country for
Castle jobs for their friends. Fifteen
years ago, Irish members of parlia-
ment were not calling Coward" to
Irish young men who refused to shed
their blood for their country's oppres-
sor. Fifteen years ago a terrible riot
was precipitated in the Rotunda of
Dublin, and the Irish parliamentary
organs of the day denounced us in
terrible terms, because deputation
(of which I was one) dared insult Mr..
John Redmond's unimpeachable pa
triotism by asking him, on the stage
OF the Rotunda, in the presence of a
convention of the United Irish League,
whether he secretly favored 1reland's
giving a welcome to a visiting king
from England.
Today all this is changed-as the
Irish lieutenant in England's army
fears that Irish-Americans may not
know.
lrreducibIe Minimum Of IreIand's De.
demands.
Fifteen years ago, Ireland's leaders
were still swearing by sun and moon
and all the gods that the irreducible
minimum Of Ireland's demands was
an independent Irish parliament
wherein Ireland would have full and
complete control of all her own af.
fairs. Fifteen years ago, the deputa.
ton that would have dared to present
themselves before a convention of the
United Irish League, and ask Mr.. John
Redmond whether he would consent
to call it full and complete settle.
ment of Ireland's demands, and to
name it "the Great Charter of Ire.
lands Liberty" if he were given a
Parochial Council for three-fourths of
Ireland with the other fourth thrown
to the wolves, and all of Ireland's
finances still left in Honest John
Bulls fingers. That deputation
wouldn't have had a survivor left to
tell the tale of its own villainy.
And finally, fifteen years ago, any
servile 1rishman who clamored to fight
and die for the master who had kicked
him, did not try to convince his coun.
trymen that he was knight of high
and holy purpose going abroad for
sake of liberty and honor" to shiver
lance that he had carefully sheathed
at home. He had enough decency
left to keep silence about his shame
5. Your cousin, with a devotion
that is touching, hopes that "any suf
fering allotted to me will purchase for
Ireland a term of peace and prosper
ity in which she will bind up her
wounds and once again be happy" On
that happy day Qess than year
hence, 1 suppose) when England the
generous binds up Ireland's wounds
In recompense for the sufferings OF
this and the other Anglo-Irish gentle
men, who are (and have been fol
ages) so valiantly espousing he1
cause, and the cause of Liberty and
honor"-in Europe-in Egypt-in In
diam Zululand-and in every spot
of earth to which England has car
ried liberty and honor,"-I'll build
monument to him at my own ex
pense-if an ungrateful Ireland fails
to do so. And I'll inscribe it, 'Here
| lies the man whose sublime sufferings
made saint out of the very devil.
Believe me, that l hold your high
minded cousin, the "faltering soldier
(for England), the peaceful blood
spiller" (for Europe), the gallant de
serter (from Motherland) in all the
respect that he deserves.
Yours faithfully,
SEUMAS MacMANUS.
CHOOSING A, COMPRESSOR.