Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-27
THE SMILE OF THE BRITON

To the Editor Of the Evening Ledger:
Sir--The writer who signed himself with
the nom de plume of Daniel McDermott,"
in the EVENING LEDGER of August 90, justly
deserved the rebuke which the editor gave
him by emitting his communication Irony
for Erin"
| do not doubt for moment that the
gentleman is none other than the Terence
OBJ. Reilly" who, with the characteristic
iealty of an Englishman to his lord, SLAM
ders the Irish race just as violently as Mr..
"McDermott" I also believe that the
aforementioned individual must be the
Englishman Bruce Hawkins" who teaches
Americans from time to time how best
to be loyal vassals of II. NJ George V.
Surely the gentleman had been indulging
in the Britishers favorite pastime drinking
beer. For, of course no sane man could
take his remarks in other than a humorous
sense. They were obviously written to
stir up a controversy But behind it all lies
the sinister smile of the Briton. Here an
Englishman uses an Irish nom de plume to
libel the Irish race at home and in America.
thus hoping to persuade unthinking Amer
leans into believing that there are some
Irlshmen who~are not loyal to their native
land. This, undoubtedly, is as it should be,
for it is a Enthusiastically British way of
attacking an enemy. We ourselves have
had experience of England's methods of
fghting, and are forced to confess that the
English are supreme in all the arts of be-
low -the-belt 'frightfulness,' Even the
Kaiser would be forced to admit that he is
only poor imitator, when one considers
A.. s.N.
at SANDER, libel, back-biting, etc, ad
nauseum.
/ am an American with an American an
cestry of more than 200 years. NV first
American ancestors came from England and
there are many things about England that 1
admire But l am no hypocrite: l know
the faults of my fathers land and the sins
Of the British people. 1 am American
enough to know that Ireland never received
justice from England; that she is abused
and ridiculed by people who are in
tellectually, physically, mentally and GER
tainly morally inferior TO the Irish. II liz
the American sense Of fair play which for
600 years has seeped into my ancestors'
blood which makes me confess with Shame
that the land Of my fathers has become
noted for just such outrageously malicious
tricks as that of which the so-calIed "Dan-
iel McDermott" is guilty.
Let us be fair. America and Americans
nave always Deen sportsmen. Why cannot
Englishmen learn this virtue from them
Britain has been taught many things bv
America. Why not fair play? Come Ens,
lishmen, you are for the first time onr
allies Learn the American virtue of fisht-
ing an enemy openly, not by means of the
Indian ambush methods of slander ana
abuse. Americans know how ireland hos
been misruled and trampled upon. They
know. too, the superiority Of the Irish N
the English In everything but intrigue
Why cannot you admit II, also?
Ireland will some day be again frsaa
from foreign domination, just as our own
land was Why slander a small natiar
seeking life, liberty and the pursuit 81
happiness? 1t failed In our own cass
Surely II cannot succeed In Ireland. whsm.
the people are Of the same blood as usre
most of our Continental soldiery. n Ena
land sees the handwriting on the wall that
Ireland must. as small nation. recsivs
Justice, would 1t not be wiser TO seek az
favor Of Irishmen. and. therefore. Amsr'
loans. rather than 70 adopt suoh rnss.s
" blspkeaipg their rsputatien - evan :