The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-04-05
RINGS TRUE IRISH SPIRIT

IL w u1O6
That We must not Judge church,
sect, organization or community by
the rabid outpouring of malice and
the un-Christian prejudice of one or q
few members. is quite manifest. when
we have perused the following letter.
published in the Baptist and Com
moner-one of the UNCONVENTIONAL
weeklies printed in Little Rock, Ark,
in the interest of the Baptist Church
Mr.. r. Y. Blaiock in previous issue
made most bigoted comment on the
Irish. on Roman Catholics, on every
thing in general that has to do with
the pre-poisoned mind of public dis
trihutor of hatred-sowing seeds of
racial and religious animosities.
Gladly do we place before our read
ers the evidence that here in Arkan-
sas. we. too. have neishbors, who
mount the steps of brotherly love and
leave the Gospel of Hate" to the ex-
ploration of the selfish and unprinci-
pied members of his own or any other
church. MIR. Browns reply follows:
Reply to Brother r. Y. BlaIock's
Criticism.
Text, Proverbs SIT.
Dear Brother Blalock: You think
I'm wrong in my position on the Irish
Question. There we differ. My opin-
ion in the matter is based on certain
facts in the case. It is my purpose
in this article to call your attention to
these facts. but before entering into
a discussion of this subject, in order
to disabuse your mind, will state
that am no German sympathizer, no
English hater, no Catholic lover. But
they are all people and have rights
belonging to them. And we, as a peo-
pie. should not allow either political
or religious prejudice to blind US to
these rights or render US so partial
and unjust as to endorse the spoila-
ton of the weak by the strong. We
should desire Justice for all men re-
CARELESS of their nationality or TO
ligious creed. l will state here and
now that have a lot of Irish blood
coursing through my veins. did not
order it; but I'm not ashamed of it.
Ireland is poor but not dishonorable.
She has had as noble sons as ever
graced nation.
Robert Emmett, who gave his young
life as sacrifice on his country's al
tar for her freedom, stands among
earth's noble martyrs. The time will
come when a free Ireland will erect a
monument to his memory. Until then
in the language of Tom Moore, the
Irish poet, we can only say:
=. 'az'.s~afWs !
ooh, breathe not his name, let it sleep
in the shade
Where cold and unhonor'd his relics
are laid,
Sad, silent and dark be the tears that
we shed
AS the night-dew that falls on the
grass DER his head.
But the night dew that falls. though
in silence it weeps,
Shall brighten with verdure the grave
where he sleeps,
And the tear that we shed though in
secret it rolls
Shall long keep his memory green in
our souls"
Your statement that Ireland sus-
tains the relationship to England that
Oregon sustains to the United States
is not correct. It is true that she
is allowed representation in the Eng
lish Parliament So has Canada. So
has Australia representation. They
too have Home government, a thing
denied to Ireland. So Ireland is not
their equal under British iron rule.
Oregon is part of the United States.
Ireland is no part of England. She is
a separate race of people. She has
a different origin, different history,
a different language, and different
ideals. They are two distinct nations,
not only separated by the Irish Chan
mel, but separated by blood, by spirit,
by temperament, and by prejudice
that forms q far deeper and wider
channel of separation than that Of
water.
Ireland stands among our Oldest
nations. So remote is her origin that
it is yelled in the fogs Of fable. His.
tory teaches us that one time Ireland
possessed her lands in peace, until
Qverrun and subdued by British
hordes. England confiscated her lands
and divided them among English
Lords" that became Land Lords"
Since then n has heen English Land