The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-08-14
NATIONAL CONVENTION OF CEN
TRIAL vEREiN ADOPTS REso-
LUTIoNs DECLARING AD.
MINlSTRATioN HAS NOT
BEEN NEUTRAL

The resolution follows in full:
"We deeply regret that the terri.
BILE European war is still raging. We
unite our prayers with those of the
Holy Father, Benedict XIV, that the
Lord of the universe may grant to the
nations suffering the vicissitudes of
war peace in the near future, that He
may heal the wounds which the strug-
gle has inflicted, and that He may
fill the hearts of the peoples and their
rulers with the spirit of conciliation.
Press Held Partial.
"We regret that the war has also
affected so seriously the welfare Of
our own country. It was almost in
evitable that this great catastrophe
should profoundly disturb the quietude
of this nation and lead to misunder-
standings with 'other peoples and to a
conflict of interests. It is a regret
table fact that portion of the press
of our country has, by it's partial and
unneutral utterances, exploited this
undesirable condition and thereby &C.
centuated the frictions which to a
certain extent were bound to exist.
Criticize Administration.
1--WE are of the opinion that our
administration has not acted in &C.
cordance with its proclamation Of
neutrality, but that it has rather.
through its uncertain and inconsistent
attitude, although not with evil in
tent, assisted those who would drive
public opinion to partisan stand in
regard to this war, even to becoming
active participants in the conflict.
Should Protect Commerce.
"We furthermore regret that our ad-
ministration did not in all its actions
and deliberations follow the princi.
pies of humanity, but chose rather to
oppose the embargo on arms demand.
ed by great part of the American
people and to take stand against the
bills introduced in Congress for the
purpose of attaining this, end. Justly
could it be expected of the admins
tration that from the very outset OF
the war it should have protected Amer
ican foreign commerce in all cases
most energetically. This duty was
especially incumbent upon the United
States as the greatest of the neutra
powers and as a country whose eco
nomic life in general, and whose com
merce in particular, was severely in
jured by the acts of the belligerents.
| Sea Freedom is Harmed.
Especially has one of the countries
at war seriously undermined our eco
nomic welfare through the continued
: encroachment upon our rights a
, safeguarded by the rules of interna
tional law. And through the yieldin
of our government to the audaciou
protensions of this belligerent powe
: great harm has been done to tina
important principle of freedom of tn
seas, for which our country has a
. ways so Justly contended in the past.
( Favor Special Session.
|. "We furthermore consider it regre
I table that the President deemed
9 expedient to deal with foreign affair
8 since the beginning of the present we
Y without consulting the committee Q
l. foreign relations, thereby setting
g dangerous precedent. Since the We
n has wrought great injury to entire Il
0 dustries and to the economic life I
,. certain great agricultural sections
It this country, we expect that the a
n ministration and the Congress WI
b take cognizance of this grave profile
e and of its only solution, which the pa
e few months have shown to be 80 ne
9. essary and apparent. The Congre
i; should hold a special session for Il
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