The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-07-29
PRESIDENT WILSON INTERcEDING
FOR EASEMENT.

Washington, July 2Oth.-President
Wilson has interested himself in the
fate of Sir Roger Easement and is
understood to have unoffically suggest
ed to the British authorities the need
for not hanging the Ulster Nationalist
in view of the feeling throughout the
United States. The President has no
precedent or authority for intervening
as the condemned patriot is not an
American but the President is deeply
concerned with the state of public feel
ing manifested in the great number
Of letters appealing for mercy. The
appeals and petitions received at the
White House are, sent to the British
Embassy. Michael F. Doyle, of Phila-
delphia. employed by Easements
American friends as legal adviser dur
ing the trials is returning from Lon
don and will Immediately, on landing,
proceed to Washington and interview
the President. There is yet time to
save Easements life, as the House of
Lords is to hear the appeal.
The Southern newspapers urge elem
ency for Easement on the ground that
the case of Sir Roger is almost iden-
tical with that of Jefferson Davis, who
led the Southern rebellion in 1860, was
captured but not hanged
The Senate Foreign Affairs Commit
tee has resolution asking the Presi-
dent to request the British Government
to stay the sentence of death pro-
rounced on Easement.
In the Senate, speaking for the reso-
luton, Senator MARITIME said: MIR.
President. my heart is in this matter
very deeply. In connection Herewith
desire to say that at or about the
close Of our Civil War, when mems
passions were fired and public feeling
ran high, a detachment of troops cap
tured Jefferson Davis. President of the
fallen Confederacy. Almost every day
the newspapers and periodicals of the
North fairly teemed with articles and
expressions, in which many public
men joined, crying out Hang the trail
tor" Hang the Conspirator," Hang
the murderer of our sons and broth
ers."
Mr.. President, at that time almost
every newspaper and periodical in
Great Britain inveighed against such a
course, insisting that lit would turn
back the wheels of civilization and hu-
man progress.
Mr.. President, If it was then the
Judgment of the British people that
such action would have been "repug-
nant to human civilization and human
progress" what will the world say to-
day, after so years of advanced intelli-
sence, religion, culture and humani-
tartan thought. if Roger Easement
shall be hanged.
MIR. President, feel that this great
Republic, the pride and admiration of
the world, should sound a clear and
clarion cry to stay the execution of
the sentence of death upon Sir Roger
Easement. Civilization stands aghast
at the thought. The world has moved.
To carry out that sentence is to turn
backward the advance of human prog
ress. What would the world have said
If. after our late Civil War, the Unit
ed States Government had proposed
end carried out the thought of hang
ing on the gallows Robert E. Lee, Rob-
ert ToOmbs, Judah P. BENJAMIN, and
others?
Why, Mr.. President. the fifty years
that have elapsed since that unhappy
strike would not have offered the hate
and vengeance that to this day would
fill the very air with curses. But q
wiser, more humane policy has brought
to this country, love, friendship and
loyalty.
In urging my resolution necessarily
| am not pressing the cause Of Ire
lands freedom, though I believe in It;
but rather am pleading the cause of
justice and the promptings Of human
ity. Senators, my brothers, will you