The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-07-14
WHITTIER ARE WE DRIFTING?

WHITTIER ARE WE DRIFTING?
Because he circulated petition addressed to the Presi
dent of the United States in behalf of Irish Freedom, Mr.
Moeerng in the employ of the Central of
Georgia Railroad has been dismissed from his position by
Col Alexander Lawton VicePresident of
Railroad Company The petition is that has been wide
ly circulated at the instance of the Irish World and has
been signed by many thousands of American citizens
throughout the country. These signatures include the
of of the ablest constitutional lawyers the
United States judges of the Federal and State Courts Sena
Congressman and other public officials who glad
to avail themselves of the opportunity to join
ment to Ireland the status which in their judgment she
ought to have in the worlds circle of nations Indeed
regarded practical application to Ireland of
the American principles clearly and firmly enuncated by
President Wilson in his several defining
position regard to the rights of the smaller nations
But the wise and learned awton has undertaken set
all this at naught, and has issued manifesto declaring
that the signing of such petition is act of dsoyay to
the United States Here the order of
Mr.. Moellerng:
"The company will not knowingly retain
ploy whose loyalty to the country is not absolute
and unconditional Willingness promote friction, to
obstruct cooperation between the United States and the
other enemies of Germany whose side it fighting is
inconsistent with loyalty 1t is clear Mr.. Moeering in
soliciting signatures to the petition circulated by The Irish
World calling upon the United States to demand of
its ally Great Britain the immediate acknowledgment
of the absolute independence of Ireland acuated by
please terminate his employment at once.
II satisfied the other employees of the accounting
department who signed this petition result of Mr.
Moellerngs activities did without appreciation of what
sought accomplish and without spirit of dsoyay
to their country Their do require disciplinary
action but their attention be called what they
have done and what necessarily whatever their
motives have been Promotion of the existing serious
dscords between Great Britain and Ireland bringing Amer
ca into it thus adding dscord between America and
Great Britain, constitute giving direct material aid to
the enemies country; hope these sincere
ly regret their action"
Thus the learned Lawton constitutes himself after the
of the Kaiser, judge, jury sheriff
determine what constitutes giving direct material aid
to the enemies of country The wonder is that he
stopped at the dismissal of the he regards a
vassal and did not order his eectrocuon for treason
There is hope for the inalenabe rights of Americans
when this broad railroad magnate took cognizance
Of his personal and official limitations by rerainng from
Imposing the death sentence the cuprit But he did
far to lay down controlling principle for our
Supreme Court, which will much time and discussion
in all future doubt this spontane-
and invaluable contribution Jurisprudence from this
distinguished layman will be duly embodied in the law of
the land when occasion arises judicial inerpre
taton of the constitutional rights of the ordinary citizen
with expression the gratitude which the court
ought to feel toward this Anxious curae, who with one
stroke of his sturdy quill has swept dozen
considerations regarding the constitutional right of petition
the right of free speech public policy and other rights
inherent in American citizenship.
Verify exigencies of the working
marvellous results one of which is to bring out into
the spirit British Torsm which has been
fully eliminated from American ie The microbes of this
disease still Turk in many individuals ard begin to mani
fest themselves when conditions favor their activity. This
will probably be found to be the true diagnosis of the Law
ton case The always potentially present
his system and it only required favorable circumstances
to bring it to its present high state of development.