The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-05-19
$5oo,ooo For the
War Relief Fund

War Relief Fund
At a meeting of the national board
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in
Washington last week, resolutions
were adopted calling for an assess.
ment of 100000 to be levied on the
membership of the order, for the pur-
pose of taking care of the families of
the members who have enlisted for
service in the war. The resolution
says that the sum shall be payable be-.
fore September l.
A second motion calls upon all men,
bers whose means will permit to make
voluntary subscriptions to insure at
least the raising of 81, 000, 900 for world
peace.
The President and the Government
of the United States is called upon to
use the influence of its Offices with the
British Government and secure such
action as to restore self-government to
Ireland. In another resolution adopt
ed by the national board the President
is further requested to present the
claims Of Ireland to complete national
independence at the peace conference
which is expected to be held at the end
of the present war.
The resolution is as follows:
"RESOLVED, That an assessment suf-
ficient to realize fund of five hundred
thousand dollars>be levied on the men,
bership of the Order and payable be-
fore September 1, 1917, the same to be
used in caring for the families of those
members who are serving, or will here
after serve, in the armies and navy of
our country in the great world-war
into which it has just entered, said
fund to be disbursed by the National
officers; and be it also
"RESOLVED, That all members Of
the Order whose means will permit,
be and are hereby requested, to make
such voluntary contributions to that
great cause-a cause that aims to Sc.
cure worldwide freedom and perma-
nent world peace-as will insure the
raising of at least a million dollars in
ALL"
THESE WE'RE ALSO ADOPTED:
WHEREAS, The confluence of the
sentiment of free nations bears tri-
umphantly forward the spirit of Irish
liberty, exhibiting in this magnificent
land that historical and traditional
sympathy which has ever linked the
people of America and Ireland in a
penerous friendshin. and
WHEREAS, Recent events of
mighty significance touch not only the
fate of the people of Ireland, not only
the principles of the people Of Amer
lea, not only the aspirations of follow
ers of freedom in every land-but in
fluence the destinies of the human
race, and these events eliminating in
the refusal of the British Government
to establish an Irish Parliament, i'm
peril the cause in which the United
States is engaged by denying the
claims of the oldest of the small ma
tons; it is therefore
"RESOLVED, That the President
and government of the United States
are hereby memorialized to use all
those friendly influences and good Of
fees permitted by the customs of
diplomacy to secure at once such &C.
ton by the British Government as
shall restore self-government to Ire.
land, placing in full operation a Par
lament having legislative authority
over every rod of Irish soil, over every
individual whose life is cast in that
country, and over every department
of national activity which is necessary
to promote the prosperity, the happi-
ness and the safety of a united people;
and it is further
"RESOLVED, That this Board re.
quests the President and Government
of the United States to present the
claims of Ireland to complete national
independence at the Peace Conference
to be held at the close of the world
war, confident that the justice of the
cause of Ireland will enlist the same
generous encouragement that has been
given to the cause of Poland-the res
toration of whose freedom is advOcat
ed by the President-and the cause OF
Belgium, Servia and Roumania-fo1
the freedom of which the United
States is now marshaling its armies
and assembling it's fleets. The action
of the United States in assuming the
advocacy of Irish independence would
complete the analogy of history, for In
1777 the Continental Congress thanked
the people of Ireland for their sym
patty; during the Revolution no voice
was raised in more powerful vehe
mence for the liberties of America
than the voice of the Irish orator and
statesman, Edmund Burke; in the
armies and navy of the revolted colo
MES there were throngs of Irishmen;
in all our wars, on every page of oul
annals. in the very texture Of Oul