The Irish standard., 1917-04-07

to last, which does not recognize and
accept the principle that Governments
derive all their just powers from the
consent of the governed, and that no
right anywhere exists to hand PEG.
pies about from sovereignty to sover-
eighty as if they were property. /
take it for granted, for instance, if /
may venture upon a single example,
that statesmen everywhere are agreed
that there should be a united, indie
pendent and autonomous Poland, and
that henceforth inviolable security of
life, OF worship and of industrial and
social development should be guaran-
teed to all peoples who have lived
hitherto under the power of Govern.
ments devoted to a faith and purpose
hostile to their own. l speak of this
note because OF my desire to exalt an
abstract political principle which has
always been held very dear by those
who have sought to build up liberty
in America, but for. the same reSson
that | have spoken of the other con.
dltions OF peace which seem to me
clearly indispensable, because l wish
frankly to uncover realities. ANY
peace which does not recognize and
accept this principle will inevitably
be upset. 1t will not rest upon the
affections or the convictions of man.
kind. The ferment of spirit of whole
populations will fight subtly and con.
stantly against it and all the world
will sympathize. The world can be
at peace only if it's life is stable, and
there can be no stability where the
Will is in rebellion, where there is
not tranquility of spirit and sense
of justice, Of freedom and of right
Peace and Justice! these are the
watchwords of the hour God grant
that they are meant and may be real.
lied! For they call for the granting
OF lreland's rights and national free
dom as strongly as for the enfran.
chlsement of any other country in the
world. All honor to Poland and the
other nations which have fought
bravely against submersion and ex.
tinction. We OF Irish blood are as
heartily i'll sympathy with their as.
plratlons, as we are sure of our own.
Let us not, however, forget that be-
lore they existed as nations Ireland
was Tree, and that when she was free
she was the land, not only OF saints,
but OF scholars, and source of light.
religious and intellectual, to eyery
European land. But the most hopeful
sign OF the hour is not the speech of
the statesmen, but the spirit Of the
people. This is the hour OF Democ-
racy, militant, ruthless, triumphant,
Not since Its has it's appeal been
heard more intently throughout the
world. The shackles. have been
stricken overnight from the people of
Russia and a giant has arisen whose
still sleeping brothers will soon awake
IN all lands and end many chapter
OF human bondage. Shall Ireland
alone be left the last surviving victim
OF archaic despotism? Not if her
children can make their voices heard
and in freer and happier climes helm
her to present her cause to that great
international tribunal which, when
TINS monstrous war ends, shall lay the
basis for lasting peace based on
right and reason. In Parliament the
other day the cry was raised What
Will America say? l am sure that
today the sentiment OF all Americans
is, God speed the hour for the estab-
hshment of peace and justice; and
God bless all who help to bring about
that end
But before that time has arrived we
have duty to perform to our beloved
land. In no country in the world have
those Of the Irish strain been blessed
with greater success or earned higher
honors than in America. In none have
they repaid the confidence and protec.
ton OF their fellows with greater de.
votlon and sacrifice than here These
names which appear upon the tablets
before you are but a few of the immor.
tai names which every true American
loves and reveres. The roll of those
OF our blood who fought and died for
the flag above us is one of the noblest
in all history. Ireland has never bred
traitor to America, and there is no
divided allegiance among us. However
we may differ on questions of Irish
policies, there is no division among us
when America is concerned. The Irish
lad who landed here within year is
as ready to lay down his life for the
flag of this republic as the man whose
Irish ancestors came here in Revolu-
tionary or famine days We have but
one flag and one country, and we love
and will defend both while life en-.
dures. And we have the most profound
faith in our great President, who, amid
conditions as sorrowful and trying as
those which confronted Washington
and Lincoln, has pursued his steady
course calm, poised, dispassionate-
determined only on preserving the hon.
or of our country and the maintenance
OF its rights. Well are the feelings OF
those of orr raca oynrosSod in tho