The Irish standard., 1917-08-18

renoS the Rl9ht OF the united states
to Secure Freedom for the Oldest Of
the Small Nations-The Liberation
of the Irish People Will Guarantee
the Winning Of the War.
The minimum demand of the Irish
in America for the people of Ireland
was presented in the halls of Congress
on Monday, July 80, by Hon. Joseph
Mclaughlin, Congressman at Large
from Pennsylvania. The reception
accorded to the sentiments of the ad
dress was hearty in the extreme, re-
verberating applause testifying to the
general appreciation of its logical
strength, and at the close of the ad-
dress very many Congressman con-
graduated Mr.. Mclaughlin and ex-
pressed warm sympathy with the ef-
fort to benefit the Irish people. It
was declared that the practical states
manship of the resolution and the sus-
tanning arguments of the speech had
made it possible for all friends of Ire
land to unite in an effort to secure
favorable action by the Foreign Rela-
C1O0S COmmlCCeo.
Members of Congress whose service
had extended over many years stated
that the cause of Irish freedom had
not been presented in the Capitol with
such intelligence and vigor during this
generation, and several influential
newspapers in various sections Of the
country not only commented most IA
vorably editorially, but expressed the
conviction that American sentiment
would hail the speech as a recogni-
ton of the attainable, satisfactory
alike to the extremist and the con-
sentative. The exposition of the cause
of Ireland as a world question, vital
alike to the winning Of the war and
the happiness of the Irish people,
evoked unanimous approval, although
it was recognized that this minimum
demand for the immediate application
of colonial free government was cal
culated to secure simply an advan-
tageous position on the path to final
and complete national independence.
The resolution offered on July Is is
entitled blouse Resolution No. 127,"
and the text is:
Joint RESOLUTION directing
the President and the Secretary of
State to make such representa-
lions to Great Britain as shall re-
suit in the establishment of a gov
eminent for Ireland similar to
that in Canada.
Resolved by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States of America in
Congress assembled, That the
President and the Secretary Of
State be, and are hereby, directed
to make such representations to
Great Britain as shall result in the
establishment of a government in
Ireland similar to the government
that now exists in Canada, with
full right to enact such legisla-
ton as will promote the prosper
ity of the country, adequately de-
velop it's resources, and safeguard
the rights, the liberties, and the
interests of it's people,"
The address was delivered on July
Both. It was the first speech of the
day, MI. Mclaughlin securing the lool
by unanimous consent when the ses
sion opened. The clear and powerful
voice of the speaker was heard will
remarkable distinctness Throughout
the splendid hall, penetrating even tt
the crowds in the corridors. The
members of Congress were present il
unusual numbers, and the applause
was testimony of sympathy not onl!
with the tenor of the speech-not onl.
tribute to the form Of expression
and the vigor of the thoughtful
there were many who were impressed
with the extraordinary fact that tn
representatives of great American
Commonwealth was outlining polio.
of American craftsmanship and plead
ing for the freedom of his native land
The address, as printed in the econ
gressional record" is as follows:
"Mr. Speaker: The resolution tina
have introduced in the House, Hous
Joint Resolution 1877, is presented un
der the firm conviction that the sue
cessful prosecution of the war in whicl
we are engaged makes action such a
indicated therein an imperative nee
of the times. In Offering the resolr
ton I am prompted by an unshake
belief that it's adoption, and its fulfil
ment in fact, would contribute tire
mendously to the victorious issue G
American arms in the war we are no,
waging.
"No observing man can be blind t
the events in Ireland; to the unres
among the Irish race throughout tn
world; to the disheartening effect c
the refusal of the British Governmen
to put into immediate operation tina
limited home-rule act now on the sta
ute books; and to the alienation
millions of men who are loyal to tn
cause of freedom by heritage and ed'
cation, but who remain more or les
inactive because freedom is denied
the land of their fathers.