The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-06-16
What INDEPENDENT:
IRELAND WOULD
MEAN TO the US.

mean TO the US.
The nationwide movement in the
United States demanding justice and
liberty for Ireland as one of the op.
pressed small nationalities has won
the support of leading Americans of
all races and creeds and has made a
remarkable impression on the press
of the country, being taken UP by
many of the leading magazines and
by two great papers, neither of them
ever classed as friendly to the aspira-
lions of Ireland, the New York World
and New York Evening Post. While
1t is natural that the liberty-loving
American people should sympathize
with Ireland's desire for justice and
liberty, America has far more than
an altruistic interest in the liberation
of that country. After the war, what
ever way the terrific struggle is de-
cided, men of affairs recognize that
there will then begin a gigantic COM
mercial struggle for the business of
the world.
If there is an "even-break,"
draw" or if England and her allies
win the war England will, true to her
history, try to dominate the trade of
the world. She has always been and
is now the great commercial rival of
the United States.
0,,s1
or the present war all will agree that
we can not afford to be at the mercy
OF England in the business struggle
OF the future. Ireland, situated as
she is in the Atlantic, is the great
key to the commerce Of the world as
far as the Atlantic is concerned. The
greatest minds have always recog-
nized this fact. An independent Ire
lard would insure fair play for Ameri-
can commerce as nothing else would.
Hence for purely selfish business rea-
sons Americans should be for indie
pendence of Ireland. That can be
brought about now by American in
terVentiOn.
4NoN Is ll!C W dCI,
Great Minds on Ireland.
ireland is the key to the COM
merce Of Europe. The late Rear
Admiral Mahan, U. S. N.
ireland free of English rule would
mean the end of Englands DONNA
ton of the seas. "-Napoleon Bona
parte.
"Fhe Irish question is not an Eng
lish question, but indeed a European
question. w. E. Gladstone.
IF we can not yet make Ireland
free, we should take her and make
her a granary for American corn to
scatter it to the four winds of
Europe" -Wendel Phillips, Boston,
1863.
ireland governed in the interest of
the Irish could easily support popu-
latior of 100000 John Stuart
Mill. English Economist.
ireland and the United States.
An Independent Ireland would offer
the advantages of twenty of the finest
harbors in the world to the friendly
shipping of the United States.
Ireland's wonderful natural re-
sources would furnish ample oppor-
tunity for American commerce and en-
terprise and place at Americas dis
posal the key to the trade of the
continent"
rhe independence of Ireland would
be readily recognized by most of the
European powers as the first essen
tial step towards the complete free
dom of the seas
1t would end the intolcrablc domi-
nation Of tire sea by one power and
prevent the possibility of England
ever again Expressing American com
mcrce.
Friendly Harbors Await United States.
We have spent billions in the Phil
ippine Islands, among a strange reo-
pie Of alien blood. We are now dis
cussing the need Of coaing stations
and naval bases 5000 miles away.
ll1ld!i'i, lnIeS LllllCS larger IMAM
i3el%i',m, larger than Holland, larger
than Switzerland and other independ-
ent countries, IS only 5000 miles from
New York. Have we any naval bases,
coa)ing stations or friendly harbors
on the other SIDE of the Atlantic?
Let the great idea Of America
First" govern American consideration
with regard to Ireland i'm the readjust-
nent Of European conditions.