The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-11-24
Sim fem RALLIES
AGAIN IN IRELAND
Continued from Page ~

another might arise from those who
would wish to incite rebellion. Shun
both; they are against the law of
God. The eyes of the world are upon
you; show that you are Constitutional
You have the people of Ireland at your
back; be patient and brave under
trials, even although your friends may
smite you. All are working for the
cause of Ireland, even though they
may have different views and different
ways. Sim Fein is the darling of the
people of Ireland of the present day;
it will put the final touch on finished
edifice, and plant the tricolor over
all"
An address to the leaders was read
from the S. F. Clubs of E. Cavan, and
resolutions affirming allegiance to Sim
Fem; condemning the treatment of
Thos. Ashe, and calling attention of
the U. S. A. to it were passed on the
motion of Mr.. M. Kirby, G. E., second
ed by Father O'Farrell, Carnaross,
Meath.
Mr.. De Valera's Speech.
Mr.. De Valera referred to the fact
that he was speaking from the same
place Mr.. Dillon spoke a few weeks
ago, when he accused the Sim Fein
party of having no policy. The work
of the last few days would show the
whole country that there was no diff
ference of opinion between those of
them who were recognized as leaders
Of the Sim Fein movement. They
were all out for one and the same
for a free, Independent Irish Repub-
lie. The methods by which they
should strive to attain that we're any
methods and means which were in
accordance with the moral law and
the will of the Irish people.
Some remarks in the letters made
it necessary for him to point out that
the enemy was trying by their guides
and pastors to frighten them away
from that movement. He appealed to
them to see they did not allow them
selves to be so used. They were out
for a legitimate thing-the freedom of
their country, and they represented the
will of the majority of the Irish peo-
pie. They had a perfectly legitimate
right to seek to attain that freedom
by force of arms if a suitable oppor-
tunity presented itself. They had a
perfect moral right to arm and de-
fend themselves so that Englishmen
might not be tempted to come over to
get Irishmen to sacrifice for the Brit
ish Empire in France. Nothing would
please John Bull better than that they
should get into their minds that physi-
cal force in any shape or form was
morally wrong.
ct is not morally wrong; get that
into your heads, men of Ireland, one
and ALL" He went on to say it was
necessary for any such movement that
it should be carefully staged, and that
they were certain they had such pru-
dence and judgment as would enable
them to stir the movement all right.
AS to the word Constitutional,
which was used in one of the letters,
he had always been unable to under
stand what Constitutionalism was
when used by politicians of that
school. The English Constitution was
not theirs, and they were out against
it. What he understood as Constitu-
tionalism was that they should act In
accordance with the will of the Irish
people and the moral law. Their move
ment was Constitutional in that sense.
.. A League of Nations.
This war must mean the break up
of Empires, and at it's conclusion
League of Nations must be formed as
independent units, banded together
with powers such as would enable
them to keep the peace one with an
other. When such a basis was found
at the end of the war Ireland's claim
to Independent nationhood must be
heard. They would never, under any
circumstances, give up the fight Tor
freedom until they were recognized as
an independent state.
The Orangeman, if he was really an
Irishman, was invited to come in and
fight for the freedom Of Ireland, but
the majority of them claimed they
were the English garrison. There
were other Irish Unionists who be-
lieved that by going with England
they best served Ireland's interests.
They wished to point out to them the
mistake they were making, and to
show them there was no hope for
material prosperity and contentment
as long as ireland was Joined to Eng
land. The Sim Fein party were said
to be pro-German, but if the German
came to ireland to hold it, those who
were now resisting English power
would be the first to resist the Ger
mans. He referred to statement
appearing in the Sunday 1ndepen-
dent" from an English paper with ref,
erence to a suggested Provisional
Government, and said: Il assure
everybody in Ireland I will never al
low myself to become tool or an IN
atrument for enforcing British law IN
1,a Ae toi1er in this country