The Irish standard., 1917-05-05
america INSISTS
THAT IRELAND BE
GRANTED Home RULE
Statesmen and Press Demand IT.
Lord Northcliffe's Request for
American Opinion Fully
Given.

The American press without eXcep-
ton has taken up the suggestion of
Lord Northcliffe in an. interview given
last Tuesday to American newspaper
representatives, asking for an express
sion of American opinion about the
granting of Home Rule to Ireland.
True to their traditions and oft re.
peated declarations, the newspapers
of this country have again, voicing
the opinions of all Americans, demand
the granting by England of full Home
Rule for Ireland. This unanimity and
the opinions of Americas most dis
tinguished statesmen will have the de-
sired effect in forcing the English gov
eminent to put into operation the self
government act now on the British
statute book.
Lord Northcliffe said:
The next fourteen days will be, in
my opinion, the most vital in the his
tory of attempts to solve the Anglo
Irish problem. American statesmen
and American newspapers could great
ly assist those of us here who are
struggling to arouse interest in the
Irish question by prompt expression
of their opinion. This is the golden
hour"
A chorus of approval from the Amer
| lean and Canadian press followed this
suggestion, all favoring Home Rule for
Ireland.
Americans like Theodore Roosevelt,
VIM. H. Taft, Dr. Eliot, Geo. Wicker
sham, Cardinal Gibbons, Mayor Mitch
ell, ex-Judge Edgar Cullen and Judge
| Victor J. Bowling have spoken in the
most hearty terms in favor of Home
Rule
The New York American in a
powerful editorial Thursday says:
We say that as matter of common
gratitude England owes to Ireland the
free gift of Irish liberty.
This nation of ours owes, too, a
great debt of gratitude to Ireland. Ac-
quaintance with our own history and
with the true story of the past rela-
lions between our country and Euro
pean countries seems to have become
lost part of the education Of our pub
lie men and our professional writer's
and speakers, but even their disgrace
full ignorance is probably aware of the
gallant part Irishmen have played in
all our struggles, from the days when
they rallied, heart and soul, around
Washington, to this very day, when
they do not hesitate to rally, at their
beloved Americas call, in defense Of
another Government which in their
hearts and souls they abhor.
England should not again refuse to
recognize Ireland's claims upon her
justice, if she does refuse gratitude.
Nor should we, who have come to
England's rescue in her hour of des.
perate need with billions of money and
with all the pledged resources of our
mighty country, fail to insist, when
this war is over, that justice be done
to ireland.
It would be mockery and shame,
indeed, if after waging a giant war In
the name Of democracy and of the
rights of little peoples, we should
leave Ireland subject nation, gov
erned by another nation she hates and
always will hate until the heavy hand
of it's alien rule is lifted and Irish rep
resentatives record the will and enact
the laws of the free people of Ireland.
We shall have great voice in the
final settlement of world affairs. That
voice will have been won at a great
cost.
Let us resolve now that that voice
shall speak out loud and clear for uni
versal liberty-that it shall speak as
for the freedom of Belgium.
We have pledged our fortunes, our
lives and our sacred honor to estab-
lish all over the world the doctrine
that no people shall hereafter be gov
erned except by their own consent.
We must keep that pledge to Ireland
as we'll as to all the other oppressed
nations of the world.