The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-04-28
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
0FLADIES' AUXILIARY
OF The A. 0. II.
CONTINUED from page ~

OF causing England to make some ef-
fort to placate Ireland and gain her
cooperation, and so the home rule
bill was finally passed. Irish hopes
were again dashed as the bill, though
passed, was placed on the statute
book to go into effect after the war;
anyone not liking it had the power to
bring in an amending bill.
Naturally, Irish democracy repudi-
ated this bill. but the Irish members
of the British House of Commons &C.
cepted it and used all the influence
they possessed to induce Irish boys
to join the English army. The boys
Joined in large numbers and in the
first two years of the war, the Irish
regiments bore the brunt of the battle
for England.
Under English rule, Ireland has suf-
fered for seven centuries from unjust
and tyrannical laws, her industries
have been destroyed. She is grooming
under system of taxation which is
nothing short of robbery; famine and
pestilence have been abroad in the
land, and all have united in reducing
the population during the last SO years
over 100000. No small nation, no
matter how pitiful it's plight, has met
with such an appalling disaster.
Just one year ago. group of young
Irish democrats, lovingly called by
their admiring countrymen every
where, 1.-The intellectuals,' despairing
of ever getting for Ireland a square
deal from England, arose in revolt in
Dublin They did not hope to sue
coed; how could they, considering that
only about 5000 actively engaged in
the rising" and at that time there
was in Ireland an English standing
army of about 10000? Those brave
young men, regardless of the conse-
quences to themselves, desired to as
sert the principle that the Irish peo-
pie were entitled to national indepen-
dence, and for nearly week they
kept the flag of an Irish republic float
ing over the ancient capital of Ireland,
under the very nose of the great En-
glish nation.
The principles for which they fought
were the same principles for which
Washington, the great father of the
American republic, fought. The re-
volt they led was different from the
Carson revolt, in that they represent
ed the vast majority. They failed,
and according to English methods,
were shot as traitors. The quality of
English mercy is rather strained, for
Pearse and his associates, who led
the 1916 revolt, the firing squad and
the quick-lime; for Carson, who led
the 1912 revolt, a high and trusted
place in the British cabinet.
For year now Ireland has been
under martial law, her food supply,
which is not sufficient for herself, is
by one means or another diverted to
England. Forgotten seemingly by the
world, she is facing starvation; part
OF her population is now starving, and
the distress would be terrible indeed,
were it not for the immense sums of
money that have been sent to Ireland
during the last year by the Irish relief
committee of America.
An effort was made recently to re-
vive the home rule bill, the Irish
members of the British House of Com
mons thought that Lloyd George, the
great English democrat, on being
made prime minister, would see that
some measure of justice was given to
Ireland. This hope has proven as vain
and as fleeting as all other Irish hopes,
for, despite the fact that there is a
great necessity on the part of En-
gland to unite the empire in order to
meet the danger threatening it, she
has again absolutely refused to give
Ireland even fair hearing, and the
home rule issue is now dead.
In the days when Washington and
his brave Continental soldiers were
lighting for the independence of Amer.
lea, Ireland encouraged, aided and
abetted him, and Ireland's sons raj
lied In great numbers to the cause of
the young republic. In every crisis
OF American history from that time to
the present, Americans of Irish blood
have been among the first, and at
times the first to rally to the cause of
the Stars and Stripes. In the present
crisis, regardless of personal feelings,
you may rest assured, Mr.. President
that Americans of Irish blood will be
a unit in the defense of the flag.
But this is what want to respect
fully call to your attention: The Irish
In Ireland are pleading with their kin
in America to use their influence with
the greatest nation on earth to COM
pei England to right Irish wrongs.
The latest appeal has been made with
In a few days and this time by the
Irish members Of the British House of
Commons, who have at last despaired
of getting Just hearing for the Irish
cause, and so they turn to the Ameri-
cans of Irish blood to plead the cause
Of Ireland at the American bar of JUS.
tice and. fair play,