The Irish standard., 1917-08-25
''Free Erin" Cry Of
Chicago Irish

Chicago Irish
Continued from Page ~
1t is with a feeling of pride and Of
pleasure that L am with you tonight to
call attention to grave and important
matters that are near and dear to the
hearts of all liberty-loving Americans,
and especially to those of us of Irish
blood.
Proud of the invitation received
from the United Irish Societies Of Chi
cago to be one Of the speakers at this,
your annual demonstration and picnic.
Lady Day in Harvest has long been
celebrated, it is day of rest, the har-
vest is over. Proud of the fact that
the people of Irish blood, everywhere
in the United States, are united as
never before, in a movement for free
and self-governing Ireland. Proud Of
the fact that the United Irish Socie-
ties were the first to appeal to Con-
gress in behalf of the people of Ire
land and to demand as one of the con-
ditions of peace: "They be given their
autonomy, and the right to take their
place among the nations" It is GER
tainly pleasure to be present.
In the great world war we are COM
PEELED to enter, because it is the only
honorable course for our government
to pursue. There is no doubt about
the part that men of Irish blood in
America will take in the contest. They
will be found as they always have been
found, fighting for the honor and glory
of our country.
We are in the war and we are in it
to win. No matter what the cost may
be or the sacrifice to be made, it will
be great deal cheaper to win the war
than to lose it. hope it will bring
liberty to all mankind and peace and
contentment to all the world, and I
know Of nothing that would contri-
butte so much to the success of the war
and bring victory to American Arms
as action by the Congress- of the Unit
ed States in passing resolution de-
claring for the freedom and independ-
ence of Ireland.
From the day the struggling colo
MES in America, declared their In
dependence, and rebelled against fur
ther British tyranny, there never has
been people more steadfastly loyal
to our government than the men of the
Irish race. Upon every battlefield
from Concord to Yorktown were to be
found men Of Irish blood willing to
sacrifice their lives and all that was
near and dear to them for liberty, JUS
tice and right. In the Continental
Army, Irish names were as numerous
ats they are today in the Congress of
the United States, and in the French
Army that was sent over here, at that
time, to aid the American forces, Irish
names were just as prominent.
When the destruction of the Union
was threatened and the fate of the
nation was in the balance, whole bri-
gades of Irish soldiers, regiment after
regiment, marched away to the front
in defense of the Stars and Stripes.
In every war in which our country
has engaged from the days of the
Revolution down to the present day,
men of Irish blood have contributed
their full share and the best that was
in them, toward making this the great
est, richest and most powerful nation
on earth.
In the historic war address Of Pres
ident Wilson before Congress April
2, 1917, he declared for "the rights
and liberties of small nations" and
made it plain that we are going into
the war to make the word "Safe for
Democracy" to bring about a lasting
peace, and make the world itself at
last free"
The President, by proclamation to the
people on April Is, said that "the en-.
trance of our own beloved country into
the grim and terrible war was for
Democracy and Human Rights he
also said that; 1--WE are fighting for
what we believe and wish to be the
rights of mankind and for the future
peace and security of the world" If
the rights and liberties of small ma.
tons are to be considered then sure.
ly the claims of Ireland should be
recognized by our Government. No
country or race of people has ever
made greater sacrifices or contributed
more to the cause of liberty and free.
dom than the men of the Irish race.
In accordance with the sentiments
expressed by the President, 1 intro
duced in Congress, resolution call.
ing the attention of that body to the
opportunity now presented, to bring
about freedom and self-government fol
Ireland. and as American citizens.
believe we have right to so petition
Congress and also believe that Con
gress should be with us.
This resolution has been given con
siderable publicity and has been read
and debated almost everywhere in the
United States, by the sincere men Of
our race and they are anxious for some
action by Congress. If it did nothing
more than to call the attention of the
American people to this very live and
important question near and dear tc