The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-07-30
IE BRATrIEBoRo DAILY REFoRER TUESDAY, JUDY 80 1e1s

ton IN the war, which was expressed |
with an openness which surprised and
even panied me.
81 speak of this first impression
frankly now, because I am able imme-
diately to add that ] saw the transfer
nation Of feeling gradually grow from
one end of America to the other, until
now / am convinced that of all nations
engaged in this war the one that feels
most passionately, most unitedly, and
most ruthlessIy is America I will even
90 to the length of saying that if any
one or all of the European nations
should in war WEAKNESS show any sign
of accepting an inconclusive peace,.
America would keep on, even. If she
had to stand alone, and that wherever
else the Germans may look for a spirit
of compromise, they cannot look for it,
or even for an approach to it, from the
Ipeople of the United States.''
Mr.. O'Connor tells of spending the
| first three months of his visit in New
York and of trip to Chicago in the
ifall, where he addressed the Irish Feb
Ilowship club. He believed his views
on the Irish question were shared by
30 to 95 per cent of the men of the
Irish race in the latter city Then he
Iplaced himself at the disposal of the
! National Security league, speaking
| freqently in Chicago, and subsequently
in San Francisco.
/ IT hope | may say that the heads
i of the, National Security league
thanked me warmly for the tone of
my addresses, and attributed to me
some influences on forming and strength
lening patriot in the Middle Vest" he
writes and continues:
4 81 paid several visits to Washing
ton, especially at moments when mat
I tiers became critical at home and wheI
it was necessary to explain the atti
ltude of my party.
4 Among the experiences / reeollect
/! with the greatest of pleasure were tw,
interviews with the President, and es
Ipecially an. interview ! had with hin
immediately before my departure.
had been a student kof his writings an,
: lspeeches for many years, and though
III had never met him before, felt a
n though | was acquainted with hi
Thought and Temperament. / must adj
that my personal Interviews with hin
had, however, the effect of changing
lsome of the impressions which are sug
Igested by his public appearance, an
ESPECIALLY by his photographs. TIL
e President of the photograph and til
I | President of the living flesh and bloc
e lseen close at hand are almost con
I ltradiction. The severity of feature i
the photograph entirely disappear
: twhen you are seated opposite him.
IL !. Let me sum mp my impression
from private interview by sayin
: that he is man of perfect simplicit,
7 transparent sincerity, rigid adhesion |
T well thought out principles and almo.
{, Celtic impnlsiveness and warmth {
e feeling tempered rather than COZ
g trolled by the cautions side of his pa
!, TALLY Scotch.Irish ancestors. Indee
Ito me he is much more dominant
y Celt than Seotch.Irish~ OF course,
3 am not at liberty TO reveal his EXPIRE
sion, except TO say that / regard hi
Is as a genuine and sincere friend of Ir
I land. ~
! u return hpmetat the urgent reque
/ of Mr.. Dillon and bring q message !.
7 cheer to everybody in Europe on o
e side by the account | can give of Il
7 splendid spirit Of the America
y people, and | rejoice, above all, tn
le my visit extended to the time when t
= bravery and skill of the Americ;
. troops indicated the opinion l he
y from the beginning, that America
= intervention made complete veto
q over the forces of Germany an abs
y lutte certainty Finally, let me thai
u all my innumerable friends in this n
ton, not only for the kindness but t
I substantial assistance they gave TO Il
: in fighting on that important secti
? of the political and military battIefro
n represented by my nation.