The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1918-07-27

ZION or make any utCeranCe C1at would
hinder the successful conduct of the
war by these United States. The
troops of America, now numbering
nearly 100000 in France, are brigad-
ed with British soldiers, Joined in de-
Tense of the western front with Bel
gians, Portuguese, French and Italians,
and all are under the supreme COM
mand of the French General, Foch.
The Irishman who became a citizen
of America swore to uphold and defend
the Constitution of the United States
and he is obligated to defend and pro-
tect America to the limit of his abil-
ity and his means, even to the render
ing of his life. Therefore, no Irish
man who is citizen, and no other
American naturalized or native can do
or say anything which would hinder
the progress of American arms with
out being traitor to America. The
naturalized American Irishman who
would conspire, or do anything which
would take single British soldier
from the western front, or deprive the
allied forces of any British soldiers
services by compelling that British
soldier to be kept in Ireland is Civ
ing aid and comfort to the enemy of
the United States, the German En-
pire, and such citizen is a traitor
and deserves the death of traitor
No member of the United Irish League
of America will act otherwise than
as loyal American DESTROYS of see
ing victory rest upon the just cause
of the United States.
But, the Irishman in Ireland, not
a citizen of the United States has an
unqualified right to take any steps
which he believes may free his. coun-
try. He is by the language of Amer
lea, upheld by philosophers around the
world, endowed with an inalienable
right to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness Subject to the risks
and fates of rebels there or anywhere,
the Irishman in Ireland may strike
any blow that he believes will assist
the freedom of his native land. Nor
can the American who sympathizes
with the national aspirations of the
Italians of the Trentino in Austria,
of the Slavs of the same empire, of the
| Bohemians, the Poles and other PEG.
pies who desire self-government or in.
dependence, find fault with the Irish
in Ireland who seek the same right
of self-government or freedom, even
if the sword be necessary to secure
them The Chief Executive of the
United States has expressed his sym
pathy with these struggling and sub
merged nationalities, and the same
principle of sympathy applies to Irish
men in Ireland.
eve, who are natives of America
and those who are naturalized citizens
of America are assembled here on the
eve of the Fourth of July. That day
is the anniversary of Americas Dec
laration of independence. Her sons
in 1776, even then of varied root
stocks, British, Scotch, Irish, Welsh
Dutch, French, Spanish and German
predominating, pledged themselves
that to make liberty secure they would
sacrifice all that men could give. Fol-
seven years they nobly fought fol
freedom, and freedom was won by
their undaunted heroism and sacri
fees. We Americans of Irish blood
some of us descendants of those Am
orleans of 1776, and all of us imbued
with the love of liberty and the spirit
of American democracy here unite tt
recall the spirit of 1875, to hear agaiI
the ringing words of the Fathers OF
the Republic, to hear in fancy the
tones of the Liberty Bell and to pledge
ourselves, our present and our future
to the preservation of American free
dom, to the perpetuation of Ameri
can ideals of democracy, to the win
ming of deserved victory in this
world-war, to the securing of a just
| 68-lRISH-Fifteen- VOL
and lasting peace among men, and tt
the lasting honor and glory of this
America whose freedom men of oul
blood helped to win and preserve
whose maintenance of ordered liberty
justice and legal equality makes il
the refuge of the oppressed and the
hope of the world"