The Irish standard., 1918-11-30
(New York, Nov. 16, 1879

Win tnelr rights longer 10 SuDmlC 10
colonial bondage. They readily per-
ceived community of interests with
Ireland, the oldest of England's colo
nies. Not that the American States,
5000 miles from England, had ever
experienced the weight~of the yoke
which Ireland, on the threshold of
England, endured, But in principle
the problem confronting the two colo
nies was identical. "The question in
both countries" wrote Froude ("Eng-
lish in Ireland" p. 1897, "was sub
stantially the same; whether the
Mother Country had right to utilize
her dependencies for her own inter-
ests irrespective of their consent" J"
And the all-wise Franklin, preparing
for the contest which was to settle
this question for his people visited
Ireland in 1771 to emphasize to the
Irish Patriot party the essential unity
of American aims with Irish interests
Ben Franklin's Words.
II found them," he records ("Frank-
Inns Works. VII, p. 557-55s) "dis-
posed to be friends of America in
which I endeavored to confirm them
with the expectation that our growing
weight might in turn be thrown into
one scale and by joining our interests
with theirs more equitable treatment
from this nation (England) might be
obtained for themselves as we'll as for
u.s." Franklin not only sought through
Ireland to weaken England in the i'm
pending struggle against the Ameri-
can States, he also contemplated an
affiliation of Ireland and of Canada
with the people he represented. His
diplomatic mission was followed up by
action on the part of the first general
Congress, which met in Philadelphia
on September 4, 1774.
For any subject of England to aid
America was, of course, treason
against England. And the American
Fathers, conscious of the conse-
quences of this crime, deemed it their
duty to forbid the Island Of Jamaica
to incur the dangers of aiding the
Revolution. "The peculiar situation
of your island" said the Congressional
Letter to the Jamaica Assembly, read
on July 25, 1775, 'forbids your assis-
tance." Remoteness from England
endowed Jamaica with, at. least, rela-
tive safety. If wise discretion was
advisable in Jamaica, it might have
been considered imperative in Ireland,
isolated and we'll nigh defenseless at
the very gates of England, and there
fore in a peculiar situation" to per-
form vicarious expiation for all traitor
GUS colonists.
Americas Address to ireland.
But no admonition to caution came
from Congress to moderate Irish ar
dor for the American cause. Instead,
Congress appointed committee to
draft an address "To the People of
Ireland" which was read on July %,
1775, and which ran as follows:
"We are desirous of the good opin-
ion of the virtuous and humane. We
are peculiarly desirous of furnishing
you with the true state of our motives
and objects; the better to enable you
to judge of our conduct with accuracy
and determine the merits of the con-
troversy with impartiality and preci-
sion. Your Parliament has done us
no wrong. You had ever been friendly
to the rights Of mankind; and we ac-
knowledge with pleasure and graft
tude that your nation has produced
patriots who have nobly distinguished
themselves in the cause of humanity
and of America"
Ireland Unanimous for America.
The judgment sought by Congress
from Ireland was so unanimous in
favor Of America that the disastrous
effect of the Revolution on Irish trade
did not prevent "the mass of the peo-
pie, both Catholic and Protestant,
from wishing success to the patriotic
colonists" (MitcheD. ireland was
with America to man." declared
Pitt, the "Great Commoner" (Ban-
croft's History of the United States,"
vol. VII, p. 194). The people of Dub
lin presented their thanks, and the
Merchants Guild" gave an address Of
honor to the Earl of Ef1ngham, who
refused to draw his sword against
the lives and liberties of his fel.
low subjects" in America. In Bel
fast meetings we're held and money
was raised to support the American
cause. And Grattan boldly referred
to America as "the only hope of Ire.
land and the only refuge of the liber-
ties of mankind" ("Select Speeches of
Grattan," edited by Duffy, p. 104).
The menace Of that hostility to the
pretensions of England" which Frank
lin had sought to excite in Ireland
a,,ouu o~Orooiovo1v ,1nfil II nrovod rom