The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1918-01-05
De Valera Speaks at Cork
Replies To John DiIIon-Will Not Try
To Kill Convention-Recails Graf
tans Success With the Aid
of Volunteers.
Will Not Sell Irish Birthriqht At the
Suggestion of Either Dillon
or Redmond.

Mr.. De Valera arrived in Cork on
Saturday night in connection with a
series of meetings which he will ad-
dress in the county during the week.
He was met at the station by a
large crowd, who escorted him to his
hotel, where he briefly replied to ad-
dresses of welcome. The police force
was strengthened to the extent of a
couple of hundred, but nothing oc-
CURED to call for their Intervention.
The chair at the meeting was taken
| posed resolutions which demanded
sovereign independence for Ireland,
| called the attention of neutral coun-
| tries to the attitude of the Sim Fem
with regard to an Irish Republic, the
Peace Conference being mentioned as
a medium for the expression of Ire
lands views.
The Peace Conference.
Mr.. De Valera was accorded an en-
| thusiastic greeting, the cheering last
he said, were to secure recognition
for Ireland as a sovereign, independ-
| ent State. He reminded them that
Grattan compelled the British Govern
mcnt to recognize his claims by the
Volunteers. Referring to the Peace
Conference, he said there was only
one section of lrishmen who could go
ND lo
cause they proclaimed they were ma
ton Kept under subsection. which the
Allies had put before the people as the
reason for the present terrible war.
Proceeding, he charged, in connec
ton with the Irish party influence in
the Volunteer movement, that when
they got control they pretended they
were going to arm them, while in pri-
vatc they were arranging to get arms
ont Of the country. They the Sim
Feiners) were told they were prevent
ing Cancellation with the North. The
people of Cork knew what the opin-
ions of the Irish party in regard to
Cancellation were when the question
was raised by another party. When
Mr. Dillon raised an "ullagone" about
the treatment the Irish people had
given their leaders, he contradicted
himself Mr.. Dillon said that for 80
years they were the trusted leaders;
but the fact that the people had now
turned against their leaders was sig
nticant. Having trusted them for 80
years, there was some deep reason
why they should now turn against
them. ut is hard fight" added Mr..
De Valera, "but the difficulties in no
way daunt you or me. Our path is
sure; it is difficult, but it is straight"
The Convention.
Speaking of the Convention, he said
they never announced they were out
to kill it, They were out to label it
Dangerous" They had been tainted
Dillon did not go into the convention,
| and neither did the Sim Feiners.
They tried to organize the Irish people
| so that they would not be fooled by
| the convention. Mr.. Dillon appar
emily did not expect it to be a sue
| cess, and he agreed it was a. device
of the Prime Minister to gain time.
! At no time were the Irish people will
ing to sell their birthright on the sug.
gestion Of Redmond or Dillon.
! Recently an attempt had been made
| to get the Catholic Church 70 oppose
| Gleir movement. He assured the meet
| ing that those who tried that would
| foil to get them embroiled with the
| Church. Just as the true interests
of the nation could never be opposed
to the interests Of religion, SO in
his opinion, the interests of labor ana
| the interests of the nation could nev
er be opposed. They would do all in
their power to ameliorate the condi
ton of the laborers, but they could moi
consent to turn their National move
ment into labor movement-whicl
he knew, the labor people did not ex
pect.
Mr.. David Kent and other loca;
speakers addressed the meeting
In the forenoon Mr.. De Valera was
presented with addresses from Cork
R. d. C. and Guardians, Bandon Towr
Commissioners, and Sim Fein clubs
from the city and county.
Recent Police Raid.
At concert last night in the city
in connection with the Brian Boru