The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1918-12-21
FATHER DUNPHY OF ST. THOMAS
COLLEGE ADDRESSES MASS
MEETING At GRAcEvlLLE.

direction, during Self-DeterminatiOn
week by the friends of Irish freedom,
was climaxed by mass meeting in
the opera house, Sunday evening, De-
cember 18th. President Fahey pre-
sided at the meeting. Seated with
him on the stage were Fathers Ken
nedy and Dunphy, Messers O'Neill,
Costello and Duffy.
The meeting opened with vocal and
instrumental selections. Miss Mary
Campion, Mrs. Frank Doerner, and
Miss Anna X. Costello treated the
crowd to vocal solos. Their singing
was received with that animated ap-
plause that bespoke the crowds de-
sire for a repetition. But as it had
been understood that the program
should not be heightened out, the cor
dial invitation of the crowd was not
accepted. Miss Mary Dunn's violin
solo was we'll received. Owing to the
fact that one of our popular enter
tanners was unable to be present, an
opportunity was given Miss Dun to
appear in response to the encore of
the audience. This time, in rollicking
fashion, Mary rendered some of the
old Irish airs. The melodies sent
responsive thrill thru the audience,
tuning it to a mood preparatory to
hearing the message of Ireland from
one of Ireland's sons.
Father Kennedy introduced the
speaker of the evening. The assembly
waited, with that eagerness of expec-
tation that told that Father Dunphy's
name was familiar to the people of
Graceville. Having first captivated the
hearts of his audience with few per-
sonal touches, the reverend lecturer
launched into his subject in bold, clear
cut, logical style. He treated in mast
erly fashion Ireland's claim to self
determination.
Father Dunphy, at the very opening
Of his lecture, made the friends of
Irish freedom realize that the princi-
pies for which they stood had an able
and eloquent advocate. Very apt and
to the point was Father Dunphy's re-
hinder to the audience that, in spite
of England's attempt to ridicule and
throw contempt on everything Irish,
the Irish had reached high standard
of civilization and education when
England had not yet moored far out
beyond the outskirts of barbarism.
England therefore did not bring a
civilization to Ireland. And 1reland's
realization. of her own superior civili-
zation has compelled her and is COM
Polling her still to refuse to accept
that civilization of materialism that
England has to Offer And England
with all her empire power, surprising
Rome in the days of its greatest re-.
nown, with all its wealth and re-
sources, it's intrigues, raek-rents, crow
bar brigades, could not break the
spirit of Ireland. And Ireland, by the
tenacity with which she has chung to
her national ideals and to her faith,
proves to the world that she has with
in herself an indomitable spirit, ten
acity of purpose that is unparalleled
among the nations of the earth.
Whatever England may say about
the Irish question being purely do
nestle one, Providence has set Ire
lands boundaries. And traditions,
that voice the nobility of truly noble
people, speak in no uncertain terms
that Ireland has distinct nationality.
Our hopes have been shattered many
times in the last decade. But with
our own President, now in Europe,
voicing the eternal principles in the
name of America, that it is the God
given right of every people to rule
their own destinies, our hopes for the
future are on the ascendance. And
now at last we feel that Ireland will
take her place among the nations of
the earth. or we who know her his
tory understand that nation, that
has shown the vitality, force of char
acter, that has marked Irelands his
tory, must in the course of human
events, so surely as night follows day,
come into her own once more.
The petition to President Wilson
was read to the overcrowded house
and adopted by the audience. It's six
hundred forty voter signatures, that
have been mailed to the President,
show where Graceville stands on the
Irish question. Our petition in union
with thousands of others has gone to
Washington to support the uplifted
hand of President Wilson, to enable
him to wrench form selfseeking pluto
Gratis the fruits of war that has been
unparalleled in its sacrifice of human
lives for the principle of democracy.
Our petition to the President in the
aggregate may not mean so much but
at least we have the satisfaction of