Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-14
ADOPT RESOLUTIONS
ASKING HOME RULE
FOR IRISH PEOPLE
ANCIENT ORDER OF HlBERNIANs
SEND RESOLUTIONS TO PREsl
DENT ASKING HIM TO SUPPORT
IRISH CAUSE.

hniBiilS OF Columbus ftall last even
ing to the number of about l50. Tn,
purpose of the meeting was to adop
resolutions TO present to Presiden
Wilson asking his 10 support in MAX
ing Ireland free, independent natioi
10 take its place among the Othe
countries Of the world. The resolu
lions presented LETT no doubt. as Il
the stand of the Ottwa people on tn,
Irish situation and they We're adopte,
without dissenting voice.
Attorney Z. ]. Kelly acted as chair
man OF the meeting and in his intro
ductory remarks made 1t clear anC
emphatic that Ireland was not bet
ging or imploring for peace but de
manded that this little country b'
freed from British domination. II,
told of the splendid work of Irishme.
in every land that in The early age
ireland was the fountain head o
learning and was the home of Learned
and meh of letters. His remarks wer,
greeted with much applause.
T. b. Farrell sang a couple Of lrisl
melodies that were very much Ell
ioyed Miss Mary Mulholand was q
the piano.
Dean Quinn was the next speake
and his stirring address touched tn,
hearts of his hearers. He said tina
the conscripti0n law that the Britis'
made so much fuss about had n
foundation; that IS per cent of Ire
lands man power took up arms II
defense with the allies, and thei
work In this war is an open book
He felt confident that President Wi,
son. whom he termed the prime min
lister Of the world. would see to il tha
Ireland was given only what it dt
served and as he felt assured tina
the President wanted only the righ
to prevail, that in justice to himsel
and the cause he could do nothin'
else than favor laws that would civ
Ireland the right of f-gorernment
Justin Jaeger sang couple OF dc
lightful solos that were greeted witl
great applause. Miss Mary Milho'
land accompanied him.
Rev Father IIackett saw no reasol
in the world why Ireland should no
be given the same rights OF othe
countries. He said they had bee-
fighting and listening to able me-
pleading for home rule all his life
time, and he thought that now wa
the proper time; that the peace cor
ference would do only justice to thi
country. which has been battling an,
struggling for seyral hundred year
to be free.
Attorney A. j. O'Connor, who
posted on Irish history, said 1t wa
not an Irish question that he too
no stock In the efficacy of Irish pet
tons; that Belgium. Serbia, Polan
and many other of the smaller cour
tries were fully able to legislate fo
themselves, and that the movemei
for the freedom of ireland should b
voluntary on the part of every nation
OF the earth, and they should in n
way be denied the right of selg-go,
eminent He believed 1t was no tim,
for pleading or pettioning, but tina
1t was time for people who knew tn
rights of country to stand up an
fight for the right.
The resolutions adopted are as fo
lows:
We. the Ancient Order of Hibei
nians and ladies auxiliary and othc
loyal American citizens Of Irish bloc
residing in Ottawa, H., have assem-
bled in mass meeting to reatIlrm tn
principles of liberty propounded b.
the American colonists on July
1916, and Loyalty and energeticall
sustained and supported by the Iris
race in America up to present time
declare that
Whereas, The President of tn
United States has repeatedly real
firmed those PRINCIPLES in his variou
public utterances prior to and dun
ing the progress of the recent wa
for human liberty now happily am
VIGOROUSLY terminated by the energ
and ability Of the armies and nav,
OF the United States; and
Whereas, Ireland for seven and
half centuries has been held in bond
age by the same government that or
pressed the American colonists il
1776 and made 1t necessary to asser
and maintain the American Declare
tion of Independence propoundin
those fundamental principles of FREE
government; and
Whereas, The President of tn
United States has departed for tn
peace conference to be held in Vel
sailles, France, to represent the re
public of the United States of Amer
lea, and to give an enlarged scop,
and an extended application to tn
European countries of the funda
mental principles enunciated in TIN
American Declaration of lndepend
ence which were the foundation o
this republic and which 1t has reso
lutely maintained; therefore be il
Resolved, That we request Hon
Woodrow Wilson, President of tn,
United States, and the other Ameri
can delegates while promtlgatini