The Irish standard., 1918-11-30

foreseen in the case of Jamaica. The
Irish share i'm that triumph induced
very natural resentment in England,
to which the proximity of Americas
chief and most jubilant accomplice af-
forded an occasion and an opportunity
for leisurely satisfaction. Hence we
find the British General Abercromby,
the intrepid hero of many battle,
writing of the '9S rebellion: every
cruelty and crime that could be COM
mitted by Cossacks or Calmucks had
been committed in Ireland by the
army and with the sanction of those
in high Office" After the rebellion of
1867, John Stuart Mill ("England and
1reland') felt sorrowfully impelled
still to confess: "Short of actual de-
population and desolation and the di-
rect enslaving of the inhabitants little
was omitted in Ireland which could
give people cause to execrate it's
conqueror." Americans may gauge the
bitterness of England's resentment by
the long persistence of her hostility to
America, in spite of the conciliatory
efforts of the best statesmen of both
countries; and it's continued action in
Ireland was demonstrated i'm May,
1916, by the brutality of the executions
of the Irish rebels, then daily occur
ring in Dublin, brutality which led
the dean of American literature, a sin
cere friend of England, William Dean
Howells, to protest to the English that
mercy was an attribute of justice.
A Greater Burden.
The triumph of America imposed
another and greater burden upon
Ireland. Economic conditions, unre-
lieved by resentful England and, in
part, imposed by her, together with
the lure of freedom, converted Ireland
into nursery for the great American
Republic, and depleted Ireland not
only of her man power, but also of the
resources and energies absorbed in
training citizens to the greater honor
and glory of the United States. In the
last seventy years the population of
Ireland has sunk from over 100000
to 4,390,219; over 100000 people have
left her shores; and the vast majority
of these sailed for America.
The success of the American Revo-
luton forewarned the Government Of
England and taught them successfully
to resist its repetition elsewhere. So
1reland's task became more formid-
able, while she grew physically less
able to accomplish it. In other words,
Americas triumph immeasurably tn
creased the odds against Ireland. A
striking example of this result is visi-
bic at present when Ireland is i'm pos
session of an English army of occupa-
tion which comprises only half the
number of the Irish born who fell in
the American Civil War.
American Principles Established.
But in 1776, new principle was
forever established in the world,
principle that was assumed to be SELF
evident, the principle of the absolute
and equal natural rights of man, rights
derived from God alone. This prin-
ciple was craven on Irish minds by
America, when Irishmen had the hon.
or to contribute greatly to it's trium-
phant vindication, on behalf of the citi-
zens of the United States. The prin-
ciple is obviously as applicable to Ire
land as it was to America; and Irish
men, in spite of all handicaps, have
never abated their efforts to enforce
their right to apply it to Ireland. Since
the days when she was melted by
America to assert that right with the
expectation that our (America,s) grow
ing weight might in turn be thrown
into our scale that more equit-
able treatment from this nation (Eng.
land) might be obtained for them
selves as we'll as for u.s." Ireland has
continuously maintained her right A
succession of patriots, in 1898, 1903,
1S4S, 1867 and in 1916, "dared beyond
their strength, and hazarded against
their Judgment, and in extremities
were of an excellent hope" that. that
right might not lapse More small
nation unaided may not accomplish
for freedom; and more is not neces-
sary to establish now the unequivocal
right of Ireland to- the full and free
application Of President Wilson's
principle Of self-determination.
Now for SeIf-Determination.
AS many Irishmen have fallen in
this war as Americans. Unlike some
now specially favored peoples, the
Irish have fallen fighting only for the
Allies cause. If a geographical stu
alton within the empires of the Gen.
trail Powers be not the only claim to
freedom which is now valid, the claim
of Ireland should be, at least in Amer
In ~ .-,skH