The Irish standard., 1919-12-13

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Bishop Cantwen II NJ i1kfoA1etoTJ
speech said:
President Wilson. standing ON lie
sacred sou of Mt. Vernon. In matehless
words proclaimed the right OF peoples
to self determination. On that occa-
sion President Wilson placed high the
star which should guide the oppressed
Of the earth: 90 high that no man
could pull 1t down-not even the Presi-
dent himself.
"Quickened BY the words OF our
President. the people OF Ireland formed
new government and went forth to
vindicate even unto blood the right OF
Ireland to self determination.
Since President Wilson uttered
those immortal words new nations
have been born. and many have asked
why Ireland should not BE- tree In
the same way.
THE President of the Republic of
Ireland is here today to put its cause
before the people OF this city. to do
for the Irish people what BENJAMIN
Franklin did for the American people"
Bishop Cantwel first introduced
Liam Mellows, advance representative
Of de Valera, who was one OF the
leaders in the Easter rebellion of
1916.
Mr.. Mellows helped to prove that
the Irish cause has q reservoir OF
burning eloquence which may be
poured forth whenever occasion de-
mands.
He said there had been disturbing
rumors about what might happen in
Los Angeles and he had wired some
thing OF this to President de Valera.
And this is the answer received
back from our President" he added:
This is a game Of British blum.
Stand firm. There will be no retreat
Ing
If President de Valera had had to
come to Los Angeles with only a cor
poral's guard he would have come"
continued Mellows to cheering.
'Presfdent de Valera has been called
q traitor. No 1rishman could be .
traitor to Great Britain because no
Irishman acknowledges allegiance to-
Great Britain. He comes here not
as fugitive but as an apostle Of
liberty"
President de Valera, briefly intro
duced by Bishop Cantwell, had ap-
plause, the ChautauQua salute, three
cheers and then some more.
when l came here on my mission
of education l did so with feeling of
confidence in the sense of justice Of
the American people. There has not
been single instant since l have been
here nor single spot have been
disappointed.
Il want you to know that Ireland is
not one of the British Isles. All the
power of Britain could not make Ire
land one of its possessions.
Il see that a certain Los Angeles
newspaper (hisses and cries Of The
TimesD wants to make Ireland a
British province, but it will not sue
ceed.
Confident Of Fair Hearing.
II knew before I came to Los An
geles that Ireland would get fair
hearing here and in America. l wanted
to come to this country when I was
in Lincoln prison. wanted to tell
this people the story of Ireland.
eff the question of the freedom of
Ireland were to be submitted to
vote Of the American people 1t would
be carried by two-to-one. If such
proposition failed then America would
be throwing away her Declaration of
independence and the doctrine that
governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed.
THAT is the principle which has
made America the mother Of modern
democracy. There is no power that
can disestablish the free government
of Ireland except the one that estab-
lished It, England holds Ireland by
virtue of military power, but Ireland
owes no allegiance to England's king.
who is a foreign usurper.
We are called traitors. 1rishmen
are in fine company when they are
called traitors; they are in the exalted
company of Washington, Jefferson,
Hancock, and the other Revolutionary
heroes
Sunday Afternoon, Nov. 2a.
Before more than 10000 people
declared to have been one Of the
largest and most enthusiastic crowds
ovor RI 600 and 1,oor a vp}u1<iner nalnh