Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-10-11
President De Valera Pleads For
Blessing Enjoyed Under Stars
and Stripes.
Recognition of the Irish Republic by
the United States Is Final
Aim.
Organize i'm the Cause of T,ue
Democracy and Liberty For
World.
PRIME APPEAL is POLITICAL

Addressed to the liberty loving
people of America, cannon de Valera
President of the Irish Republic. has
Just issued the following urgent and
necessary appeal, to which there
should be a prompt and generous
response.
once again Ireland has sympa-
| tnetlcally responded to the world
wave of freedom. She has definitely
determined her own future as an
independent democratic republic,
ready TO consort with other nations
IN friendly intercourse and on a
OASIS OF equality of right. In this
fateful hour her people appeal.
through me, to the people of Amer
lea. The United States is a great
and powerful republic-long con-
firmed in its own hard won liberties.
The sister republic, newborn in Ire
land under Americas Inspiration. is
threatened in its infant life as was
the United Colonies by cruel and
oyermasting force. We earnestly
plead for the assistance which. If
prompt and energetic, will be
decisive.
Our prime appeal is political
the official recognition of our re-
public by the Government of the
United States is the final aim. That
attained, everything is attained. In
the initial stages, however. we need
financial help, even as did the
colonies here. BY the policy of
British rulers Ireland has been kept
deliberately poor that she might be
made subject and subservient. On
no land has nature so lavished her
gifts. Britain's enervating hand has
brought every one to naught. Our
richest lands lie untitled, our mines
unworked, our boys uncut, the
harvest of our seas unreaped. our
harbors empty; our rivers run idle
to the sea. The peasant is driven
forth to make place for the steer.
Under kindly native rule all this
Will be changed. The peoples
Congress and the peoples Govern
ment have plans for the purpose.
Dali Eireann has summoned the
people at home to the rebuilding of
the nation on a basis of brotherly
love and cooperation. But England
still unloads her financial burdens
on Ireland. The tribute exacted by
the foreigner prevents us from rails
ing at the moment an adequate tax
OF our own. An advance loan from
countries more happily placed is
necessary, and has been sanctioned
by the peoples Parliament-deter-
mined that the republic will live and
the debt be repaid. Americans can
help in the projected work of restora-
ton and reconstruction by subscrib-
ing. American of Irish blood. Won
will not refuse to renew your filial
ties and take further share in the
preservation of the race and of the
land from which you sprung! She
is your motherland as we'll as ours.
Do you not wish her to take her
rlghtful place among the nations?
Can you withhold your assistance
when 1t is powerful enough to place
her there?
Think of your fathers and your
mothers-the men and women, boys
and girls, that in unending stream
through Castle Garden made their
wistful way here to win life and
honor in this great land of liberty
and opportunity. Boys and girls,
such as they were. strong and noble
and bright, gentle and pure, are
still in Ireland today. The same
causes are about to drive them forth.
VIII you not help to keep them in
their own land? They love ireland
as your fathers and mothers loved
Ireland. 1t breaks their hearts to
leave that land as it broke the hearts
of those boys and girls-your
parents. The tears of the mothers
and fathers to be left behind in
many a lonely cottage are full as
bitter today, their grief as wild, as
the tears and the grief of those your
parents left behind never to see
again. You can not refuse your aid
to end so much sorrow, to preserve
these boys and girls for the land
which needs them, and for the
people they love.
"Will you not aid to bring to them
at home under their own flag the
blessing of the liberty they might
hopeeor. and which you enjoy under
the Stars and Stripes. Demand for
them the right to choose their own
way of life and obedience. Immediate
action is necessary. You must
organize to be effective. Begin at
once in your own community. Teach
your fellow citizens the justice of
Ireland's cause. 1t is the cause of
world liberty and true democracy"
CONGRATULATIONS.