The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31
IRISH SPEAKERS
BEG SENATE TO
DEFEAT LEAGUE
BOurke Cochran Pleads for
Delivery of Erin From
Bondage.
BRITAIN GRIPS WORLD
America Must Not Yield to
Interiors, He Tells Lodge
Committee.
ASKS TREATY REJECTION
Walsh, Dunno, Cohalan and
Archdeacon Murphy Also
Condemn Covenant.
ASKS TREATY REJECTION
Special Despatch 10 TEE SUI.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.-"The Amert-
can constitutional system is the
worlds greatest agency for the estab-
lishment and maintenance OF justice
among men. We are asked to submit
it to the judgment of those whom in
this realm we know to be our inferi-
ors; to abase the lofty and join the
low. We are sneered at because we
would preserve our isolation. Yet emil
nence is always isolation, and we in
vite the world to come and share it
with us. We will not end our isolation
by coming down from this eminence
to accept the leadership of Europe and
be plunged into all the turmoils and
complexities of the Old World.
Save our constitutional system as
the light that in all the future will
continue to guide the footsteps of men
as they climb toward the heights OF
freedom and of justice"
Thus amid uproars Of applause w.
Bourke Cochran closed a stirring ap-
peal to the Senate Committee on For
eign Relations for the defeat of the
League Of Nations and the rejection
Of the treaty with Germany. The
great hearing room in the Senate Of
fee building had been packed all to-
day far beyond its contemplated ca
pacity 10 hear the statements in behalf
of the Irish cause.
All Others Attack League.
Somewhat to the surprise OF the Sem
ators particularly, all of the advocates
OF Irish liberation. devoted themselves
chiefly to an attack on the League OF
Nation covenant and the peace treaty
on the ground that TO defeat these is
the first step toward saving the subject
nations of the world from future bond
age.
Neither in the long Senate debate nor
II. the hearings before the Foreign Re
lations Committee has there been any
such finely dramatic presentation of the
case against the league as was made to-
day. Repeatedly the Senate was begged
as It's first duty to refuse to ratify the
treaty of Versailles and assured that IL
this menace was out of the way the op-
pressed peoples would be able. under the
leadership of American inspiration and
example, to Erid their way out to the
light of the real new day.
Mr.. Cochran, who made the closing
address. was credited later by Senator
Lodge (Mass) with the greatest ora
ton" he had ever heard him deliver, land
have heard him many times"
Daniel F. Cohalan of New York was
director of ceremonies on behalf Of the
spokesmen for Ireland. Other speakers
included Frank +. Walsh of Kansas
City. Edward F. Dunno, former Gov
ernor of Illinois Michael j. Ryan OF
Philadelphia and Archdeacon Murphy Of
Buffalo. the four members OF the Amer
lean Commission on Irish Independence
which went to Paris to seek hearing
for the Irish cause.
Democrats Mostly Absent.
The hearing started at 10 o'clock and
was in almost continuous session until
5. As has been the case a most of the
hearings lately, the committee was rep
resented almost entirely by its Repub-
lican members. At the outset the ques-
ton of a quorum was raised and brought
on a roll call which developed that all Of
the Republicans were in their seats ex-
cept Mr.. McCumber IN. d., the sole
Republican committeeman who has been
supporting the Administration, while on
the Democratic side only Senators
Swanson (Va.) and Pittman (Nev.)
were present
In opening the hearing Justice Cohslan
said in part:
"w1 believe that It is intolerable to
elf-respecting Americans to ask us to
enter into any agreement under which
any Power, no matter how friendly II
may seem to be, shall have six votes to
our one. or under which the power to
declare war or to control either directly
or indirectly our armies and navies shall
be placed in the hands of a group of for
eigners or men outside OF the regularly
authorities of our own ma
ton.
I'VE are opposed to the League OF
Nations because II practically turns over
to Great Britain the control OF the seas
and puts us in position where our
right TO trade and commerce Is sub
ject to interference by Great Britain.
1t is urged that this is no menace to
us because we are now making a per-
manent peace. and again we are advised
by history that such thing in the past
has proved to be impossible, and we
find that no country in the past which
has been the economic rival OF England
has long continued to flourish or to
grow In power, 1t may be only a series
of condolences. as the friends of Eng
land insist, but the fact remains that
since the days of Henry VIII. every
country that has become a strong com
petitor with England in the markets of
the world has had formed against IL a
combination of Powers which has re-
suited in its overthrow or Its economic
ruin.
Demands Equality for All.
1--WE protest against any plan which
would leave any country in control OF
the seas, and we urge that the war
which we entered to end autocracy will