Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-07-19
vOTEFOR
JO|1nA. Goodman
OF ELKToN, TODD COUNTY
THE ONLY CANDIDATE FROM
THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT
FOR DEMOCRATIC
NOMINATION FOR
Clerk Court Of Appeals
FOR DEMO CRATIC
NOMINATION FOR
PRIMARY ELECTION
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2. 1919

self-determination of any people
whose traditions, aspirations and
power to govern themselves justify
their demand for separate national
existence.
Never since the days of the
Crusades mas the world beheld such
suplime spectacle as when millions
of the best in our land crossed the
ocean, endured unspeakable hard
ships and shed their blood in order
to secure self-determination for
England, France, Italy, Belgium and
the other allied nations. They APP
pealed to ua with their backs to
the WALL" as Sir Douglas Haig ex-
pressed it, they called to us for aid.
We gave generously and cheerfully
that they might exercise their Cod
given rights of self-determination
We asked for nothing in return ex-
cept that the principle of the Declar-
alton of independence be acknow-
lodged by them, that governments
derive "tneir just powers from the
consent of the governed" We have
saved England, France. Italy and
other allied nations. But there is
a nation whose civilization is as old
as any of these, there is a nation
which preserved the civilization of
Europe wnen England, France and
Italy were under the thrall of bar
barrie conque rors, there is a nation
which has been prosecuted, accord
ing to the English statesman, John
Mosly. as no other nation in the
Christian era has been prosecuted,
fo haf
knowledged the right of it's con-
queror to govern it, and when that
nation, Ireland. begs for the right
of self-determination at the council
of nations, she is told there that
is an internal affair of Great Britain
What, if France had so replied to
us when we asked aid after our
Declaration of the right of self-de-
termination? Has our Declaration
of independence and the principles
it proclaims become but scrap of
paper? Have our treasures been
poured out and our blood been shed
for no purpose but TO make us the
laughing-stock of future genera
tons?
II has been said that we have no
more right to demand self-determ-
ludllOH lOl lltldllu lHdH EnEldHu ndo
to ask us to give independence to
the Filippinos. 1 am sorry that
such a statement can be attributed
to an American. We're the Flip
pinos ever an Independent nation
as Ireland was? Did the Filippinos
save the civilization of Europe as
Ireland did, Have we prosecuted
the Filippinos as England has perse-
4 h. ~
Burkes, the Tom Moores, the Wei
lingtons. .he Kelly-Kennys and the
other statesmen, poets and generals
that the Philippines have contributed
to the worlds honor ROLL Moreover,
have not the Filippinos their own
legislature and are we not sincerely
ready to give them their indepen-
dence the moment they shall be able
to maintain it, Where then Is the |
parity? Shame that such an utter
ance ever issued from the mouth |
of an American! Does not all the |
world know that the reason-the |
only reason-why Ireland has not |
self-determination is because Eng |
land has the might to enforce her !
thraldom? Did we not cross the At
lantic with our army and navy to |
prove that right and not might shall |
govern the world, Have all our
efforts resulted in enabling one of
the nations whom we freed TO
tighten still moro her bonds OF
thraldom over a smaller nation
a nation to whom England has
promised self-determination, ma
ton whose sons in every land fought
and bled TO save England from
thraldom to Germany!
We are now face to face with one
of the critical problems of our
history. We are asked by the terms
of the league of nations to forego
some of our rights of independence
for the purpose of preserving the
worlds peace. If we do so, we shall
act against, the advice of Washing
ton, jefferson, Monroe and Madison,
who repeatedly warned us against
forming alliances with the nations
abroad. I do not hesitate to say
that II we were sure that by this
league of nations the worlds peace
would be secured, we should be
Justified in ignoring the advice of
he fathers of our country. ] dare
say that IL they could speak TO US
.oday and z they saw. IN this league
IF nations a perpetual guarantee OF
peace, they would urge us TO for
ret what they had said. But will
his league OF nations guarantee the
worlds peace? That is the real
question the people of the country
must answer through their repre-
entatives at Washington. While c
an visualize the possibilities that a
nay result from the fact that seven
cen of the twenty-one nations OF
his league are predominantly Cath p
lie nations. ask myself what Is