The Catholic bulletin., 1919-10-25
WHAT DOES DE VALERA
WANT?


Valera want in this country? Last
Sunday the Irish leader himself
answered this query, fully and
fairly. He did not expect, as he
himself said, to convince all
minds: he aimed at enlightening
only those who were fair and un-
prejudiced enough to view his case
with unblurred vision.
A man who is predisposed to
any malady cannot be cured by
ordinary means. He requires
extraordinary treatment. On the
other hand, a man who is fair and
just at heart is ever ready to lis
ten to any clear presentation of a
problem, and then to form his
judgment on facts and arguments
without fear or prejudice. A per-
son honestly seeking the truth
will make an honest endeavor to
find that truth wherever it may
be-: a dishonest person in any
walk of life will accept only what
his dishonesty or prejudice die
tates.
Now Eamon De Valera comes to
this country simply to ask us
point blank whether we were sim
cere when our government, to-
gether with Great Britain, an
nounced to the world that we
were at war to protect the liberty
of the little peoples. Our ancest-
ors proclaimed to an astonished
and dazed world that the only
basis Of sound and just govern
ment is the consent of the gov
erned. In that day such a doctrine
was looked upon as revolutionary
by the great powers of earth. And
still by force of insurrection from
within and French help from with
out we proved to the entire world that
we were right. The evidence of
this is apparent from the simple
historical fact that since that day
every nation on earth has sought
to emulate us. The last vestige
of arrogant empires has been
wiped away: the few countries
that still retain royalty as an
antique ornament have long since
adopted a constitutional form of
government, based upon the con-
sent of the governed. Some ma
tions, like old fashioned people,
cling to their love of antiques
hence such ornaments as royalty
on the one hand, and wax flowers
in glass cases, on the other.
| The principle laid down by our
forefathers is as true today as it
was in '76. It is as true with re-
gard to Cuba and the Philippines
as it is as regards Poland, .Czecho,
Slovakia, or any Of the other re,
Gently redeemed nationalitics
The only question that legitimate.
ly can be raised is this: Is the
nation in question intrinsically
able to maintain a stable form OF
| government under the consent OF
the governed.
| Mr.. De Valera has clearly and
convincingly shown that his coun.
try is fully equipped, ready and
anxious to prove to the world that
it can govern itself with justice
to its own people and friendship
towards others if only given the
chance. He asks us simply te
grant the recognition Benjamin
Franklin begged the French gov
ernment to grant the young Amer
lean colonies. Only this anc
nothing more.
Nations frequently, like individ
uals, are guided by selfish ambi
ton. Some men hold on eternally
to whatever they possibly cal
grasp, little needing justice Or tn,
rights of others. SO it is that il
the past little peoples have hat
no chance for the exercise Of lib
erty or the rights that should be
: long to every nation.
When America announced it
new doctrine in '76 the worlt
scarcely believed it's ears. Toda.
every thinking man can see tn
end of kings and royalty: the en-,
is not far off, for in every lane
the sentiment is general that CIV
the people ordain.'
De Valera called attention t
the fact that his people never ha'
yielded to the oppressor; the,
never had been absorbed by til
nation that had unjustly seize,
them; they never would yield ur
til given their share of indepeno
ence that is the heritage of ever
l people. Belgium lay under tn
) conqueror's heel for four years
) Poland agonized with Bohemia fo
! many decades; Ireland was j
travail for centuries. The ease
l are parallel, with the cause. 9
justice for Ireland still stronge
l on account of its long servitud,
5 Great Britain and the other pow
: ers declared that Belgium, Polan
4 L L T.,