The Irish standard., 1919-03-01
FIVE THOUSAND DELEGATES
AT IRISH RACE CONVENTION

, be acknowledged as giving one people
the right to rule another, England
has forfeited that right by centuries
Of continuous misgovernment and in
justice, which are practiced by the
English Government today as relent.
lessly as at any time in the past and
in utter disregard of the opinions,
wishes and protests of the Irish peo-
pie.
Condition a Menace.
Fourth. The condition of Ireland,
which is the direct result of the DELHI
crate action of the English Govern
ment, is an international scandal and
a constant menace to the worlds
peace. Three times during the last
300 years her soil has been invaded
by foreign armies to aid her people
to overthrow English rule. So long as
England holds Ireland by military
force and denies her right to govern
herself, the Irish people will continue
to assert their rights by every means
in their power. In 1916 they rose in
rebellion, and on January 21, 1919,
their elected representatives, support
ed by the overwhelming majority OF
the people, met in the national capi-
tai, issued a declaration of independ-
ence and proclaimed an Irish republic
This action was followed by an ap-
peal for recognition to the free peo-
pies of the world. They elected three
delegates to plead their case at the
Peace Conference, two of whom, with
thirty-nine other elected representa-
tives of the people, are held in Eng
lish prisons without trial and with no
charge formulated against them.
Fifth. A state of war therefore ex-
lists between England and Ireland
which, in the interests of the peace
of the world, the Peace Conference
cannot ignore, and President Wilson's
great task of establishing permanent
peace will not be completed until the
Irish question is settled on the prin-
ciple of selfdetermination, to which
he has unequivocally committed him
self and the United States.
We, therefore, in the name of the
many millions of American citizens of
Irish birth or lineage who have con-
tributed their full share to the win
ming OF the war and with the approval
and sympathy of the overwhelming
majority Of the American people, now
demand that President Wilson place
before the Peace Conference and sup
port with all his powerful influence
1reland's right of self.determinatio
and secure for the elected delegates
from her constituent assembly of the
Peace Conference the same status
and recognition which have been &C.
corded to those of other small nations.
Washington's Words True.
We remind our fellow Americans of
the farewell address to the American
people of George Washington, and par
ticularly that portion thereof embody.
ing his advice to avoid all entagling al.
liances with European powers. These
words are as true today as when he
first uttered them.
We demand, therefore, If any league
of nations be made, that all features of
it which may infringe on the tradition
al American policy, including the Mon
roe Doctrine, shall be eliminated, and
that in any such league the right of
self-determination of all peoples, and
the American doctrine of freedom of
the seas, so often and earnestly ad-
vocated by President Wilson, shall not
be overlooked, forgotten or abridged.
That as an earnest of our devotion
to the principle this day enunciated
and to further the attainment, we
pledge to raising within six months of
the sum of $1,OOO,O0O Zone million
dollars) and that subscription list
be forthwith established and the
pledges of cities, towns and individ-
uals be now established.
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