The Irish standard., 1919-03-01

blood to the creation, the upbuilding,
the development and the preservation
and defense of our great country.
I'VE urge this claim in the name Of
ireland because Of the unparalleled
struggle for now w centuries that
ireland has carried on for national ex-
istence and liberty; because all ef-
forts to break down and destroy that
existence have failed, and because Of
the extraordinary majority by which
less than two months ago the people
Of Ireland declared, not alone their
dissatisfaction with the government
of their land by England, but also
| their determination to govern them
selves without interference from any
outside influence or power.
Plebiscite Favored.
"We urge this claim in the name of
humanity because we believe that war
| cannot be ended and just and per-
manent peace cannot be brought
about Unless the doctrine of self-deter-
mination be applied to Ireland and the
people of that country be permitted to
decide for themselves the form of gov
ernnhent under which they shall live.
1--WE point out that England has
| tried in every way to coerce or to per-
! To i011 f1,a >E Tr<
4 land to give up their devotion to their
national aspirations and tried them all
in vain. Lloyd George within the last
few months has been compelled to as
sert that Ireland is at present as much
opposed to British rule as in the days
Of Cromwell.
People Declare Dissatisfa ction.
/ "The industries of Ireland have been
destroyed; her trade and commerce
wiped out; her population cut in two;
her leaders deported and held in Eng
lish jails without Indictment or trial;
and yet within the last two months
the people with an unanimity never
!
their utter dissatisfaction with Eng
lish rule and their determination to be
free. England refuses to listen to the
voice of Ireland but we point out that
England likewise refused to listen to
the voice Of the American colonies.
England was compelled less than
| q n 1,o1f To
the independence of the colonies, and
within the last year the efforts of our
country saved England and her allies
from total defeat at the hands of the
Central Powers. The land to which
/ England was thus compelled to do JUS
! tice has just saved England in her
hour of need. Let England now realize
that justice to Ireland which she has
so long denied, with grievous loss to
Ireland, but also with great loss to
! herself, will now remove from her
path the bitterest hostility which she
has to encounter all over the world
and will convince mankind in general
Va SAS o'ANOAASy VI AcI uCCldTdIIOll
when she says that she believes in lib
erty and justice for others as we'll as
| for herself.
Finally, we urge this claim that
peace and order may be brought out
of the chaos with which the whole
world now seems to be threatened. In
this great hour when governments are
! being reformed and when peoples long
oppressed by tyranny are emerging
again into the sunlight of liberty, let
there be sincerity and unselfishness
| on the part of those who are control
ling the peace conference to the end
that the mistakes Of the congress of
Vienna may be avoided and a peace
made. that will be lasting and perma-
nent because it will be just and right.
Upon the shoulders of our presi-
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