The Irish standard., 1919-05-24

been one OF international spoilation,
and wars of conquest on some pretext
or another. Each nation sought to ex-
tend its territory; to increase its
strength and wealth and influence and
glory by subduing other nations, by
holding them in subjection, by the an
nexing of their territories, and by
tyrannizing over their people. These
empires date back to the time of the
Babylonians and Egyptians, all hav-
ing been built up in this manner. Now
the nations Of the world are solemnly
pledging themselves and they are ac-
tually beginning to carry out this
pledge: No nation or race shall any
longer be held in subjection by any
other nation or race. There shall be
no conquests of any nations over terri
tories any more, but on the contrary
all former iniquities of that sort shall
be atoned for; that there shall be re-
lease and restoration from all former
conquests and annexations. Subject
nations of the past, be they Poles,
Czecho or Jugo Slavs, Hindoos, Danes,
Arabians, Syrians or Jews, they are
all to receive back their land-their
liberty and their law.
"And, my friends it is to the great
glory of these United States of Amer
lea that this new gospel has come
forth from these shores, and that our
president has been it's valiant, it's I'm.
tiring, it's unwavering and unyielding
apostle.
/ am not so optimistic as to believe
that there will be no more wars. There
| will be differences, but believe there
will no longer be conquest and plum
der; that the new conscience of the
| world will not permit, at least not
after the present peace settlement.
"In the present peace settlement
you will notice that nothing is being
taken away even from our conquered
enemies which rightfully belongs to
them. OF course, people must have
lands to live in, but neither Germany
or Austria, nor even Turkey are being
robbed of their rightful and legitimate
possessions. Only the fruits of their
former robberies are being taken away
from them, and restored to the form
er owners who are still living and
claiming their possessions.
Like the Jewish JubiIees of Old.
Oh! it is a wonderful year and the
beginning of a wonderful era, because
we are now living in an age where
all the iniquities of the past and In
justices are as much as possible, being
wiped out or righted. 1t reminds me
very much of the great and noble
Mosaic institution known in the bible
as the year of Jubilee, in which it
prophecies that every fifty years op-
pressed peoples will be restored to
their liberty, and my friends if this is
the year of Jubilee for subject ma
tions of the world, shall it not also
be year Of Jubilee for the Irish ma
tfon? II amends are to be made to all
the nations of the world, and all the
subject nations of the world for past
wrongs and past injustices, shall not
amends be made to Ireland in the
same manner? If Poland is to be re-
stored to the Poles, Arabia to the
Arabs, shall not Ireland be restored
to the Irish people?
Irish and Jewish Persecution.
The Irish nation, SO history tells us.
has suffered more, because she has
suffered longer than any other subject
nation, except the Jews. Ireland has
suffered from her constant conflicts
and struggles with the nation that has
ruled her, but Ireland has never
acquiesced in her subjection. From
the very first attempts of Henry the
II. to conquer her in the middle of the
twelfth century. through all the sue.
cessive acts by which England made
Ireland a part of Great Britain the
Irish nation has always kept up Its
struggle for independence. Ireland
agitated, starved and bleeding from
the loss of hundreds and hundreds of
her sons, but after each. defeat this
struggle was renewed. Another nation
less daring, less valorous. less liberty
loving, less indomitable, would have
long since given up fits national ghost
and would have made terms with the
conauerer, or have settled with them