The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-27
SAYS BRITAIN
fContinucd from page d

/ he had been received by the people o,
| Virginia did not surprise him. /
could not be otherwise. he said, wher
| one remembers that Washington and
| Jefferson and Lee and Wilson were
virginians.
He defended himself from the
! Srand OF imposter and declared tina,
he was the choice OF the Irish people,
that he had been proclaimed presi-
dent OF the Irish republic" by the
Irish people even as Washington pro-
claimed your republic
The Irish issue. he said, is a self
evident truth. The Irish. he declared
are denied not only the legitimate pur-
end. in many cases, life itself. En-
ploying the words of Swift, he de-
clared that government without the
consent Of the governed IL slavery.
There can be no just government
save by the right of the governed he
added.
Ireland. de declared, is ready to die
for it's flag. Il come to America, to
the American people" he declared
for no further favor than to ask that
you act justly toward the Irish people
and Judge inpartially between Ireland
and Great Britain You must decide
whether Ireland ia entitled to her free
dom or not; whether, as a nation, she
has the right to self-determination or
not; whether you respect the princi-
pie OF characterization and whether
TO you, 1t means something more than
a meaningless phrase
ireland Is n Nation.
Ireland he declared, Is a nation.
| The distinguished mark of its nation
atty is found in the native Irish
tongue he said, about which the pres
ent generations of Ireland know more
than did their parents and grand
parents. and this despite the fact that
England has tried to crush the spirit
of ireland as nation and to destroy
the characteristics OF the country, in
Guiding the Gaelic tongue.
The history of Ireland, he said
shows that it wants right of self-de-
termination conceded to her.
In his allusion to the election OF
lest December. whereby Ireland wa.
proclaimed a republic. he said that
England did everything in her power
to thwart the viii OF the people. Elec-
ton officials. he charged. were kid
mapped. put aboard British men-of war
bound for England and thrown into
prison
Ireland he said. challenged ENGLAND
to hold a plebiscite in Ireland anc
/ declared her Willingness to abide by
the result.
Are you going to recognize the rule
Of the majority in Ireland?" he asked
after informing his hearers that the
vote In favor Of making Ireland a re-
public more than three to one A
chorus Of Eyes" came from different
parts of the house greeted the CUES
| ton.
| The uprising OF Easter 1915. he de-
clared. was but new faring up of q
| fire that was never quenched, Some
called 1t riot" he said. "a handy
! ard convenient way for England tc
! describe an uprising of the Irish PEG.
! pie. Some said it was only the acts OF
"A mere handful of hotheads, of revolu
/ equipped with arms they would hav'
! England as not representing Ireland.
Arc you going to be deferred from
! coming to our defense because you ar'
! afraid you will offend England" h,
: asked. You offended England II
1776.s
! LOOK TO AMERICA.
| All OF the peoples of Europe, he said
! ltok to America as the fearless leadei
in the fight for liberty and freedom ant
! Justice. We DO not ask that you TAX,
up arms in our cause" he added. al
| though you did bear. arms. ant
/ valiantly, for a cause in the tecen
| world war. And 1t was not for an,
selfish cause. either. You put you
| men. not on territory which you late