The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-07-26

At noon dinner was served in the
De Paul refectory. No speeches were
delivered, and at o'clock Mr.. De Va
lera donned the cap and gown of
student and marched in procession to
the university auditorium, where the
degree of doctor of laws was con-
ferred by the Rev. DR.. McCabe.
Degree Conferred.
In the auditorium crowd Of 800
persons had gathered. Here the dis
tinguished guest was accorded an
other ovation while he stood boyishly
smiling down at the crowd from the
stage.
The ceremonies of comforting the
degree were most impressive and a
[, throng attended.
$4,000 Greet Him.
The De Valera party then headed
for the Cub Ball Park where over
$4,000 persons greeted him. The
Associated and United Press stated
the throng numbered that many.
There were many who claimed 10000
to $4,000 was more nearly correct.
Canadian Hero Kisses Flag.
One Of the great incidents of the
opening of the meeting was the action
of a young Captain of the 45th Ca
madam Infantry, who had just re-
turned from France. He worked his
way to the speakers stand in the CEN
ter of the Ball Park, begged to be
permitted on the stand and explained
| that he wanted to greet De Valera
! and kiss the flag of the Irish Repub-
lic." He was given permission and
reaching De Valera's side he saluted,
grasped his hand and then knelt rever-
emily and kissed the flag of the Irish
Republic. Immediately four American
Blue Jackets and two Infantry officers
scrambled on the stand, took the Ca
madam officer on their shoulders and
carried him, bearing the American and
Irish flags round and round the plat
form. The great throng virtually
went wild" with enthusiasm. This
demonstration lasted fully twenty-five
minutes during which the movie pic
ture men were busy taking snaps Of
the wonderful scene.
De vaIera's Speech.
President De Valera spoke as fol.
lows:
"Ireland's attitude toward the gen.
eral idea of league of nations has
been made abundantly clear, both in
the documents which the Irish govern
ment submitted officially to the peace
conference at Paris, and in the speech
which I made at Boston short time
ago.
Americans, as see by the third
of the resolutions to be submitted to
this meeting, have their own special
American reasons for being opposed
to the covenant. I, as stranger here
and guest, cannot presume to inter-
fere in this matter, which is one to
/, be debated solely by Americans. Ire
lands opposition to the proposed
league of nations may be reduced to
this:
1--WE cannot admit that it is fair or
just to commit the weaker nations
to perpetual servftude to the strong.
! Article x Of the present covenant does
this, for it takes away from the ma
tions still held by the superior i'm
Iperialistic neighbors the means by
which in the past such nations won
their freedom, viz, the sympathetic
assistance of outside nations friendly
to them.
Cites American Help.
France helped America to secure
her freedom; America helped the
Latin races of the American CONT
nents, and recently the Poles, the
Czecho- Slovaks and Jugo-Slavs to
secure theirs.
ireland has amongst the nations
many friends who, understanding the
injustice that has been done her and
is being done her, and recognizing her
right to be Independent of English
power, would, in conceivable circum-
stances, give her material aid, just as
France gave America, and would at
all times give her moral aid.
"The proposed covenant of the
league makes such a system in future
illegal, and 80 deprives Ireland of the
support of these friendly nations.
That is . positive act of injustice to
Ireland, and am certain this great lib
erty-loving nation Of America win
never subscribe to twill never eide
with the bully against the weak.