The Irish standard., 1919-05-24

are in deadly grapple, and the peoples
of the world are being done to death
between them.
There can be but one issue. The
settlement must be final. There can
be no compromise. No half way de-
cision would be tolerable These are
the things for which the associated
peoples of the world are fighting and
which must be conceded them before
there can be peace.
THE destruction of every arbitrary
power anywhere that can separately,
secretly and of its own single choice
disturb the peace of the world; or if
it cannot be presently destroyed, at
least it's reduction to virtual impo-
tence.
"The settlement of every question,
whether Of territory, of sovereignty,
of economic arrangement, or of politi-
cal relationship, upon the basis of the
free acceptance of the settlement by
the people Immediately concerned, and
not on the basis of the material inter-
est or advantage of any .other nation
or people which may desire a different
settlement for the sale of it's own ex-
terror influence of mastery.
"The consent of all nations to be gov
erned in their conduct toward each
other by the same principles of honor
and of respect for the common law of
civilized society that govern the indi
vidual citizens of all modern states in
their relations with one another; to
the end that all promises and cove
nants may be sacredly observed, no
private plots or conspiracies hatched,
no selfish injuries wrought with i'm
punity, and mutual trust established
upon the handsome foundation of a
mutual respect for right"
Are We Reapins the Fruits of Victory?
Yet surely some sort of victory has
been won! Germany has laid down her
arms! Very true. But what has be-
come of the arms that Germany was
forced to lay down? Is militarism ban
ished from the earth? Has imperial
domination of one nation over unwill-
ing subject peoples been abolished? Is
the peace that is arranged one that
recognizes and accepts the principle
that governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the gov
erned? In other words: is IRELAND
FREE? is INDIA FREE? is EGYPT
FREE? These are the questions that
vitally concern millions of Americans.
Twenty millions of our people of Irish
blood are demanding an answer to this
question that shall not be dictated
from England.
England agreed to the American
peace terms when she accepted our
war aims. She sent one of the proud
est of her statesmen, Arthur Balfour,
and he knowing full we'll the signifi-
canoe Of the doctrine of self-determ-
ination for all nations, at time when
England was fighting with her back
against the wall,' accepted the doc
trine as did Lloyd George publicly and
unequivocally. Is England now to be
allowed to repudiate this doctrine
when, thanks to American interven-
ton, she finds herself victor nation
instead of crushed and defeated one?
And if England, and all who sit at the
peace table desire to repudiate it, will
we Americans permit them to do so?
In justice to the dead we cannot, and
in justice to the living we will not.
imperialism ls Dead.
Imperialism whether it be German
or otherwise received its death blow
at the hands Of the associated people
of the earth. No man, no group of
men, no nation or group of nations
may revive this monster for their own
tanning. We took up arms once to
make the world safe for democracy.
These arms, are still at hand. 1t was
; a large contract that Mr.. Wilson as.
sumed for the American people, but
, they ratified his assumption, for he
, himself said only very recently in
: Paris before the French academy OF
, moral and political sciences: Where
ever we see the cause of liberty threat
ened, we are ready to cast our lot with
those whose liberty is threatened" Az
Arthur Brisbane asks: What is liber
, ty? Does it depend on geography, col
| or, race, religion, or the power of the
oppressor or his friendly attitude to
us?"
again we ask HAS AMERICA
LOST THE WAR? The answer is
? plain. We have lost it unless the
things for which we fought have beer
, accomplished. Have they?
, One-fourth of our men we are told
, by good authority enlisted to free the
) land of our forefathers and mothers
Why did we think 40? They tell us Il