The Irish standard., 1919-01-11

dereStlmate the influence of American
opinion. We are not sanguine of con-
verting Belfour Bonar Law and Car
son, but the influence of American
opinion, proclaimed by the American
Congress will unquestionably strength
en- democratic opinion in Great Britain.
A declaration like this, breathing
Americas sincerity, courage and love
of justice, will encourage all liberty
loving and fair-minded Englishmen,
and their number is legion.
Justice Of Ireland's Cause Evident.
II have been taking for granted,
gentlemen, that the justice of Ireland's
cause is evident. What proof can it
need for any mind imbued with Amer
lean principles? Ireland is a distinct
nation, distinct in race, history, tradi-
ton, mental gifts, temperament, geo.
graphical position-in everything that
goes to make nation. She demands.
with every nation that has the spirit
of free men, the right to be herself and
to govern herself and shape her own
destinies. The English experiment
lasted for centuries and has been a
tragic failure and shame 1t is folly
to continue the experiment longer and
. crime as we'll. 1t is Ireland's turn
now. But let not America make the
same mistake which even some of the
best Englishmen have made. of think
ing that economic prosperity will sat.
isfy Irish people. Ireland demands
now the right to live her own life apart
from England and to develop her own
soul. whether or not some tie still
binds her to the British empire We
are ourselves partly responsible for
to the whole world, and famed the
flame of Irish Sim Fein. President
Wilson's principles. so luminously and
forcibly expounded. are Sim Fem, pure
and unauthorized. Ireland believes in
the sincerity of President Wilson and
of America. To fail her would be trea-
son to the cause Of justice and liberty.
"The only objection to Treland's right
that is worth moments thought is
the Ulster difficulty. Two things 7
wish to say: First, that small sec
tion of Ireland cannot be allowed for
ever to thwart the will of the great
majority of Irishmen. No country can
be governed on the principle of re-
quiring unanimity. When Lloyd George
declares Ulster will never be coerced
he abandons the principle of majority
rule and deliberately encourages Ul-
ster, or rather one part Of Ulster, in
her recalcitrant attitude. The recall
citrant part of Ulster will yield and
make the best of it when 1t knows it
has to.
"The other word I would say in re-
gard to Ulster concerns the proposal
|of some Ulstermen to allow secession
of portion Of Ulster. It is enough to
quote the chairman of the Irish con-
vention, Sir Horace Plunkett, who says
the time has gone by when any other
section of the Irish people would ac-
cept the partition of their country
even as a temporary expedient.' Ire
land will not abandon her ideal of one
nation, free and undivided, in which all
Irishmen; without distinction of creed
eend on footing of equality, unite in
the service OF Ireland.
No Fear Of Religious Intolerance.
"The fear of religious intolerance
from a dominant Catholic majority is
hardly more thar spectre conjured up
by politicians. 1t is believed in only
by the ignorant and the fanatical.
Many of Ireland's best loved leaders
have been Professionals and Irish Cath
Olics and could never be so base as to
inflict any injustice upon the brethren
of these men. If you will inquire into
the matter, you will discover that no
people knows better how to discrimi.
nate between religion and politics than
the Catholic people of Ireland.