The Washington times., 1919-11-11
'PROUDOF MY
IRISH BLOOD
SAYS WALSH

When Senator David 7. Walsh, of
Massachusetts, stood in the Senate
yesterday and proudly proclaimed him
self IAN offspring from people of a
subject race" he furnished Senator
John Sharp williams of Mississippi
with a vehicle for another character
istic attack upon the Irish people and
the cause of Irish independence.
Senator williams not only assailed
the Irish race but employed such
language in critising the Massachu-
setts Senator that Senator Cummins,
who was presiding, was compelled to
call him to order.
The incident which stirred the Sem
ate, closed with an eloquent reply by
senator Walsh in which he announced
he was proud of the fact that he was
the son of ''an immigrant mother
and father" and defended his Ameri-
canism against all the insinuations
Senator Williams had directed against
him.
walxh Tells OF Threats.
Senator Walsh spoke first to de-
fend his course in voting against cor-
tain provisions of the peace treaty
and his support of the committee res
ervstions, which are designed to
Americanize that document. He re-
vealed to the Senate for the. first time
that because he has adopted this
course he has been threatened with
political reprisals. chief among which
is the threat from Administration
sources that he will be deprived OF
all patronage in his StatA On this
point the Senator said:
1T was not easy for me to dis
preached this question of a League
OF Nations with great sympathy. 1
am a believer in a League of Ma
tions. 1 expect to vote for cove
nsnt for a league and 1 have never
taken a contrary position from the
beginning OF this discussion. / had
every reason to look with sympa-
thetic attitude. entertain the high
est regard for the man who repre-
sented our republic at the peace con-
ference.
Prepared for Abuse.
"I have supported him in every POI
litical campaign. l have been in SYM
pathy with his views and opinions.
have paid tribute to him again and
again, and 1 now declare 1 think he
is the greatest political leader, with
the most progressive and forward
booking thought and program upon
public questions of any leader who
has been produced in America in my
lifetime.
II well know. too, what has hap
pened: that il / took an attitude con-
trary to the opinion of the Admins
tration / would receive in due time
my punishment, and I know that al
ready plans are being prepared to
take from me every particle of po-
litical patronage in tn common
wealth of Massachusetts,. 1 am pre-
pared for that sacrifice.
81 am prepared for abuse and villi-
hcation.
Feels He Is Justified.
But know now, more than ever.
that ! was right when l have not
heard one Senator on this floor justify
the Shantung provisions of this COW
enant, when / have not heard one Sem
ator on this side of the chamber, if 1
recall correctly, make a speech in JUS
tifcation of the inequalities in this
treaty, which gives six representa-
tives to the British Empire and one
to the United States-I say, when
now know that, / feel that have
been justified in taking the position
which 1 intend to take"
Senator Williams based his attack
on Senator Walsh and the Irish race
upon the phrase that Senator Walsh
was the offspring of a subject peo-
pie" He asserted the Senator
should stand here as an American
citizen, regardless Of all questions
OF love or hatred in Europe"
Williams Derides Irish.
The Mississippi Senator derided the
Irish people for their attitude during
the war, and accused them of being
in sympathy with Germany.
After the bitter attack. Senator
Walsh arose to reply. He said:
II stand here as the son of an Irish
immigrant mother and father. Is
that an American? Have we not
heard repeatedly from the lips of the
Senator assurance of the ancestry he
came from, and have we not heard
him boast of it.?
Dare an American come to the
Senate and raise his voice in protest
against America changing its policy
toward subject races?
Speaks for No European Race.
Il speak for no European race.
The Irish and English question has
no business in this chamber, but the
relation of the American Government
TO that question has some business
here, and when these people have be-
lieved-mistakenly. if you please
that this covenant of the league of
nations meant the United States iojn-
ing their OppressOr. in Gods name
what is there in American institutions
that prevents them the right of peti-
tion, the right of protest?
The theory seems to be. il you are
of Irish ancestry, accept this cove