The Irish standard., 1919-01-11

Which Is Considering Resolution Of
Congressman Gallagher. Assurance
of Amicable Relations Between U.
S. and Britain, on Which Depends
Worlds Peace, Demands Settlement
of Question.
Rev. John F. Fenlon, D. D., president
of Divinity College, Catholic Univer-
sity, Washington D. c., delivered the
following address before the Congress
sional Committee to consider the bill
introduced by Hon. Thomas Gallagher,
that Congress demand self-determina-
ton for Ireland.
Il have been requested by the Irish
Societies of Montana and by men of
Irish blood in that state to speak for
them before this committee on behalf
of Mr.. Gallagher's resolution. These
men are citizens of the United States
and their sons and brothers form
very large proportion of Montana's
quota in our fighting forces. Their
views on the Irish question are shared
by nearly all their fellow citizens. One
evidence of this, familiar to the gentle
men of this committee, Is the resolu.
ton introduced into Congress by the
Montana representative, Miss Rankin,
which is to the same effect as Mr.. Gal
lagher's. Miss Rankin's resolution.
believe, voices the sentiment of all
Montana
Congress Can Act.
"The first point would make is that
Congress may with propriety pass this
resolution. The principle of it is SIM
ply the foundation of just government
in America and, according to our
American ideas of all just government,
namely, that governments derive their
just powers from the consent of the
governed. 1t is principle that no
loyal American can deny with any con-
sistency. That the principles ought to
be applied to Ireland, as distinct
nation capable of self-government, is
a proposition which no American can
fairly controvert on grounds of logic
or facts. Assuming this for the mo-
ment as true, we realize that the only
question which may really be in the
minds of this committee is: Can it
with prOpriety recommend this resOlu-
tion to the House and can the House
of Representatives with propriety pass
it?The only objections, ! suppose, are
that it might be considered matter
of delicacy regarding our associate in
the war, Great Britain, and that it
might embarrass our delegates at the
Peace Congress. 1t is undoubtedly a
matter of delicacy, but when the rights
of nation are at stake, delicacy must
yield to the prime consideration, which
is justice. A false delicacy should not
hinder America from speaking for JUS
tice to Ireland, merely because that
justice must come from our associate
in war. If Prussia had been the mas
ter and oppressor. we should not hest
tate to demand justice for Ireland;
why should we hesitate because it is
England? Are the powers that fought
for justice, and won, expected hence
forth to be less just than those that
fought against it, and lost? Can not
England be expected to do Justice vol
UNFAIRLY, as Germany and Austria will
have to do 1t under force? England
has declared repeatedly that she is
fighting for the rights of small nations.
Let us take her at her word and de-
clare the satisfaction and joy with
which all America will see her recog-
nize Ireland's right to self-determina-
ton. All true Democrats in England,
and they are millions, will approve our
resolution.
America Has Duty to Speak.
Furthermore, gentlemen; millions
OF our citizens feel very strongly that
America has the duty of speaking for
Ireland at the Peace Conference. It
is the cause of Justice to a whole peo-
pie, and who will speak for Ireland If
we do not? Why should the national
aspirations of Ireland alone BE ignored
at the Peace Conference? So prepos-
ferrous and SO unjust and so discrimi-
natory would be the ignoring of Ire
lands cause that it is impossible to
believe that President Wilson will
neglect to speak for it and to fight for
it. The American Congress cannot, in
justice to itself, keep silent It is i'm
possible to be neutral in such a mat
ter. If you are not for the cause of
Ireland, you are against it, for to re-
fuse to act is to acquiesce in con-
tinuance of the injustice to Ireland.
The honor Of O,,roo1voo oud ~ <ho Al