The Irish standard., 1919-05-10
SahrdayM Max 1O
Friends OF Irish Freedom

OF England who dared to pronounce
himself king of Ireland. We know
what he did during his kingship. We
know what some of his followers did,
what they did for the uplift, culture
and everything else for that poor,
stricken country. rs it any wonder at
this time as we go over the history
of that particular country; is there
any reason in the world why we should
not ask ourselves in the name of God
how did they exist? You and l know
nothing of these hardships endured
by them. Turn back to the Penal
Laws.
Is it any wonder we talk of this
history of Ireland, and in face of that
little outline men of our country will
ask why do we discuss this Irish
Question? Why bring this question
up in this country? Why should 1t
be talked of? You men and women
who have sent your boys out, and
gladly did they go. and gladly did you
embrace them, and send them forth
with your grand American patriotism
aud sent them of. What interest did
you have in Europe? I wonder IL we
ever had any in it. You sent them
forth in order that nations, great and
small, might be free and independent.
That is the only reason we sent mil.
lions of men across the ocean, and
they ask us why we should discuss
this question.
Why was this war fought? 1t was
fought that small nations might be
free Of the strong and might throw
off the yoke of the alien.
II the Irish question is not settled
there will be no harmony in the world.
1t can't be, and there won't be, and
then they ask us why discuss this
question of Ireland and the history of
Ireland with its nationhood, with it's
culture. ask you-what right has
any Englishman to put foot on Irish
soil, and what right has any English
man to say that he is ruler of Ireland ?
We will have no desire to discuss it,
If they will take hands off, and let
us live our life as the Almighty or.
dajned we should, and as the Consti.
tuition of America reads that all men
are born free and independent. Are
ethics simply so camouflaged, and are
we so blind? We have gotten to the
point where it is necessary to answer
these questions these great orators
are putting to you.
Self-determination means they have
right to possess unshackled the kind
and form of government that her peo-
pie desire.
In April, 1917, we were glad when
America finally made up it's mind to
go into this war, and when our grand
president went before the Congress
and when he said with all the might
that an American president can talk
I'VE are glad to fight for the right of
nations, great and small" and later
on In February, 1918, he again said
the cause Of this war is to be found
in the utter disregard of the rights
Of small nations who did not possess
the power to choose their own des-
tiny. Here are facts coming from our
president, and then for what reason
or what right have they to say that
the question of Ireland is indeed a
domestic question, and must be
handled by the power of mighty Eng
land? Is there logic? Is there sense,
or even the slightest knowledge of
history? We may say the question Of
Armenia is domestic question, Po-
land is domestic question of Ger
many, etc. Before England was ma
ton, Ireland was nation, stood out
before the world as nation, and ever
since she was denied her right, and
after the time of Henry End and Henry
8th, and after they took away, at
least they thought they did, the right
of nationhood from her, never-Ire
land has never during the 700 years
Of her struggle, never yet been con,
quered in the real sense of the word
She has been down-trodden, but never
conquered.
Friends, a nation has a group of
people of common original traditions
and learnings. Put Ireland to the
test. She stands the test even better
than England. Ireland is separate
people, one race, one religion, one
common cause. We hear of England
we hear of the Anglo-Saxon. Who
are they? hope they are race.
know enough about them to know that
they are. They have some claim to
nationhood, but not in real claim to
the reality Of what a nation ought to
mean.
They slap you in the face and tell
II II >f~~