The Irish standard., 1919-02-15

!
take an active part in it's deliberations its voice
and influence cannot possibly be ignored sighted
either IN America or in Europe Both OF the Ameri
can Cardinals-Cardinal Gibbons, of Baltimore, and
Cardinal O'Connell, of Boston, are to make ad
dresses. Cardinal Gibbons will himself, it is an
nounced offer the principal resolution while Arch
bishop Dougherty, of Philadelphia, will make the
opening prayer. Thus the very highest authorities
OF the Catholic church in America are giving the
hearty Endorsement to the detectives of the great
demonstration, which it is predicted will vastly
surpass in numbers and Importance any previous
lassemblage of the kind The participation of these
great preates in the proceedings is of itself con-
elusive evidence of the justice and nobility of the
cause which it is sought to advance to final and
talr settlement; for the sympathy and cooperation
of men of this type is not given to any movement of
this nature without thorough sitting and analysis
|of its inherent merits.
The call of the Motherland for help and counsel
was never more pressing than at this embarrassing
crisis in her history. She is surrounded by enemies
who seek to throttle her appeals to the world and
thwart every effort she is making to place her in
the sunlight of democracy and liberty. We are, of
course, not surprised to see this bitter opposition
to her displayed by the British leaders and many of
the British newspapers but it is sad to see so many
OF the great public newspapers and periodicals of
America 'hog-ted" in their indifference or hostility
to her. forgetful of and ungratef, for the tremen-
dous service she has rendered to America at every
crisis in our history.
1t is not our purpose in this article to enunerate
the numerous instances in which Ireland and the
Irish race have contributed their services to the
cause OF the Republic. But it seems opportune at
this particular time to recall the fact that when
the founders OF our government were engaged in
their struggle for freedom they formulated an "Ad-
dress OF the American Congress to the Irish Peo-
pie lh's was IN l775, immediately after the clashes
TAT Concord and Bunker Hill, when the fate of the
colonies was trembling in the balance This ad-
dress was made to the Irish Parliament and con-
tanned these passages
Your Parliament had done us no wrong. You
have been friendly to the rights of mankind and we
acknowledge with pleasure and gratitude that the
irish Nation has produced patriots who have highly
distinguished themselves in the cause of humanity
and America. On the other hand, we are not ignor-
ant that the abors and manufactures of Ireland like
those OF the silkworm of little moment to her
self, but served only to give luxury to those who
neither toll nor spin.
Accept our most grateful Acknowledgements for
the friendly disposition you have already shown
your grievances. We sympathize with you in your
distress, and are pleased to find that the design of
subJugat1ng us has persuaded the English govern
ment to dispense to Ireland some vagrant rays of
ministerial N sunshine The tender mercies of the
British government have long been cruel toward
you. God grant that the iniquitous schemes of ex-
t1rpatlng liberty may soon be deeated' -
As to the riendliness i'll which the Irish people
received the address have the testimony of
Benz amin Franklin who after visiting Dublin wrote
Il found them disposed to be friends of America.
IN which l endeavored to confirm them, with the
expectation that our growing weight might be
thrown into their scale. There are MANY brave
spirits among them"
One OF the great material fruits of the Irish friend
i1ness to the Americans the recruiting of 5000
troops, who under Count Arthur Dillon sailed from
Brest to help in the rescue of America from the
domination of England. To this instance of SUBJ
stantial and effective riendliness could be added
hundreds of others in attestation of the proof of
Irish sympathy and cooperation with the struggling
colonies.
In the course of history it has now become Ire
lands time and opportunity to appeal in turn to
America for the same help and cooperation which
she has freely extended to us at all times in the
critical periods of our national life
When our General Pershing standing at the tomb
of Lafayette in grateful acknowledgment of the aid
extended to by France in the Revolutionary war
proudly declared, Lafayette. we are herep' the
American heart was thrilled with the thought that
we were at last enabled to repay ancient debt of
and service. Let us now discharge our
equally binding obligation to Ireland. Let us make
good the promise of Our Franklin that "our weight
might be thrown into their SCALE"
The total cost of the world is estimated to be
S45OOOOOOOOOO. The direct cost was $2OOOOO-
100000 and the indirect $25OOOOOOO,OOO. And yet
some OF our editors and statesmen are carping and
haggllng about the expense of President Wilson's
trip to Europe in the interest of the future perma-
nent peace of the world Billions for cure but not
dollar for prevention would seem to be the policy
of these penny wise and pound foolish gentry of
fault-6nders