Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-27
ASSEMBLY HEARS
De VALERA'S PLEA
Distinguished Irish Visitor Given
Opportunity to Tell His
Story at Capitol.
SPEAKS AT CITY AUDITORIUM
Head of Sim Fein Movement
Receives Cordial Greeting From
Friends of Erin.
SPEAKS AT CITY AUDITORIUM

Eamonn dc Valera. foremost exponent
of republican Ireland. pleaded his
cause yesterday before the Oldest rep
resentativc lawmakinG BODY in the
New World
Just a few yards in from, Of the
angular son OF Erin stood the exaci
image OF George Washington, father
OF the country before which Ireland
lays her claims and the greatest leader
minat!on.
The building in which the Irish
Jefferson, whose Declaration of Inde
pendence was the, underlying thought
upon which De Valera built mis- address
As he same in the hall the figure
OF Patrick Henry. whose fiery eIoquence
IN u little church mile 10 the eas,
arms for freedom, looked down on him
from pedestal set below the caues.
trian statue Of Washington.
Virginia Assembly Listens.
In silence the Virginia Assembly
listened while the tall representative
Sf %a ire!trd s!ln, t9ld Ella i that his country
which Washington fought. Jefferson
wrote and Henry made his impa ssione d
plea. Neither By word nor token did
his argument. lie told his story. ii
Was heard aand he went away.
Inc distinguished visitor laid a
lie was ushered in BY Delegate John
": Cherry. of Norfolk. while the entire
him Mr.. Cherry presented him. His
address lasted about twenty minutes.
r Three Thousand Henr Plea.
de Valera, distinEIished visitor . to to
Richmond and acclaimed president OF
moral and spiritual support Of America
OF the Irish cause for freedom and in
ddepHemddence: dc From the time that Mr.
cIuded his address the audience was
IN almost continuous applause.
Governor M ne Eaiera vas Presented by
who would speak on A subject dear 70
his heart, Mr.. Valera. OF Ireland
Goyernor Go Davis said that when he
most distinguished men of the Irish
race 1t was JOY for him to pay a
tribute 10 the loyal Irish people. where
ever they may be found, BY accent
ing the invitation
Mr. dc Valera opened his address by
rsetsrring 10 the cordial reception that
had oeen accorded him during tho day
by the Mayor. the Governor and the
people of Richmond
As.niIx EnElnnd'x CInim.
England had no legal or moral right
in Ireland. he declared. aud was u,urp-
ing ireland against the will of the
people as shown by popular vote OF
The cause Of Ireland today is the
same AS tho cause the coionists OF
America had during the DAYS OF the
kcvolut!onary War" he said the
right OF sclf-determination."
He po!nted TO the preamble tn the
Constitution OF the United States drawn
UP by Thomas Jefferson and adopted
ny ny the people of America and showed
that Ireland shall not have the in.
aliena bile righ" 10 personal liberty
and the pursuit of happiness. No,
only We're these things now denied
was placed in jeopardy
Tells of KidnnpinE.
His story OF how his organizers. In
cluding himself were kidnapped and
to gland and tried and condemned
TO death. and the struggle that was
going on in Ireland for democratic
rule of the ma iority brought out tne
sympathetic applause of the entire au-
dicncc.
Mr.. de Valera called upon the Ame,I-
can people 10 lend their sentiment To
the cause stating that ono OF the chief
soil was because America had never
been deferred in any righteous cause
which she championed"
Governor Davis and Mayor Ainsl!e
sat side by side on the platform to-
gether with many friends Of Irish
Freedom. Confederate Veterans and
others. The Governor smiled when the
audience applauded the words Of the
Is Guest mt Luncheon.
cordiat ana enthusiastic greeting
was extended Mr.. de Valera Yesterday
AT luncheon in his honor at the
Jefferson Hotel
Senator Robert T.. Lecdy. acting
toastmastcr, presented the distinguish
ed visitor TO those at the luncheon
after. expressions OF welcome to Rich
mond and the state of Virginia had
been voiced by Mayor George Aims
lie. The Mayor greeted Mr.. de Valera
as the guest Of the Friends Of Irish
Freedom and not as the president of
Ireland.
His whole frame throbbing with the
aspiration OF freedom and independ- :
ence OF ireland from British rule. De
Naera rccounted the history of the
plight OF the unhappy people for the
past $50 years under the British yoke.
deplorinG the depopuldtion of the peo-
he said was due TO British policy in
relation to that country. and told his
story Of how a democratic government
had been set up based upon that of
the United States
small minority OF Ireland known
as Uuster. which consisted OF four
out of thirty-two counties of the whole
Of Erin, desired To remain under the
OF the belief that sIeh IA re,atinu
would inure to the benefit OF uhe
whole country religiously, politically
and commercially.
Majority Fnvors Independence.
But the Will of the majority OF
twcnty-sight counties. comprising
four -fifths OF the people, was for an
independent government with a con-
stitution patterned after that Of the
United States. and he stated that, as
an axiom OF democratic government,
the will OF tho majority should pre-
vail A"c'"use greeted this rcmark
The people OF Ireland were Irish, he
said, and were not British. and yet
1t was Br!tain's plan to make OF Iro-
Continued on Second Page.).