The Irish standard., 1919-02-15
In a Speech at st. Briqid's Banquet
Chicago on Feb. End. by Hon. P.
= ~ o'DonneIl.

am asked tonight to talk upon the
Freedom of the Seas, and show its re
lation to the Freedom of Ireland, and
I cheerfully accept the invitation be.
cause the widest possible crusade is
on in America to leave the supremacy
Of the seas in possession of England
and to hold Ireland as a part of the
British Empire.
It is extraordinary that the papers
are teeming with arguments &C
knowledsine the right of England to
control all the waters of the world
and advising the American people that
Ireland must remain as part of Great
Britain.
The city of Chicago has been stirred
within the last week by powerful edi
torials which necessarily carry great
influence and stir up mighty propa
ganda against the rights of Ireland
and the equal rights of all nations to
the waters of the globe.
The friends of free seas and of free
Ireland, however, are not in despair
because their views are also repre-
sented in the powerful newspaper or
gans that advocate the establishment
of an Irish Republic, and, at least, the
division of sea power between Eng
land and America, and thereby show a
hope and promise to every true
American.
"EternaI VigiIance."
If eternal vigilance is the price OF
liberty" 1t now becomes essential that
the Irish-Americans become "sentinels
upon the watch tower" and sound the
warning of danger approaching.
Whence comes this propaganda to
leave Ireland in bondage and the seas
In chainsf
Is 1t because England controls the
raw material out of which newspapers
are made and the cable news that is
printed upon them?
Is It because England can crush any
newspaper In America within a week
that they are advocating in their col
umns what England wants and what
America must not give?
A Solemn Contract.
By a contract, higher in authority
and more sacred than treaty between
nations, we entered this war for the
freedom of small nationalities and the
freedom Of the seas. The Allies &C.
cepted these propositions offered them
by Mr.. Wilson and America ratified
that acceptance by the blood and
treasures of this republic.
We must no longer chide Germany
as considering the right of small ma.
tionalities and the freedom of the seas
after 1t was solemnly agreed upon by
all nations and sanctified by the blood
Of American heroes.
We. Of Chicago. do not need to be
told what is meant by freedom of the
seas and how to obtain 1t. We live
on the greatest inland waters on the
globe. They carry immense COM
merce. roll up to the feet of mighty
cities. separate two great nations and
yet there isn't fortress nor gun
protecting any city on their shores,
and not boat upon their waters is
molested by any ship of war. These
lakes are free; these cities unmo-
Tested and this commerce safe, because
by mutual agreement between the ma
tions we have stripped their waters of
every battleship and war craft and
parole those seas by vessels sufficient
ly powerful to collect revenues and
check piracy. II peace, tranquility
and safety could come to all the lands
and all the people on the five great
lakes by the simple agreement and full.
hllment Of disarmament, then 1t shows
the clear way how the world may be
safe on all its shores whether those
Of civilized or uncivilized people by
forever sending to the bottom the YES.
sells Of destruction and covering the
seas with the vessels Of peace and
commerce. No nation will need pro
lection when there is no way to attack
It, and no nation can be subjected to
foreign rule from the sea when there
4 are no battleships to assail and de
stroy.
ID England Possesses Al the Seas.
England possesses all the seas to-
day; therefore, she possesses all the
world. America included, for we can
not bring our soldiers home from Eu
K rope without her permission; we could
\ not send them food without her con
i sent and we never can make an over
+; seas campaign to enforce our rights OF
\ protect our colonies If the nation with
I whom we contend has an alliance with
Greet Britain that will call their feet
4 into action. We are as helpless in oul
III RHsAoaOn ,.olafinna ~. nup fnreipn nvney,