The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-01-25

self-determination, eliminated in the
heroic struggle of Easter week. 1916,
and the proclamation of an Irish Re-
public. The ruthlessness with which
the defender of small nations treat
ed and is treating the promoters of
Irish nationhood, men and women Of
fine character and culture, has clari-
fed the national thought, revitalized
the old traditions, and unified all
classes (the transplanted foreign gar
rison exceptedD, in unqualified de-
maud for absolute independence. De-
spite the summary Imprisonment,
without charge or trial, of the Sim
Fem leaders and organizers, and a
maze of repressive distractions by
means Of armies, police, spies, social,
commercial and sundry other influ-
ences, Sim Fein, in the December
elections, has carried Ireland for self
determination unconditional.
Their enemy has spread the SIAN
der: "The Irish can't agree" Only
that enemy's imported garrison, a
small but petted and well-nursed mi
nority, is in disagreement. Irishmen
have differed as to methods in vary
ing circumstances, as intelligent peo-
pie will, but in the demand for IRE.
land Nation" they have never wa
vered. On that principle they have,
since 1885, when the franchise was
extended, invariably elected five-sixths
of Ireland's representatives. No party
here or elsewhere ever had or main,
tanned such a majority. But in Amer
lea there is effective unity. because
when the majority it determined the
minority submits. In Ireland for
eign government sees to it that the
minority rules and the majority is
fouted or penalized. At present half
Of it is in Jail.
Greater Than Many Nations.
Ireland is a small nation, yet greater
in area than Belgium, Greece, Holland,
Denmark, Serbia or Switzerland, and
more defined and separate geographic
cally. 1t is even more populous than
any of these, except Belgium, and than
several other independent nations,
such as Norway. But seventy years
ago Ireland was not small nation,
reckoned by population. 1t had then
nine million people. 1t has now a lit.
tie over four millions. While all other
nations grew in numbers and IN
wealth, even Poland and Alsace-Lor-
raine, Ireland diminished by one-half.
Famine, rack-renting, excessive taxa
ton, suppression of industries, all de-
liberately caused or permitted or left
unremedied by alien rule, account for
this appalling evidence of misgovern-
ment. Yet Ireland's fertile soil, equa.
BILE climate and rich but undeveloped
mines, it's abundant waterways and it's
eighteen spacious harbors opening to
both hemispheres, should enable her
to maintain twenty million people as
easily as Belgium maintained seven.
She has been pillaged by taxation in
the interest of the larger island, as a
Parliamentary Commission has record
ed, and her industrial development
has beer deliberately suppressed, lest
she should become commercial rival
to her neighbor. Laws directly pro,
hibiting Irish commerce and indus.
tries strew the English statute books
from the 18th to the 18th century. and
indirectly but not less effectively,
SINCE ...... ....... ....-.
6igotry in the Way.
Bigotry and racial pride have been
utilized in the denial of Ireland
claims, but the root cause is the COM
mercial jealousy and greed of the
stronger nation.
A recent meeting of $4,000 New
York citizens, addressed by Governor
Whitman and Cardinal O'Connell, re.
solved that all Americans should now
say to our country: STAND for the
people whose sons have stood for you,
and show grateful recognition, as vel,
as vindicate Right and Justice Ire.
land is our nearest, and should be our
dearest, blood relation. The direct
and indirect compulsion of misgovern.
ment since Cromwell's conquest, 1860,
has kept the tide of Irish immigration
flowing continuously hither from the
earliest colonial days to our own, so
that the h10Od most WILDLY diffncod II,