The Irish standard., 1919-03-29

Propaganda
and woman must support this press.
It's writer's, editors and correspondents
are ill-paid. Yet our people are in
creasingly prosperous, and increasing
ly multiplying. There must be more
vigorous hand stretched forth to these
editors and publishers. They are do
ing the work of the church in their
secular endeavor. They are doing the
work of patriotism in it's most exalt-
ed sense, often obscure in their iden-
tity and without cheer or call of
comradeship. They stand in the place
of Emmett and Mitchell, although our
conflict is not now one of violence.
They send forth the message of Plum
kett and Parnell, although our mes
sengers stand neither in parliaments
nor on scaffolds. The Irish and Catho-
lie press is our first, last and only line
OF defense, and any Irish Catholic
who halts in supporting it is either
wilfully recreant or ignorantly impo-
tent.
IreIand's Right to seIf-Determination.
The meanest and most insidious fea-
ture of Englands anti-Irish propagan-
da in America is the contemplate eff
fort to inject religion into Irelands de-
mand for representation at the Peace
Conference and there be accorded the
right of self-determination. But no
intrigue of the enemies of free insti-
buttons shall create breach of those
relations of friendliness and sympathy
which have existed for generations be.
tween the Irish and the American peo-
pies. The mutual regard which has
ever united these kindred nations shall
be maintained throughout the sessions
of the great Peace Conference.
l fully believe Ireland will find that
the friend of other days, now the
mighty protector of liberty among
men, will raise it's potent voice to ut
ter the claims of the Irish nation, and
to secure the just and final verdict of
the rulers of the world upon the rights
of people whose cause has ever been
the cause of justice and whose sons
and daughters have rendered heroic
service to the free nations that are to-
day indicating an imperishable prin-
ciple and a divine inheritance.
1t is false to say that the intelligent
Protestants of Ireland are opposed to
the freedom Of their country. On the
contrary, it is absolutely true that,
for the past two hundred years, Irish
Professionals have been the leaders in
1reland's matchless fight for freedom.
1t was Protestant Irishman, Thorn
as Gould, lawyer, at meeting of the
Irish Bar, composed exclusively of
Irish Protestant lawyers, Catholics not
being then eligible to membership of
the Bar, held in Dublin, December 9,
1899, and called to discuss the Union
project, who said:
"There are 10000 British troops in
Ireland, and with 100000 bayonets at
my breast, the minister shall not plant
another Sicily in the bosom of the At
lantic. l want not the assistance OF
any divine inspiration to foretell, for
am enabled by the visible and unerr
ing demonstrations of nature to assert
that ireland was destined to be free
and Independent nation. Our patent
to be State, not a shire, comes direct
from heaven. The Almighty has, In
majestic characters, signed the great
charter of our independence. The great
Creator of the world has given our be
loved country the gigantic outlines Of
a nation. The God Of nature never
intended that Ireland should be sat
isfied province, and by God she never
shall!"
In the great crisis that is now here
we should not only write and read
Irish history, but we should contribute
in every way possible, to the making
of Irish history. Our moral and finan
cial support count for more today thar
they ever did before, and, in all human
probability, for more than they evel
will again. We should, therefore, pa,
our individual one dollar assessment
when the call comes, and also aid il
swelling local Irish Freedom Fund!
through special Division efforts.
SAINT CLARA COLLEGE,
-slNSlNAWA, WlscoNsls