The Irish standard., 1919-03-01
And Ireland":
the Emmetsburg Democrat
: Answer to British Propa-
* ~ ~
: Published in the Sioux CITY
-"s@S
:as an Imposing. .ArraYof His
Reply to Claims and Argu-
Thomas of Chamberlain, S. D.

WlOH1 tuc Io,uuu,UuU dCISS VI llclduu
lands were given were, according to
Britannica, as tyrannical as slave own
ers. We hope the above facts from
an authority that Mr.. Thomas will
not dare to question "'~son answer to
his bold challenge.
Though religious i II was in some
respects restored t.. - ~ pie of Ire
land in 1929, they "eHe forced until
1869 to give considerable portion Of
their earnings to the church of Eng
land, to which over 80 per cent of them
did not belong
The British were Mortified about the
German atrocities in Belgium, which
continued for four years. We suggest
that Mr.. Thomas compare the record
of the kaiser in Belgium with that of
England in Ireland for 200 years as
given in Britannica. How long will it
be before the Belgians will be willing
to throw up their hats and cheer for
Germany? What reader of the pages
of Britannica, to which | refer, can
praise the British for their treatment
Of the people of the Emerald isle?
But Mr.. Thomas contends that Ire
land is now self-governed and has all
.of the liberties and privileges of Wales,
Scotland, Canada and Australia. The
Scotch and the Welch are doubtless
nc nn nf
The Canadians and Australians have
local self-government. Ireland is still
without such government Ireland is
represented in the British parliament,
but the British members can Out-vote
them to l on every proposition af-
fecting the interests of Ireland and the
Irish members are as a result never
able to gain any legislative advan-
tages for their own country. The lord
lieutenant, or governor, the member
of his council, the chief secretary, the
Judiciary and the constabulary are ap-
pointed by the British. Mr.. Thomas
claims that the people Of Iowa do not
enjoy any more democratic privileges
than the people of Ireland. We elect
our governor our judges, our legisla-
tors and our other state officers. They
make all Of their subordinate appoint
ments. The people of Ireland do not
enjoy any Of these privileges. Why is
Mr.. Thomas opposed to the granting
Of home rule to Ireland? Why would
he deny her independence? Why is
he, as an American citizen, opposed
to giving any intelligent, religious, law
abiding people the right of self-deter-
mination? Were the Americans in
1776 right in throwing off the British
yoke? If so, why blame the Irish peo-
pie for insisting on the same privilege?
Mr.. Thomas says the Irish did not
do their part in the late struggle
against Germany. There were, accord
ing to undisputed declaration of John
Redmond, the late Irish leader in par
lament, 100000 soldiers of Irish birth
in the ranks of the allies. There were
none in the armies of the Teutons and
very few of the Irish were taken pris-
oners. They usually do not care to
go into a struggle Of this kind and
come out alive unless they win. Irish
officers in the British army, whose
statements should be given some
weight, claim that 10000 Irish were
killed during the four years struggle.
This would, considering our popular
tion, be equal to an American loss Of
100000. John Redmond, the Irish
leader, served for four years as a re-
cruiting officer. He appealed to the
Irish in every country in the world to
be loyal to the allies. T. P. O'Connor.
an Irish member of parliament, visited
the United States and delivered many
public addresses making similar ap-
peals to the Irish people in the United &
States. Tn appeals were not neces-
sary. The Irish have always been de-
voted to the cause of human liberty.
John Redmond's brother, William,
CONTINUED on Page S.)