The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-11
FRIENDS OF IRISH
CONTINUED From Page One.)

tary; James ]. Tresnon. financial sec
rotary; James c. Fitzpatrick, treas
urer; James j. Walsh. guard,
Following is the fun text OF the res
olutions adopted at the meeting:
The Patrick Henry branch of
Friends of Irish Freedom. realizing
and approaching the spirit of the pa
triot after whom this branch is nam
ed, and believing that the struggle
of Ireland for freedom IS born OF the
same spirit that impelied Patrick
Henry to utter the words which made
him immortal, now come and pledge
their allegiance to our own republic.
the land to which their fathers came
in search of freedom, and believing
It a duty to stretch out their hands TO
ireland as she did to us when seekin &
our independence, and.
| Whereas, Ireland was one of the
ancient and sovereign states of Christ
endom and Is rightly claiming the re-
sumption Of her sovereignty, and.
Whereas, she has never forfeited OF
lost her sovereignty by consciously
recognizing the sovereignty OF an,
other country but has always resent
| ed and resisted the foreign govern
ment thrust upon her and has always
venerated as her truest patriots her
sons who have died from generation
TO generation in trying to throw of
the foreign yoke, and,
| Whereas, there can be no such
| thing as prescription between nations
nor prescription of what is unjust
and IL is evident that the vast MAORI
! ty of Ireland regard the rule of Eng
| land as a foreign rule and are ami
mated by determination never &c
yield willing allegiance to foreign
rule, and,
| Whereas, ireland is inherently en-
| titled to sovereign independence and
international recognition because her
people, like every other nation, have
| the indefeasible right to determine
| what kind of government they shall
have. and being possessed of all the
qualities, properties and faculties nec-
esSary to a state, she LIS entitled 70
exercise them; and Being animated
with an inextinguishable desire to
| throw off this yoke, she has never
| learned from morality or law, either
| constitutional or international or from
! the course of history or from the
spirit of a courageous race, any valid
reason why she should not now be as
she was before she became an unwiil-
| ing part of the British empire, in the
full enjoyment of her sovereign indie
pendence: and believing and knowing
that usurpation of power and govern
ment enforced upon her by arms is an
outrage upon her as well as a breach
| of international law and scandal
among nations, and believing that il
is her duty and interest to throw OIL
this foreign yoke; and.
Whereas. Ireland, In addition to be.
ing highly Intelligent and .homogen-
eous people. and geographically for.
tunately situated. possesses the natur.
al resources in the way of climate
fertility of soil, harbors, rivers, miner,
ais, foodstuffs, water power, and other
natural resources to prosper and b<
happy; and,
Whereas. Ireland is financially abls
to discharge the duties of an indie
pendent state. as she is now paying t,
the British government the sum o
100000 pounds annually. less thar
100000 of which IL used in the 3,
called government and defense of Ire
land. leaving a balance of $4,000, oo'
pounds wrung from the suffering peo
pie of Ireland. and.
Whereas. Ireland possesses mai
power and aptitude for industry an,
trade and has financial resources ade
quate for sovereign state; and,
, Whereas, in the recent election heI,
for members of parliament out of 1,
10000 votes cast, IS per cent. OF III,
votes cast were for complete indepen
dence; and,
Whereas. our forcfathers repudia.
ed the idea that man should be rule
by kings and recognized the principl
laid down by Patrick Henry tina
death was preferable to life withou
freedom, now be 1t therefore
RESOLVED; That It is the sens
and sentiment of the members of thf
, branch that every lover OF freedom Il
. this land OF the free. should do all il
his power consistent with his duty 1
/ God and his allegiance - to his ,ov,
country to assist Ireland in regainin
the place that rightly belongs to he
by nature and her inalienable right.