The Irish standard., 1919-09-27

Oooho, MdSdZueS, the pulp1tS, the
schools and through hundreds of other
lnstrumentalities she operates a sys-
TEN OF propaganda and diplomacy that
is lncomparable in finesse and adroit-
ness. In this respect the British far
surpass the crude and stupid efforts of
the Germans, for they are far more
adept in the practice of misrepresen.
tation and indirection. Witness the
many vicious and mendacious excuses
subterfuges, and falsehoods that are
being circulated at the present mo-
ment In America and elsewhere in re-
spect to the cause of Ireland.
Boosting of her democracy, of her
system of government, she is actually
ruled by handful of the same nobil-
ity that has shaped the nations affairs
for centuries agone, the titled, land.
controlling families, the chief of which
is the Cecils. In the last generation
it was member of this family, the
Marquis of Salisbury, who exercised
the supreme power, and his nephew,
Arthur James Balfour, has succeeded
him in the present regime; and Lord
Robert Cecil, son of the Marquis of
Salisbury, is the real author of the
League of Nations pact. Neither King
George nor Lloyd George compares in
power and influence in the government
OF the Empire with the landed aris-
tocracy of England, the descendants
OF the feudalistic autocrats of old.
When the Devil Was Sick.
when the devil was sick, the devil
a monk would be;
when the devil got we'll, the devil a
monk was he.''
When England had her "back to the
WALL" and was in danger of decisive
defeat, her emissaries to America an
nounced that her purpose in the great
Armageddon were in full accord with
the announcements of President Will
son, among which was the principle
of self-determination of sovereignty
by the oppressed smaller nations.
How do these unctious professions
tally with her present attitude? Sir
Douglass Haig does not even admit
that America won the war. Oh, no, it
was Britain alone that did the busi-
ness. What of freedom of the seas?
Why, the whole matter was ruled out
of consideration at Paris. What of
5elf-determination for Ireland, as clear
ly and definitely indicated in the dec.
larations of President Wilson as if he
had expressly nominated that country
for such relief?
Ihat is domestic question, say the
Brltishers, now recovered from the
shock of their war fright And fur.
ther, these champions of democracy in
government have even failed as yet to
take steps for the execution of the
Home Rule Act of 1914 now on their
statute books. Next we are asked not
only to repudiate the fourteen points
of President Wilson, but also to be-
come guarantors of the possessions of
the British Empire by entering the
League of Nations. We are also Civ
en- an intimation that we should not
insist upon the observance of the Mon.
roe doctrine. You know the British
flag still floats on this continent, in
Canada, while every other non-Amer-
lean emblem has disappeared from our
gaze.
Why America Should Help in the
Establishment Of the Irish
Republic.
From the foregoing summary of the
status of Ireland and her people, in
which it has been attempted merely
TO enumerate the salient facts per-
tanning to the issue now before the
American public, the points on which
it is sought to win approval and judg-
ment in favor of the Irish Republic
may be stated as follows:
q 1t has been our traditional pol
icy to foster the creation and estab.
1shment of free governments every
where since the foundation of the Re-
public.
(2) The principle of self-deter-
mination by peoples of their choice
of sovereignty and form of govern
ment is embodied in our Declaration
of independence and in our national
constitution, and we hape irrevocably
committed ourselves to the PROPOSE