The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-24

Philadelphia, Feb. PA resolution calling on President Wilson and con- gress to Urge the Peace Conference to grant Ireland the right of National elf-determination, was offered by Cardinal Gibbons for adoption at the convention of the Irish race in Ameri- ca here today.
 The text of the resolution follows;
 we the delegates to the conven- ton of the Irish race in America, as sembIed in Philadelphia, the city in which the immortal declaration of American liberty was given to the world, and speaking for many mil lions of American citizens, call upon the President and congress of these United States of America to urge the Peace Conference now in session at Paris to apply to Ireland the great doctrine of national self-determina- ton and to recognize the right of the people of Ireland to select for them selves without interference from any other people the form of government under which in the future they shall liS.
 we urge this claim, in the first place, in the name of justice---recog- nizing and insisting on the truth set forth by the founders of our republic, that all governments derive their just powers from the consent of the gov erned.
 We urge this claim in the name of America, insisting, as we have just shown in the case of France, that we are not an ungratefuI people and re- calling that no other people have con- tributed more than those of Irish blood to the creation, the up-build- ing, the development and the preser- vation and defense of our great Coun- try.
 I've urge this claim in the name of Ireland because of the unparalleled struggle for now seven and a half cen turies that Ireland has carried on for national existence and liberty; be- cause all efforts to break down and destroy that existence have failed, and because of the extraordinary majority by which less than two months ago the people of Ireland declared, not alone their dissatisfaction with the government of their land by England but also their determination to govern themselv without interference from any outside influence or power.
 we urge this claim in the name of humanity because we believe that war can not be ended, and a just and per manent peace cannot be brought about, unless the doctrine of seIf-de- 
 the people of that country be permit ted to decide for themselves the form of government under which they shall live.
 We point out that England has tried in every way to coerce or to persuade or to cajole the people of Ireland to give up their devotion to their na- tiona1 aspirations and tried them all in vain. Lloyd-George within the las few months has been compelled to assert that Ireland is at present as much opposed to British rule as in the days of Cromwell. The industries of Ireland have been destroyed; her trade and commerce wiped out; her ported and held in English jails with out indictment or trial; and yet with in the last two months the people with an unanimity never before at tained have again declared their utter disSa tfsfaction with English rule and their determination to be free Eng land refuses to listen to the voice of Ireland but, we point out that Eng land likewise refused listen to the voice of the American colonies. Eng land was compelled less than a cen tury and half ago to recognize the independence of the colonies, and within the last year the efforts of our country saved England and her Allies from total defeat at the hands of tn e Central Powers. The land to which England was thus compelled to do justice has just saved England in her