The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-04-04
IRISH DEMAND FREEDOM
Sentiment for ireland Underooes
Changes.

Philadelphia, Marcn a. we, the
delegates to the convention of the
irish race in America, assembled in
Philadelphia, the cradle of American
liberty, on February % and 20. 1919,
and representing many millions of
citizens of the United States, hereby
declare and resolves:
"First-As American citizens We
uphold the honor and interests of the
United States, as our race has done
during all the years that have elaps-
ed from the start Of the revolution to
the present day. ..,N
THAT we are proud ofIithe SPLEEN
did record our people have made in
the fighting forces of the republic
in the war which has just closed,
and are ready to perform any duty
and make any sacrifice our Gov.l
eminent may, in the future, demand
"Second-We heartily approve the
principles CT justice. liberty and
peace for all mankind proclaimed
by President Wilson in his declara
tions of Americas objects in the
war. These had the approval Of
the entire American people and were
the chief cause of their enthusiastic
support of the war. They were en-
dorsed by the spokesman of the Brit
| ish Government while hostilities were
in progress; and the whole world was
led to believe that the achievement
Of the purposes proclaimed by the
President was the sole object Of the
war.
Among these declarations the
one that all peoples are entitled to
self determination received uniyer-
sal support and became the war cry
Z OF the peoples, who were fighting
Germany. Our Government and
those of the countries associated
with us in the war are therefore
. bound in honor to apply the prin-
ciple Of self determination to Ire
land. as well as to the other sub
merged nations which have been
granted their freedom as a result Of
the war.
IF it is not applied to Ireland. the
| United States will be placed in a
| most unfavorable light before the
| civilized world and President VIII
sons solemn declaration will be
made mockery
Sel3determination means specif.
cally the right of people to decide
their own status in the world and
the form and character Of their gov
L lie al Il
to self-determination. She is the
Oldest of the nations of Europe and
! possesses all the essential elements
and attributes Of a separate and dis
tinct nationality homogeneous
| population of proved capacity for got
eminent, geographical position. ard
natural resources, now undeveloped
II through the action of foreign GOV
| eminent, and by the declared will d
her own people.
| "She has never forfeited her righ
= to nationality nor acknowledges
- the rightsof any other nation tt
deprive her Of 1t. She has ASSERTED
r that right, either by armed forcs
\ or peaceful means in every genera
= ton for sevenIl hundred iahA fit
years.
she has preserved during all tina
period her distinctive characters
tics of race, ideals and culture il
- face OF the most persistent and dras
n tic efforts of a foreign government
y to suppress and obliterate them. AM
she is today as essentially and a!
q distinctly nation as VIXEN the IN
yader first set foot on her soil in 116S
she has suffered oppression, mis-
cry and persecution unparalleled i
- the worlds history Her ono
- thriving industries have been dc
!. stroyed, her economic life sys
\ tematically retarded. and her popt
- lation reduced to one-half of wha
II was in 1886, and many times les
than her splendid natural resource
are capable of supporting.
=. Every small amelioration of he
hard lot has been wrung from a
a unwilling foreign government b
" strenuous agitation, often amour
ing to Instruction and no concessio
has ever been freely made.
~. "Third--Aside from Ireland's il
alienable right to govern herself
her own way, without interference
|. by any people sontside her ow
shores, the attempt OF England
rule here against the consent of b,
people is the most conspicuous IA
ure IN all history.
at has failed in every essenti
y for which governments exist; Il
ss promotion of the welfare of the, 20
- erned, the protection of their natur
~ rights and interests, the develonme
~ of their resources, and their cont
40 button to the sum Of human happne