The Irish standard., 1919-05-10
A FOX RUNS TO covER.

i Readers of this paper have been made familiar
during the past three years, with fact in American
history that is now assuming more than mere aca
demic Importance, viz, the surprisingly large pro
portion OF the soldiers of the Revolutionary Wa,
who were Irish by birth or descent We have EN-
phaslzed and reiterated many times the Statement
that about hty per cent of the men in Washingtons
army were lrlsfmen or their immediate descendants
have cited excellent authorities for this wonder
ful tact knowing that the truth of it is unpaatable
IN certain quarters and that efforts would likely
be made to contradict it, We are modestly PROUD
OF beng among the very first of all the publications
engaged IN advancing the cause of Ireland to the
goal OF victory to proclaim this great historical fact
and to assess its value in winning the support of ali
Americans to the side of the country whose sons
were such vital element in the achievement of our
own independence.
We shall not now weary our readers with fur
ter re1teration of the evidence adduced in proof OF
this remarkable proposition. Suffice it to saw that
ITS truth is now established beyond the peradventure
OF Or, doubt, tor by an actual count of the muster
rolls of the Revolutionary army Mr. Michael T
O'Brein, Historiographer of the Irish-AmericaIn
historical Society has "checked up" the whole mat
ter with the finding that exactly SO per cent of the
forces were of Irish origin. Mr. O'Brien has covered
the Il, subject exhaustively in his book "a Hidden
ihase OF American History" in which he embodies
the results OF quarter of century of dilieent stud
III this particular field AS we have before pointed
out IN these columns, Mr.. O'Bren's enumeration
does not include the 5000 native Irshmen, who came
To ,t1ohf
for American freedom
Mr. OBrien's expert and scientific investigation
OF the subject might have passed without challenge
nad 1t not been for the hearings conducted by the
CONGRESSIONAL I1o Committee of Foreign Affairs, when
the resolutions of Congressman GALLAGHER in hehaH
of Ireland were under consideration. Then an
peared the maodorous George L. Fox, of New Hav-
EN-, Conn.,. who entered protest against the Irish
resolutions and made blanket denial of the points
based on the findings of Mr.. O'Brien No proofs
INV 1f
~ ne apparently relied upon the assumption that
Americans are absolutely ignorant in these matters
and set himself up as an authority against an his
TORI eoran NV who has spent twenty-five years in this spe
elal Ga ~, hne OF research work Upon his bald say
so the bumptious Fox took it for granted that his
naked contradictions would be received with the
same force accorded to the results of Mr. O'Brien's
tollsome patient and prolonged labors Evidently.
however, the Congressional Committee did not ac-
cept Fox s<appraisement of himself as an authority
on history for his pleadings did not stay the pass
age OF the resolutions, which went THROUGH almost
without an opposing voice.
Now comes another turn to the interesting con-
5roversy n IN the shape of challenge from Mr. o.
brlen to Fox, to public debate on the points at
ISSUE. Mr. OBrlen virtually offered to discuss the
matter under any terms conditions that his adj |
versary might frame, will be seen in the CORE
sPondence pertaining to the matter published else
Mnere WI ~ our columns But Fox has to cover
No public debate for him even in an environment
d ms own cholce Instead he invites the challenger
o show him up liar in some reputable news
paper. Then :, he may be induced to say something
by way of retaliation.
1t is earnestly to be hoped that Mr. O'Brien will
not neglect the opportunity to show Fox up to the
public as the liar he half conesses himself to be- It
said that this well named individual has made his
special business to cheaper and minimize the efforts
If friends of the Irish cause wherever and wheneve
le fet that he could obtrude his noisome influence.
Mr. OBrlen, therefore, it to himself and to
he American public to see to it that this venture
ome m, quarry shall never break cover again.
lhls is the wide open season for this kind of sport
1RELAND's NEW PARNELL AND HIS
MESSAGE.
In introducing President De Valera to the Irish
, ,,arddiamentary III Session of last month Mr. Arthur
Griffith kened the new leader to the late char1as