Evening journal., 1919-11-01

,, speech was delivered TO an American
p audience, taught when school children
to revere The precepts Of Washington
= Farewell Address. Swiftly even as ih
current OF human events change. "
can scarcely realize that The slip o
state has drifted 50 far from its ancen
moorlngs.
Then The President made this amazing
= declaration This treaty Is sho
through with the American prlnoipl
OF the choice OF The governed But i
Ireland shot through with that prin
ciple? Is Shanlung2 Il Korea? Ar
any or the stales arbitrarily created a
Paris shot through with that principle
A vote OF The people has not beer
taken in a single instance where tn
rulers OF the peoples were changed OF
their form Of government altered-al
tered by The arbitrary masters at Paris
How does The President know tina
Fiume and Dalmalia wish 10 be ruleC
by Jugo-Slays instead Of Italians? o.
that Austria-lIungary was sliced UP e
suit The people? Or that the centra
African colonies wish TO be ruled by
England? Or that Shantung wishes &c
go out OF the Republic OF China into
the Empire OF Japan?
These states shot through with the
principle Of the choice OF the governed
Why does the President stand up before
the American people and make such ut
terances2
Al indianapolis, on September Z, the
President undertoOR TO excuse his
failure to speak even one word for Ire
land at the peace conference by saying
that the Irish question did not come
within the area Of settlement" Who
fixed the area Of settlement? Who re-
strlcted 10 so as TO exclude Ireland
Was the peace conference not attempt
| ing 10 adjust the affairs OF the world ?
AT Billings, Montana. the President said
that 1.-THE conference met to effect set
/ tlement OF the affairs OF the world.
II so, how is It that this great Irish
question did not come up for settle
ment? Is that not one NJ the affairs OF
the world?
When the President began to touch
on the Irish question he did not even
mention ireland. but said ~ am now
ireading upon delicate ground" Why
Is 10 delcate2 The United States SEN
ate did not think 10 delicate. BY for
NAL resolution the Senate expressed lis
sympathy with the aspirations OF the
Irish people for a government or their
own choice" Then why is It that the
President cannot come out boldly and
say:-"I lift my voice for Ireland-a
people downtrodden, outraged and out
lawedW Why can he not openly say
this. II he believes it? But does he be-
lieve it2
In his indianapolis speech the Pres
ident indicated that under Article NJ.
ireland might present her cause TO The
League Of Nations Not one word in
Article XI., even by the widest stretch
OF Interpretation, can be construed TO
give Ireland the right TO present her
grievance TO the League OF Nations The
last clause OF that article. the clause
at which The President grasps, now that
he finds himself sinking in the rising
tide OF Irish indignation reads as fol-
lows -
III is also declared TO be the friendly
right OF each member OF The league TO
bring to the attention OF the Assembly
or Of the Council any circumstances
whatever affecting international rela-
tlons which threaten TO disturb inter-
national peace or the good understand
ing between nations upon which peace
depends"
But the crafty British hand that
wrote that clause in mentioning the
subjects which might be brought be
fore the league, very deliberately twice
inserted the word international" This
word is deadly to the cause Of Ireland
The expression was the studied choice
OF a word calculated 10 forever bar
ireland and all other subjugated ma
tions from presenting their contention
al Geneva Mr. Wilson well knows.
and every statesman aud lawyer well
knows, that unrest and discomfort In
ireland or in any other dependency Is
a domestic question, and is In no sense
an international circumstance" Of |
which the league would have iurisdlc- /
sanctioned by The eighth paragraph Of |
Article XIV which reads -
III the dispute between the parties |
is claimed by one OF them. and Is
found by the Council, to arise out OF
a matter which by international law is
solely within the domestic jurisdiction |
OF that party. the Council shall so re-
port, and shall make no recommends
tion as TO It's settlement"
Thus It viii be seen that the "area |
or settlement" was not restricted so as
10 exclude the Irish question until Mr.. +
Wilson and his colleagues at'Parls re-
strlcted t.
II MIR. Wilson had been insistent upon
the rights OF the citizens
OF Ireland and the rights OF other op-
pressed peoples, how easy II would have
been TO PROVIDE
"Any colony, province or people OF
any state or empire on the earth shall
have the privilege always to petition
the League OF Nations for the right OF
and self-goverh
ment"
That would not have been ambiguous
II would have been clear. definite and
certain. But that would have been
TO England and destructive
OF her right 10 tax and domineer the
weak peoples OF the world.
At ST. Louis, on September >. the
President said that II America contin-
ued minding her own business she
would become 'despiscd. suspected. dis
trusted" This amazing declaration Is
not only contrary TO Washington's
Farewell Address and TO the doctrine OF
Adams, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe,
but contrary to the experience OF 1856
years OF national life; for, by follow
,ands are the more liberal. :