Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-08-23
Erskine Childers, Author and Fight
er i'm World War, Arraigns
England.
Ireland the Only White Community
in the World Denied Self
Government.
WARS PROMISES UNFULFILLED

Ireland is coming TO occupy a
strange position in the world; the
most hopeful or the most hopeless,
according to our estimate Of ten
denotes. In the midst of the eter-
nal conflict between right and might
she stands lonely, symbolic fgure,
tragically isolated, and yet the
prize OF contending principles, seem
ingly so sharply defined that the
issue can not be deferred. Here is
a country governed at this moment,
like Belgium under Prussia, by a
nation which went to war to free
Belgium from Prussia. For Bel
GUM was then the symbol of right,
and the defense of right against
might was the declared aim OF the
enemies of Germany. The evil
thing fought against was described
in masy "militarism, =
"Prussianism" and the rest-which
all meant the same thing-the self
ish use of national force by the
strong against the weak. The aim
was to defeat this evil, to protect
the weak against the strong and to
preserve the freedom of small ma
tionalities." Whatever other unex-
pressed purposes there may have
been, this was the aim declared to
the world, and by none more SOL
emily than Great Britain. 1t was
even urged upon Ireland as rea-
son for her enthusiastic participa-
ton in the war, although with in
credible blindness to the facts OF
human nature, the war itself was
made an excuse for postponing Ire
lands own freedom, and her conse-
quest GOODNESS was used to blacken
her in the eyes of the world as a
friend of "Prussianism."
The declared aim of the war was
sustained and strengthened - by
events. With the fall of the Car
and the intervention of America
two fresh formulate appeared
democracy" and "self-determina-
ton" These were not new aims,
but obvious extensions and corol-
laries of the original one, with the
main stress laid on the emancipa-
ton of subject states instead of the
restoration of states free before the
war. like Belgium and Serbia.
Democratic self-determination as a
universal principle of human right
brilliant and ardent propaganda OF
President Wilson. He addressed
the whole world, Allies and enemies
alike. "Our message is to all i'm
perialists," he once said. And II
was also to all subject nationalities,
without distinction of race, religion
or strategical situation. I'VE are
fighting for the liberty, the self
government, and indicated devel-
opment of all peoples" MAY 26i
1910 what we seek is the reign
of law based upon the consent OF
the governed and sustained by the
organized opinion of mankind
July 4, 1879
The same universal principle was
proclaimed In the speech TO Con.
gress (January s, 1919, contain
ing the famous fourteen points
which afterward became the Official
basis of peace. can evident prin'
ciple," he concluded, runs through
the whole programme / have out
lined. 1t is the principle of justice
to all peoples and nationalities and
their right to live on equal terms
of liberty and safety with one an
other, whether they be strong Oh
weak" The points themselves, EN-
bodying terms of peace with the
enemy, had to deal mainly with the
direct issues of the war. Regarded
in this light, some OF them lack ex
act precision, but their spirit Is un
mistakable. They prescribe FREE
self development fos nationalitie'
great and small.
In repeatedly giving universal ap
plication to his charter OF freedom
for the weak, 1t would be idle t.
pretend that the President had hal
the outspoken concurrence OF hi
European allies, who we're them
selves rulers OF subject peoples o.
a vaster scale than the enemy pow
ers. But in their final acceptanc
OF "the terms of peace laid dow
in the Presidents address to Con
gress of January, 1918, and tn
principles OF settlement enunciate'
In his subsequent addresses" the
definitely and in honor Commute
themselves not only to the fourtee
points with one exception), but I
the "evident principle" underlyin
them. Great Britain was especiall
committed both by the warm prais
given to all the Presidents uttel
asces and by the Prime Minister
speeches at the same period, EN-
bodying, according to geners
agreement, an identical policy wit
that of the United States. Bu
whatever the inner views OF the In
perialists, events forced the issu'
The disintegration OF the Russia
Empire left dozen small nationa
files without a master. MN
months later the collapse IN quo
successios of the Turkish, Austria
ana German empires added a ho'
more. All Europe and much
Asia was in ferment of republ
canism. and "self-determination
was not only the universal inspir'
ton, but the deciding factor IN +
construction. 1t was impossible
expect that reconstruction shoul
be easy, that this gigantic fermel