The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-03-22

A0tpteee OF Wene ClOo OF u. tdel'
S ena's Church, March n, 1919.
Nr. Chairman.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In former years our St Patrick's
Day Celebrations have been largely
I reminiscent and the theme OF the
speaker has principally been the strug-
Go and the sacrifice for liberty. the
I contribution to art and science and re-
Snxion. the never-dyfng hope for free
& dom which make up the splendid
story of the race from which we are
sprung. We meet tonight, however,
with different aspirations because we
confront the duty and the opportunity
Of the present hour. The world Is be-
holding new birth of freedom and
al the races of humanity are singing
In glad acclaim. The eyes Of the
world are turned today to Paris and
tonight In every quarter of the globe,
wherever civilization has found a foot
ing, the sons and daughters of Erin
are looking with hope and confidence
to that great tribunal. During the
past six weeks America has demanded
in clear and decisive tones that the
cycle-old wrongs of Ireland shall be
righted at the peace table. The cul-
mination Of this manifestation was the
Irish Race Convention in Philadel-
phia, attended by five thousand dele
gates from all sections of the country,
representing all avocations and all
forms of religious belief. On the COM
mfttee of resolutions were a Presby-
terrain Minister, an Episcopal divine
and a Jewish Rabbi and the demand Of
the gathering was voiced in resolu-
ton offered by Cardinal Gibbons and
supported by him in an impressive ad-
dress. It would be strange, Of course,
Il In this country there were not some
discordant or doubling voices, some
raised in good faith or timidity and
some in ignorance or hate. do not
propose tonight to argue the Justice
Of Irish Home Rule because that ques-
ton has already been settled by the
unanimous vote of the conscience and
Intelligence of mankind. propose in
this address to prove to demonstra-
ton and In black and white not only
that 1t is right for US to urge that self
determination for Ireland be consid-
cred at the peace table and be made a
provision Of the peace treaty but I
stand on the proposition. fair and
/ square, that in making this demand
we are discharging q, plain duty and
complying both In letter and in spirit
! with the wishes Of the representatives
Of the Powers who have approved the
draft Of the Constitution for League
Of Nations. Article XI of the proposed
Constitution reads as follows:
ANY war, or threat of war, wheth-
or Immediately affecting any Of the
high contracting parties or not, is
hereby declared matter of concern to
the league, and the high contracting
parties reserve the right to take any
i action that may be deemed wise and
Z effectual to safeguard the peace Of
4 nations.
M Il is hereby also declared and agreed
10 be the friendly right Of each Of the
high contracting parties to draw the
attention Of the body Of delegates or
sof the executive council to any clrcur,.
stances affecting international Inter.
eourss which threaten to disturb In.
ternatlonal peace or the good under
standing between nations upon which
peace depends"
say nothing tonight about the first
\ paragraph Of this Article. call your
attention to the second paragraph
which declares 1t to be the friendly
right Of each of the high contracting
parties to draw the attention Of the
/ body Of delegates or Of the executive
council to any circumstances affecting
I international intercourse which threat
zen to disturb international peace or
\ The good understanding between M.
lions upon which peace depends" It
/ q impossible to employ language more
\ accurately and fifty describing the So
called Irish question than the words
which I have just read. II the de-
smand Tor Home Rule is surrounded by
circumstances which affect interna-