The Irish standard., 1919-12-20

Wu6t Will, IN the nope t02t Ms country
may achieve its destiny.
I simply say, II I know anything Of
the reason why these boys went over
seas, they went for the purpose OF CIV
ing physical expression to the prin-
ciple enunciated by the President Of
this republic, that we wanted to make
the world safe for democracy. ZAP
plause.)
But, my dear friends, before you
make the world safe for democracy,
look to 1t that you keep America safe
for democracy. (Applause.)
And so, my friends and fellow citi.
zens, irrespective of what might have
been the political views Of the various
electors in Ireland, whether they be-
lieved prior to that time In parliamen-
tary methods. whether they opposed
the union or whether they wanted their
republic, coming to the polls in orderly
fashion, In December last, the war was
over, the people Of Ireland, going by
lawful methods to the ballot box, they
registered their votes in favor Of an
Irish republic. (Applause.)
And I want to say to you men and
women, you good citizens Of America.
that when the men were elected by
that ballot box process. and proceeded
In orderly fashion to map out form
Of government, they remembered what
their fellow countrymen had done
when they went over to the United
States in the days of George Wash.
ington and they framed their method
of government, their system Of law,
on the basis of our constitution and
in line with our principles Of American
democracy. (Applause.)
And after they had completed their
legislative labors they looked around
to find somebody who would stand
aloft and above his fellows, full Of the
milk Of human kindness, without Bit
terness in his heart, even for the men
and the government who had tortured
his fellow people; they looked about
for somebody who would be akin to
our own George Washington, and
there, though he was in prison at the
time, Inundated and degraded
physically by all the mean processes Of
English jailors, these good men and
women that we're left, came into their
solemn assembly and they elected by
unanimous vote, without any dis.
sentient voice whatsoever, our distin-
guished visitor today as the president
Of the Irish republic. (Great applause.)
Words Of Comfort for Friends Across
Sea.
Ladies and gentlemen, your voices
are being waited across the United
States, far across the Atlantic Ocean
in the spirit Of democracy, so that the
Tory Government of England will
have chance to hear you, and then
they who one day, these fellows who
prate about liberty, who talk about
democracy-who have their tongue in
their cheek, as they say, these men
will wonder why If there is liberty on
top Of the earth with thought for
freedom, why do they have to have
100000 soldiers standing on the chest
of little Ireland? (Applause.)
And SO, ladies and gentlemen, we
are here to send the word Of comfort
and cheer to the men, women, aye, and
children, who, looking at machine guns
and armored tanks and military aero
planes every day and hour of the week
we are telling them to lift up their
hearts and rejoice.
Now. my friends and fellow citizens.
you have q great privilege In store
for you. You have read the story Of
Robert Emmet. you have thought Of
Wolfe Tone, and his Presbyterian
patriots, who were slaughtered by the
British government; you have gone
down the annals Of your country and
you have thought Of tho martyr dead,
V0S AA0A0 SVO0y yVO A004A 0uV WVAA001
aye, you children, you are sitting face
to face with the man who typiAes all
that is noblest and purest and holiest
in the history of Ireland, who stands
for all that is elevating In the cause
Of liberty and democracy, who WAS
waiting quietly in his prison cell for
the firing squad to come and get him,
as they got the rest.
Dc Valera Presented Amid Cheering.
You have seen the man here today
who 40 he quietly and with dignity
forebore while English jailers and the
English system Of prison fare heaped
humiliation upon him, has gone the
rocky road Of suffering and sacrifice;
he has climbed the hill to Calvary, he
has been scoffed ct and spit upon: he
has been hooted and derided, and yet