New-York tribune., 1919-02-24
Gibbons Backs
Irish Freedom
Demand i'm L. S.
Cardinal Offers Resolution
at Convention Calling for
Peace Table Action
ALI Creeds Approve Move
Ex-Justice Coff Heads a
Group to See President;
May Send ENJOYS to Paris

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. ga resolu-
ton presented by Cardinal Gibbons
urging the peace congress to appIv to
Ireland the doctrine of national self
determination, and a declaration of
principles demanding that if any
league of nations be created all feat
ures which may infringe on traditional
American policy, including the Monroe
Doctrine, shall be eliminated, were
adopted unanimously to-day at the
closing session of the Convention of
the Irish Race in America.
The declaration of principles saws
that state of war exists between Eng
land and Ireland, (which, in the inter
ests of the peace of the world, the
peace conference cannot ignore"
Tonight resolution was adopted
naming a committee of twenty-five.
headed by former Justice John w.
Goff, of New York, to present the
convention resolutions to President
Wilson, with further authority to
proceed in the name of Americans of
Irish birth or ancestry to lay before
the peace conference, in cooperation
with the representatives of the Irish
nation already appointed the right of
Ireland to determine for herself the
form of government under which her
people shall live"
In support of the movement to bping
freedom to Ireland the convention
pledged to raise within six months
100000. but before Justice Daniel
F. Cohalan of the New York Supreme
Court, chairman of the convention, had
completed the calling of list of states
and cities, more than $3.50, 900 had
been pledged to the cause.
Delegates from many states, repre-
scnting many Irish organizations,
crowded the Academy of Music when
Cardinal Gibbons, at the afternoon ses-
sion, in a few words presented the
resolution calling for the right of Ire
land to select it's form of government.
Applause swept the crowd as the Car
dinal slowly read the paper
The enthusiasm aroused by the pre-
late continued as numerous speakers
seconded the resolution.
All Creeds Advocate Move
Among those who spoke in support
of Ireland's freedom were the Rev.
Norman Thomas, New York; Arch
bishop Messmer, of Milwaukee; Rabbi
Joseph Krauskopf, Of Philadelphia;
James G. Miter a Protestant Episco-
pal clergyman, of Norfolk, Va; Mrs.
Mary McWhorter, Of Chicago, head Of
the women's auxiliary of the Ancient
Order of Hhernans; Henry Goddard
Leach, of New York; Thomas u.
Mathews, of Providence, national sec
retary of the A. O. H., and Frank P.
Walsh. of Kansas City.
The convention rose to its feet and
checred several minutes when Rabbi
Krauskopf said that President Wilson's
declaration that small nations shall
have the right of self government "will
not die down. and not even President
Wilson himself can recall it,
The Resolution in Full
The text of the resolution intro
eve, the delegates to the conven-
tion of the Irish race in America, as
sembed in Philadelphia, the city in
which the immortal declaration of
American liberty was given to the
world, and speaking for many millions
Of American citizens, call upon the
President and Congress of these
United States of America to urge the
peace conference now in session at
Paris to apply to Ireland the great
doctrine of national self determination
and to recognize the right of the peo-
pie of Ireland to select for themselves
people the form of government under
which in future they shall live.
ave urge this claim, in the first
place, in the name of justice recogniz-
ing and insisting on the truth set forth
by the founders of our Republic, that
all governments derive their just pow
crs from the consent of the governed.
eve urge this claim in the name Of
America, insisting, as we have just
shown in the case OF France, that we
arc not an ungrateful people, and re-
calling that no other people nave con-
tributed more than those of Irish blood
to the creation, the upbuilding, the de-
vclopment and the preservation and
defence of our great country.
750-Y Year Struggle Cited
We urge this claim in the name of
Ireland because of the unparalleled
struggle for now seven and half
centuries that Ireland has carried on
for national existence and liberty; be-
cause all efforts to break down and de-
because Of the extraordinary majority
by which less than two months ago tho
people Of Ireland declared, not alone
their dissatisfaction with the govern
ment Of their land by England but also
p. -- - A-
Continued on pugc three