The Irish standard., 1920-01-31


Worlds Greatest city-Reception to
Irish President outclasses All Previ-
Gus Functions-lnspiring Speeches
BY Mayor Hylan, Hon. William
6ourke Cochran and Others.
City Hall Park, New York City, was
crowded out beyond the barriers by
q throng on: Saturday, January II.
never before equalled.
The band of the Sixty-ninth Regi-
ment awaited President De Valera at
City Hall, also the Pipers' Band in
costume. Children from the Car
melite School in Gaelic dress were
ranged on the steps and as the Presi-
dent arrived "The Star-Spangled Ban
ner" was sung, the crowds, with barred
heads, joining in the chorus.
The chamber in which President De
Valera was received was draped with
the American colors, small "Old
Glories" and Irish tricolor flags being
borne by almost every one in the i'm.
mense crowd that thronged through
halls and gallery and kept filing up
and down the noble marble stairway.
The mayor received Mr.. De Valera
on the floor of the council chamber,
surrounded by several city officials, in
cluding the police commissioner. Hon.
VIM Bourke Cochran was at the right
of Mr.. De Valera and the mayor on
his left.
Greatest Enterprise Of the Moment.
Mr.. Cochran presented the Presi-
dent to Mayor Hylan in short ad-
dress, saying in part:
"Mr. Mayor:
Il have been asked by the Friends
Of Irish Freedom to discharge the very
pleasant and honorable task of pre-.
senting to you the recipient of this
days offering, and think it particu.
larly auspicious, not merely for the
purposes of the city and for the pur'
poses of the country but for the whole
world, that here the head of the great
est city on the globe should give his
personal sanction and approval on be-
half of this great city to what we con.
ceive to be the greatest enterprise at
this moment in operation throughout
the world.
1--WE are presenting to you here the
embodiment of great national up.
rising but not, like the other upris.
ings throughout the world, to be levied
against property and order and law,
but great uprising in vindication of
the fundamental moralities that con.
stitute the foundations Of Christian
civilization and the essential princi-
pies of democratic government. The
revolutionary movements that are
sweeping over the world are threaten.
ing the foundations of civilized socie-
ty. There seems to be no force and
effect in them and these governments
themselves seem to be in perilous
way.
"But in Ireland there has come a
strong movement, a powerful move
ment, a unanimous movement, of the
entire population, where in the stress
of the people there is a patient love
for these moralities that constitute
the basis Of Christian civilization.
"The embodiment Of these traits Is
here in the person Of the President
Of the Irish Republic, whom I present
in the name of Eamonn De Valera"
Gives Official Recognition.
When the cheering stopped tho
mayor began his address. In the very
first words he uttered he recognized
Eamonn De Valera as president of
the Irish Republic"
Mayor Hylan said:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1T is privileged honor, personal as
we'll as official, to greet most cor.
daily, in the person of Eamonn De
Valera, the President of the Irish Re.
public. do so officially as chief ex.
ecutive Of the City Of New York, in
concord and in conformity with the
resolution Of the board Of aldermen
calling on me as mayor to convey to
him the welcome, in addition to the
freedom, Of the metropolis of the
western world-the City Of New York.
An Offclal DUTY.
'sThe performance of this official
duty also gives me personal satisfac'
ton a. an American citizen, who feels
that self.determination In principle
and practice should not be denied to
tho people Of Ireland. The question
that must be answered sooner or lat.
er IL. Why Ireland alone among the
smaller nations should be excluded
from q Just and legitimate share IN