The Irish standard., 1920-02-28

ssQf the case For leish Fresdo,n at the
N Avdlesrisn Last Sunday saiSDss-
F1ays tie British Propasandlsts For
Their Efforts Do stlr Up 0leetry-
~ Tho trish Question In No Sense q
Religious tissue.
Lindsay Crawford. editor Of the
Toronto Statesman. speaking In behalf
OF Irish Independence at the Mime
apolis Auditorium last Sunday night,
told . most enthusiastic audience of
over three thousand people that the
battle now on was a struggle Tor self
determination, for the right Of the
Irish people to rule themselves. and
stould not fail
OF the speaker. the following sketch
has been furnished The Irish Stand
ard:
Lindsay Crawford. editor OF the To-
ronto Statesman. Is president OF the
Protestant Friends Of Ireland. with q
membership embracing citizens of the
United States. Canada, ireland and the
. British Isles. Born into an Orange
family in Ulster. Mr.. Crawford. as
might be expected. became a Unionist
whom he attained his majority and
when still In his twenties was recog-
nized as one of the rising hopes Of
the Orange and Unionist parties in
ireland. The Ulster Guardian, of
which he became the editor. was the
only Liberal paper published in the
country, and its success under his
editorship brought him to the fore
front of Irish political affairs. He was
first Grand Master Of the Independent
Orange Institution. Previously he
was a member of the Grand Orange
Lodge of Ireland and of the Orange
Triennial Council, comprising repre-
sentatives from all parts of the world.
For several years he also sat as an
elected lay representative in the Dub
lin Diocesan Synod and in the Gen.
eral Synod of the Church of ireland.
of which he was a member. Like so
many other Ulster Protestants, how
ever. Mr.. Crawford penetrated the
barriers of religious and economic
prejudice that have so long separated
the people of the northeast corner of
Ulster from the people of the rest Of
ireland. After several years of close
study Of the Nationalist movement
(prior to the political advent OF Sim
Fein) Mr.. Crawford renounced his
Unionist affiliations and became a
full-dedged Home Ruler. About nine
years ago he went to Canada as
leading editorial writer on the TO.
ronto Globe. Quitting the Globe ow-
ing to a difference In policy. Mr.. Craw.
ford having supported Sir Wilfrid
Laurier In his fight against autocratic
war legislation. he founded the To-
ronto Statesman, now the leading ma
tional Journal Of liberal opinion in
Canada. In Canada. Mr.. Crawford is
the outstanding leader OF the rapidly
growing sentiment for complete inde-
pendence and the establishment OF a
Canadian Republic.
During the course Of his address
Mr.. Crawford said:
The delegation Of Ulster Protestant
Unionists headed by Mr.. w. J. Coote.
M. p. In this country fighting against
recognition Of the Republic Of Ireland.
have in their addresses endeavored to
show that Ireland Is happy under Brit
ish rule. has prospered and could not
possibly be better OF as an independ-
ent nation. One Of them has declared
In SO many words that ireland en-
Joys fair rights Of representation in
the Imperial Parliament. seeing she
sends los members to It,"
This is not true. The people of
ireland at the polls one year ago voted
into Office 73 parliamentary candidates
solemnly pledged to remain away from
the Imperial Parliament of Great
Britain and to establish a Republican
Government In Ireland. The truth is
that there are but 26 representatives
Of Irish constituencies (Unionists)
sitting In the Imperial Parliament who
favor q continuation Of the union with
Britain. Six others (Nationalists)
are there demanding the right Of the
Irish people to self.determination, the
only disagreement between these s
and the 7S straight-out republicans
being concerned with the method of
achieving Ireiand's freedom from Brit
ish tyranny. The 73 republicans elect.
ed for the specific purpose Of estab-
fishing an Independent government
based on the will Of the Irish people
represent the vast majority Of the
Irfah manila Tho rof,,rno NJ tho uo,,