The Irish standard. [volume], March 01, 1919, Image 1

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Vol XXXIIII.
A Brilliant and
The Peace Conference at Paris, the
resolutions stated, cannot Ignore this
state of war and President Wilson's
task of establishing permanent peace
will not be completed until the iTish.
question is settled on those principles
of self-determination, to which he has
committed himself and the United
States. The convention further "de
manded that President Wilson place
before the Peace. .Confidence, and sup-'
port with all his powerful influence
Ireland's right of self-determination
and secure for the elected delegates
from her constituent assembly to the
Peace Conference the same status and
recognition which have been accorded
to those of other small nations."
While the set of resolutions em
bodied the ideas and aspirations of the
convention, the actual practical work
of the Friends of Irish Freedom was
given a rousing start by the raising of
a fund of $1,500,000. The resolutions
pledged to raise a sum of $1,000,000
within six months, but one and a half
times that amount was contributed in
pledges within thirty minutes after a
fiery address by Bishop Michael J.
Gallagher, of Detroit, in which he de
clared that Lord Northcliffe had ad
mitted that England was spending
$150,000,000 for anti-Irish propaganda
in the United States. It is chiefly for
the purpose of counteracting this
propaganda that the $1,500,000 fund
was raised.
Gibbons Urges Irish Freedom.
Cardinal Gibbons was the principal
speaker of the afternoon session. The
Cardinal, too, presented a resolution,
which was also adopted by acclama
tion. It called upon the President and
Congress of the United States to urge
the Peace Conference to apply to Ire
land the doctrine of self-determination
and to "recognize the right of the peo
ple of Ireland to select for themselves
without interference from any other
people the form of government under
which in the future they shall live.
Escorted by Archbishop Dougherty,
Monsignor Gerald P. Coghlan and Mon
signor Hugh T. Henry, the prelate, ar
rayed in the scarlet cappa magna
and zuchetta, and black cassock edged
arid buttoned in red, appeared upon
the stage. He received a thunderous
ovation, which lasted for more than
five minutes. The Cardinal took a
seat in the center of the stage, with
Archbishop Dougherty on his left and
Dr. Joseph'Krauskopf, rabbi of Kene
seth Israel Temple, on his right,
-w Between speeches, which the Cardinal
heard nntil almost the end of the ses
sion, the prelate was often seen con
versing smilingly with both Doctor
Krauskopf and the Archbishop.
After a short introduction by Justice
Daniel F. Cohalan, of the New York
Supreme Court/ who presided, in
which he termed him "a man to whom
millions of Americans look as the first
citizen of these United States," Car
dinal Gibbons, unescorted, stepped
forward. A new outburst of en
thusiasm swept the audience. Then
/'. the Cardinal said in a clear, kindly,
hot deliberate voice:
J?, i-^
J^V^,|.M»-
No.
13
HI
Men and women of Irish birth and
descent, more than 5,000 in number,
gathered in the Academy of Made
*at Philadelphia on Saturday, Feb. 22
and bX acclamation adopted resolu
tions which said a state of war exists
between England »nd Ireland. These
resolutions were passed with a storm
of cheers tad applause at the after
noon session of the Irish Race Con
vention of the Friends of Irish Free
dom,which came to a close last night,
Society
oCiiw
•jn wltL-
Ireland Wants Freedom.
"Tou do not expect a speech from
me. My advanced years and conse
quent Infirmities render me incapable
of making such an effort.
"1 hold in my bands a resolution on
behalf of Ireland's freedom, which will
appeal, I hope, to every lover of liber
ty and justice.
"My friends, there is liberty in the
air. The nations of the earth are
clamoring for liberty. And why should
not freedopi-loving Ireland join in the
general cry. Yes, Ireland wants free
dom to breathe the air of heaven. She
wants freedom to stretch her brawny
and sinewy arms. She wants freedom
to develop her resource^. She wants
freedom to develop the riches of her
soul. She wants freedom to carve out
her own destiny.
"America is the friend and cham
pion of liberty. She fought this war to
make the idea of national liberty tri
umph in the world. Liberty is a neces
sary part of justice it is not a favor
or a privilege. Nations as well as in
dividuals have a right to liberty. Ire
land's right to liberty is as clear as
sunlight. Every American who is sin
cerely attached to the principles of his
country should be a friend of Irish
freedom. Just as in the war we took
the side pf Belgium and France and
England, because it was the side of
liberty and justice, so for the very
same reason should we now take the
side of Ireland. All Americans should
stand as one man for Ireland's in
alienable right of self-determination.
"And therefore, we are today to
plead the cause of Ireland's sons and
daughters that they may stand erect,
redeemed, regenerated and disen
thralled on her own sacred soil."'
The prelate was often interrupted by
applause. After the cheers which
greeted his last words had died down,
the Cardinal slowly and distinctly read
his resolution.
Support Nonsectarian.
Justice Cohalan then called upon
eight persons to second Cardinal Gib
bons's motion. In the light of the
cause for which the convention was
held, it was significant that one of
them was a non-Irishman and non
Catholic another a Jew, a third an
Irish Episcopalian and a fourth a Pro
testant of Scandinavian descent, while
the other four were Irish Catholics.
They were "the Rev. Norman Thom
as, a Presbyterian minister, of New
York Doctor Krauskopf, the Rev.
James Grattan Myhew, a Protestant
Episcopal minister, of Norfolk, Va.
Mrs. Mary McWhorter, national presi
dent of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the
Ancient Order of Hibernians, of Chi
cago Henry Goddard Leach, author
of works upon the history and culture
of the Scandinavian peoples Thomas
Matthews, of Providence, R. I., nation
al secretary of the Ancient Order of
Hibernians Justice Gavagan, of the
New York Supreme Court and Frank
P. Walsh, formerly joint chairman of
the national war labor board.
After their addresses, the Cardinal's
resolution was carried by acclamation,
an4 the prelate left the meeting and re
turned to Baltimore.
Of the speeches in formal support
of the Cardinal's resolution, that of
the Rev. Father Thomas was most fer
vently acclaimed. It apparently also
to a high degree pleased the prelate,
who repeatedly gave signs of high ap
proval and who rose at the finish of
the address to shake the hand of the
young speaker.
Many Races and Creeds United in the Call for Self-Determination for Ireland. President Wilson
Urged to Procure Admission of Sinn Fein Delegates to the Peace Conference. Cardinal
Gibbons Personally Presents Resolution for Ireland's Freedom. One and half Million Dol
lars Pledged te Fight British Propaganda in America. No Infringement of the Monroe
0 E E
-Ty.-*^
rf Si Assemblage of Friends of Irish Cause—Distinguished
Protestant Clergymen and Jewish Rabbis as well as Catholic Prelate Parti
cipate Heartlily in the Demonstration.
Doctrine to be Permitted Under the League of Nations Agreement. Cogent Resolutions
and Well Reasoned Declarations of Principals Adopted.
Father Thomas said in part:
"It is with a deep sense of humil
ity and honor that I second Cardinal
Gibbons's resolution. I am a man not
of Irish blood and not of Catholic
faith, but it is a high honor to second
any motion that many be presented by
this eminent prince of the church.
"The time of bullet and bayonet has
passed: This is the time of the bal
lot. The whole platform of Sinn Fein
is one of liberty, pure and simple and
unadulterated. Even Protestant Uls
ter is about to second the demand for
Irish independence."
Doctor Krauskopf, who was en
thusiastically received, drew a parallel
between the sufferings of the Irish and
the Jewish peoples. The Rev. Mr. My
hew declared the argument that "home
rule is Rome-rule," put forth by Eng
land, was a subterfuge.
"If Rome had political powejj,", he,
said, "it would have freed Ireland long
ago. But if I, an Episcopalian, had to
choose between Rome-rule and British
rule, I would say: 'Give 'me Rome
rule!'"
The $1,500,000 fund was pledged as
follows:
New York, $150,000 Philadelphia,
$150,000 Ladies' Auxiliary, A. O. H.,
$150,000 A. O. H. $100,000 Rhode
Island $25,000 North Jersey, $50,000
South Jersey, $50,000 Detroit, $50,
000 Missouri, $50,000 South Carolina,
$10,000 Idaho, $10,000 Connecticut,
$25,000 Indiana, $25,000 western
Pennsylvania, $50,000 Delaware, $10,
000, and a number of personal contri
butions.
At the morning session, also held in
the Academy of Mu^Ic, the chief speak
er was Lajpat Rai, a Hindu, of Lah
ore, India. He compared the plight of
Ireland with that of India, and urged
that the principle of self-determina
tion be also applied to his country.
Other speakers included Michael J.
O'Brien of New York historian of the
American-Irish Historical Society, who
spoke on the part the Irish have played
in the Revolutionary War Dr. Austin
O'Mally, of this city, and Miss Cather
ine Hughes, of Canada.
Declaration of Principles.'
The following Declaration of Prin
ciples was adopted at the session of
Sunday afternoon. They were read
by Michael J. Ryan, former City Sol
icitor of Philadelphia:
"We, the delegates of the conven
tion of Irish races in America, assem
bled in Philadelphia, the city in which
the immortal Declaration of American
Liberty was given to the world, and
speaking for many millions of Amer
ican citizens, call upon the president
and congress of these United States
of America to urge the peace confer
ence now in session at Paris to apply
to Ireland the great doctrine of na
tional self-determination and to recog
nize the right' of the people of Ireland
to select for themselves without inter
ference from any other people the form
of government under\which in future
they shall live.
"We 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
ers from the consent of the governed.
Urged In Name of America.
"We urge this claim in the name of
America, Insisting, as we have just
shown in the "case of France, that we
are not an ungrateful people, and re
calling (bat no other people have con
tributed more than those of Irish
v'
FIVE THOmi) DELEGATES IRISH RACE CONVENTION
blood to the creation, the upbuilding,
the development and the preservation
and defense of our great country.
"We urge this claim in the name of
Ireland because of the unparalleled
struggle for now 7% centuries that'
Ireland has carried on for national ex
istence and liberty because all ef
forts to break down and destroy that
existence have failed, and because of
the extraordinary majority by which
1«BS than two months ago the people
of Ireland declared, not alone their
dissatisfaction with the government
of their land by England, but also
their determination to govern them
selves without interference from any
outside influence or power.
Plebiscite Favored.
"We urge this .claim in the name of
humanity because we believe that war
cannot be ended and a just and per
manent peace cannot be brought
about"iinless the ddctrine of self-deter
mination be applied to Ireland and the
people of that country be permitted to
decide for themselves the form of gov
ernment under which they shall live.
"We point out that England has
tried in every way to coerce or to per
suade or to cajole the people of Ire
land to give up their devotion to their
national aspirations and tried them all
in vain. Lloyd George within the last
few months has been compelled to as
sert that Ireland is at. present as much
opposed to British rule as in the days
of Cromwell.
People Declare Dissatisfaction.
"The industries of Ireland have been
destroyed her trade and commerce
wiped out her population cut in two
her leaders deported and held in Eng
lish jails without indictment or trial
and yet within the last two months
the people with an unanimity never
before attained have again declared
their utter dissatisfaction with lSng
lish rule and their determination to be
free. England refuses to listen to the
voice of Ireland, but we point out that
England likewise refused to listen to
the ^oice of the American colonies.
"England was compelled less than
a century and a half ago to recognize
the independence of the colonies, and
within the last year the efforts of our
country saved England and her allies
from total defeat at the hands of the
Central Powers. The land to which
England 'was ilius compelled to do jus
tice has' just saved England in her
hour of need. Let England now realize
that justice to Ireland which she has
so long denied, with grievous loss to
Ireland, but also with great loss to
herself, will now remove from her
path the bitterest hostility which she
has (o encounter all over the world
and will convince mankind in general
of the sincerity of her declaration
when she says that she believes in lib
erty and justice for others as well as
for herself.
"Finally, we urge this claim that
peace and order may be brought out
of the chaos with which the whole
world now seems to be threatened. In
this great hour-when governments are
being reformed and when peoples long
oppressed by tyranny are emerging
again into the sunlight of liberty, let
there be sincerity and unselfishness
on the part of those who are control
ling the peace conference to the end
that the mistakes of (he congress of
Vierfna may be avoided and a peace
made, that will be lasting and perma
nent because it will be just and right.
"Upon the shoulders of on presi
(Continued on Page 87)
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Emmetsburg, la., Feb. 19.—To the
Editor: With your permission I wish
to reply to the letter of J. A. Thomas
of Chamberlain, S. D„ on "England
and Ireland." He accuses the Irish
people of unfairness in their attitude
toward Great Britain. He demands
definite statements by those who ask
the privilege of speaking for the Irish.
I am an American by birth, but my
father was a native of Ireland. I
shall try to accommodate Mr. Thomas.
Mr. Thomas says: "A certain corre
spondent declared the English had
been unjust to Ireland. I deny this
allegation. She has been most' liberal
in her treatment of Ireland, Scotland
and Wales." I trust Mr. Thomas will
consider the Encyclopedia Britaimica
among the very best of British au
thorities. It is certainly not partial
to the Irish. If he will glance through
Volume XIII, pages 2.14 to 272, he will
find a list of Ireland's grievances that
should make him shudder. After Oli
ver Cromwell's ten years of butchery
there were, according to the census
figures given in this British author
ity, only 500,091 people left in Ireland.
Cromwell intended to. exterminate th^
race. Britannica shows that he almost
succeeded in doing so and marvels
that so many people were left. The
records of old Dublin Castle show that
more old men, women and children
were slaughtered in five counties in
the province of Connaught during
those ten years than the total number
of lives lost by the north during our
great civil war. How do the figures
in the Belgium tragedy compare with
this record? For 20 years, with the
exception of the relatively small num
ber who were willing to give up their
faith, the people of Ireland were not
legally allowed to hold religious serv
ices. Their clergymen were hunted
like wolves and were shot down in
could blood when they attempted to ad
minister to the spiritual needs of
their Hocks. A bounty of $50 per head
was placed on the head of a priest
and on the head of a schoolmaster, the
same as wo offer bounties on wolves.
Priests could not be legally educated
in their native country. Churches,
schools, hospitals and asylums were
confiscated or destroyed. The people
of the Catholic fait.1i could not vote,
could not hold office, could not enter
the professions or possess property.
They could not engage in the trades,
in the professions or in coramcrce.
They could not take a mortgage for
the security of a loan. Their children
were forbidden to be educated in for
eign countries. Thousands of Irish
boys and girls were taken forcibly
from their parents and were sent to
the West Indies and other British col
onies, where they were sold as slaves.
Eighteen million of the 22,000,000
acres of land in Ireland were forcibly
taken from the lawful owners and
given to people who came from Eng
and the Scotland. We do not recol
lect that such wholesale confiscation
of property has ever at any time taken
place in any other country in the
world. You will find all these' facts in
Britannica, Mr. Thomas. You cannot
very well object to my authority. You
can handle these statements "without
gloves" if you care to do so.
But this is not all, Mr. Thomas.
Britannica says British laws were such
as to make Ireland the least law
abiding country in Europe. Britannica
will inform you that the Irish woolen,
linen, hemp, metal and other 'indus
tries- were suppressed by England and
that commerce in the south and west
of Ireland could not do otherwise than
languish. The Irish were forbidden
to ship their wool or their meats to
England, to her colonies or to conti
nental Europe. The landlords, to
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And Ireland"
Emmetsbnr«
'W- /wte an Answer to British Propa
gandist.
l/
t, ib. I
Democrat
Published in the Sioux City
Journal Is an Imposing^Array^of His
toricar Falter sReply to Claims and Argu­'"WH~
ments of J. A.Thomas of Chamberlain, S. D.
whom the 18,000,000 acres of Ireland's
lands were given were, -according to
Britannica, as tyrannical as slave own
ers. We hope the above fact's from
an authority that Mr. iThomas will
not dare to question answer to
his bold challenge. —.
t*
was in some
Though religious 1 r'r
respects restored tcj I*' pie of Ire
land in 1829, they ,,e a forced until
1869 to give a considerable portion of
their earnings to the church of Eng
land, to which over 90 per cent of them
did not belong.
The British were horrified about the
German atrocities in Belgium, which
continued for four years. We suggest
that Mr. Thomas compare the record
of the kaiser in Belgium with that of
England in Ireland for 200 years as
given in Britannica. How long will it
be before the Belgians will be willing
to throw up their hats and cheer for
Germany? What reader of the pages
of Britannica, to which 1 refer, can
praise the British for their treatment
of the people of the Emerald isle?
But Mr. Thomas contends that Ire
land is now self-governed and has all
.Di the liberties ai)d privileges of WaleB,
Scotland, Canada and Australia. The
Scotch and the Welch are doubtless
capable of answering for themselves.
The Canadians and Australians have
local self-government. Ireland is still
without such government. Ireland is
represented in the British parliament,
but the British members can out-vote
them a to 1 on every proposition af
fecting the interests of Ireland and the
Irish members are as a result never
able to gain any legislative advan
tages for their own country. The lord
lieutenant, or governor, the member
of his council, the chief secretary, the
judiciary and the constabulary are ap
pointed by the British. Mr. Thomas
claims that the people of Iowa do not
enjoy any more democratic privileges
than the people of Ireland. We elect
our governor, our judges, our legisla
tors and our other state officers. They
make all of their subordinate appoint
ments. The people of Ireland do not
enjoy any of these privileges. Why is
Mr. Thomas opposed to the granting
of home rule to Ireland? Why would
ho deny her independence? Why is
'lie, as an American citizen, opposed
to giving any intelligent, religious, law
abiding people the right of self-deter
mination? Were the Americans in
J77H right in throwing off the British
yoke? If so, why blame the Irish peo
ple for insisting on the same privilege?
Mr. Thomas says the Irish did not
do their part in the ]ate struggle
against Germany. There were, accord
ing to undisputed declaration of John
Redmond, the late Irish leader in par
liament, 500,000 solders of Irish birth
in the ranks of the allies. There were
none in the armies of the Teutons and
very few of the Irish were taken pris
oners. They usually do not care to
go into a struggle of this kind and
come out alive unless they win. Irish
officers in the British army, whose
statements should be given some
weight, claim that 170,000 Irish were
killed during the four years' struggle.
This would, considering our popula
tion, be equal to an American loss of
4,400,000. John Redmond, the Irish
leader, served for four years as a re
cruiting officer. He appealed to the
Irish in every country in the world to
be loyal to the allies. T. P. O'Connor,
an Irish member of parliament, visited
the United States and delivered many
public addresses making similar ap
peals to the Irish people in the United
States. Th appeals were not neces
sary. The Irish have always been de
voted to (he cause of human liberty.
John Redmond's brother, William,
(Continued on Page 8.)
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