The Irish standard., 1905-11-18

palgn, which has been gradually grow
ing for the last half dozen years, is
coming to a climax, and supplying its
quota of hostages to English justice.
No week passes now in which there
are not one or more arrests of persons
found advising their countrymen not
to enlist in the British army. The
government had to take firm steps here.
The Irish soldier was, of course, the
backbone of the British army. The
Irish regiments were the only ones to
be depended upon at thecritical mo-
ment of battle. The Irish enlistment
was, in sympathy with the new feeling
spread abroad in Ireland, completely
falling off, and Irish boys could no
longer be either coaxed or coerced into
the ranks of the redcoat. Things were
becoming so serious that the govern
ment felt compelled to step down and
fight the anti-recruiting movement.
Hence the arrests, which have now be-
the case, however, in thehistory of Ire
land, the movement has thereby got a
great impetus, and for the one Irish
hoy who, before that, spread the anti
recruiting literature, there are a hun
dred ardently engaged in it now.
At late hour on Saturday night, or
an early hour on Sunday morning
week ago, no less than $4,000 anti
recruiting notices were posted over
Dublin, and so expeditiously and we'll
was the work done that only two boys
(out of the host that must have been
engaged) were caught in the act and
lodged in Dublin Jail. At an early hour
on Sunday all Dublin, as we'll those
who might never have seen the posters
as those who would have seen them
were attracted to the literature by the
sight of an army of police hurrying
scurrying over the city, and making
frantic efforts to tear down the posters
from dead-wall and door, lamp post
and telegraph pole. Some fun-loving
boys had spelled to the tops of very
high poles and there posted the notices.
In the sequel, Dublin, for one Sunday,
got infinite amusement watching 24O-
pound policemen spend the morning
spelling the tall poles and taking off
the posters from the tops. Of course,
the swallows were the only living
things thatthere elevated posters ut
tered sedition to, but the law evidently
considered that it would not do to have
even the swallows of Ireland learn the
shame and the peril of joining the
forces of England.
An old man was arrested in Belfast
for selling this literature, young man
was arrested in Kilkenny for carrying
it, and two young men were arrested
in Kerry for distributing it. The two
Kerry men had to be conveyed a long
way to court under a heavy police
escort. Crowds Of sympathizers accom-
panied the prisoners, and other crowds
at certain points upon the way met and
greeted them with great cheers In
connection with these arrests, the most
amusing thing was that in the crowded
courthouse, where the two Kerry pris-
oners were undergoing a preliminary
trial, there were circulated, amongst
all who attended, hundreds Of the very
pamphlets that the young men were in
the dock for distributing There were
solemn magistrates, crown prosecutors,
and scores of policemen. A better days
work for the nti-recruiting campaign
had never before been done in Kerry.
president of the Gaelic League, is on
the eve of departure to America, it is
well for Irish-Americans to know that,
though the Gaelic League is, of course,
national, still it is non-political, and
Or. HYDE whatever may be his private
views, cannot, as president and repre-
sentative of the Gaelic League, make
any political pronouncements during
his American tour. The one thing that
the good doctor looks forward to with
fear is the likelihood Of political
parties in America pressing him for