The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-01-31
North Yakima, Jan. 81, 1912.
Editor Herald:


Editor Herald
Sir-Kindly allow me a little space
in your paper for a few remarks re-
.. garding an editorial in your issue of
Saturday, headed: IAN Englishman
fighting for free speech" In it you
say that it is one of the wonders of
the political situation in England
that the people of Ireland are oppos-
ing Home Rule. 1t is to this state
ment 1 wish to take exception, as
there are great many people in this
country who are not familiar with
the situation in Ireland whose sympa-
thy is extended to the Irish people
in the long and severe struggle which
they are making for freedom; but
should they read and accept this ed
itorial as correct their sympathy
would probably be withdrawn; and
this sympathy of the American peo-
pie is considered by the Irish, and
rightly, too, as one of their greatest
assets in the great struggle in which
they are engaged.
1t is true that in one little corner
of Ireland there is strong opposition
to Home Rule But this opposition
comes from a clique of parasites
whose only claim to be Irish is that
they have been in power in Ireland
since that country was robbed of her
parliament over 100 years ago, and
they and their ancestors have lived
and thrived at the expense of the
Irish people ever since.
If we examine the history of the
leaders of this anti-Irish movement,
it is easy to find reason for the
stand which they take. Lord Lon
donderry, the prime mover in the OPP
position is a descendant of the noto-
rious Castlereagh, who was a member
of the Irish Parliament when the Act
of Union was passed, which took the
legislative power out of the hands of
the Irish people. 1t is we'll known
fact that this Castlereagh received a
huge bride from the English govern
ment for the services which he rem
dered in robbing the Irish people Of
their last free institution. Soon after.
haunted by a guilty conscience, he
committed suicide.
His act Of seif-destruction appar-
emily stiled the conscience in his do
scendants. as had the present repre-
sentative of the house of Cashier
eagh a spark of conscience, he would
long ago have followed in the foot
steps of this notorious ancestor and
relieved the world of a great bur-
den.
Under the present system of gov
eminent in Ireland, this gentleman
CD can make a "fat living" off the
Irish people. In recent years during
the life of one Tory government he
held the office of Viceroy of Ireland
for five years at salary of $4,000
per year. This office he hopes to
again hold should a Tory government
ever come into power. He knows
that the people of Ireland have
Home Rule and have the manage
ment of the affairs of their country,
he and his friends who have proved
on the Irish people for so long, will
be deprived of the power which they
have so badly abused
1t is from him and his kind that
the opposition in Irish Home Rule
comes; and to Glass Lord London
derry and his followers as "the Irish"
as a great injustice to the Irish peo-
pie, who for the past forty years
have made a great sacrifices to main
tain in the English Parliament a
party whose sole object is the secur-
ing of Home Rule for Ireland. More
than four-fifths of the people of Ire
land are in favor of Home Rule, and
despite the efforts of the landlords
who are making the threats at the
| present time, the hopes of the Irish
people will be realized in the near
| future, and they will be enable to
make their own laws on their own
soil for their own country.
Trusting you will find space for this
in the Herald, l remain,
Yours very truly
w. N. GETTIGAN.