The Irish standard., 1914-10-03
IRISH RECRUITING

IRISH RECRUITING
If British press dispatches are to
be relied upon, Premier Asquith and
John Redmond, the leader of the
Irish Nationalist party, are 1reland's
latest recruiting agents. Last week
these gentlemen met at the mansion
house in Dublin for the purpose of
impressing upon the young men of
Ireland the necessity and duty of
joining the ranks of the English
armies. The Prime Minister, it was
reported, was received with a tre-
mendous welcome. The appeal made
to the people of Ireland was made
on the ground of British faith. The
old anamosities were dead, he de-
clared, and asked of Ireland friend
ly Offering. John Redmond, so it is
reported, declared that it is Ireland's
duty to fight and that Great Britain
has kept faith with ireland and Ire
land will keep faith with Great Bri-
tain. Certainly, compared with the
above. there is nothing in the pas
sages Of history that would supply
as important text for the dicussion
of international folly, than the facts
outlined in the press dispatches re-
garding Irish recruiting. The entire
political situation, as far as Great
Britain is concerned, has been a con-
tinuous attempt through political in
struction to teach the Irish people
that their position is one of submis-
sion and slavery, and that they have
no right, and can, therefore, make
no demand for personal liberty, and
a separate existence among the ma
tions of the world. With this as a
policy, England has shaped her treat
ment accordingly and now that
Premier Asquith tries to make them
believe that England has changed her
mind. in however slightly degree, it
is therefore to be argued that what
ever measure of liberty England saw
fit to grant to Ireland it was because
of a change in the English mind and
not the desire of the Irish heart, and
now, in the moment of England's diff
ficulty, the attempt is made to blind
fold Ireland, that she may not see
her opportunity. Preaching friend
ship to people who have for cen
turies been robbed, and asking it all
in the name of duty, little wonder
that the Hibernians in Minnesota,
when assembled in their state con-
vention, declared it out of place at
this time to pay any special tribute
to the work of the leaders of the Ma
tionalist party and commemorate the
passage of the Home Rule Bill.
when so many obstacles were placed
in the way of it's achievement and
when the Irish people were not taken
into confidence when the amended
bill, suspending its operation, was
passed, and allowed the possibility of
the amended bill seeking to remove
from the working of Home Rule the
territory of Ulster. Long enough
have the people of Ireland been the
dupes of Great Britain. The idea of
there being strife among the Ulster
Volunteers and the Nationalist Vol
unteers, as to which one could and
would supply the greatest number of
recruits and thus display the loyalty
and patriotism to the English gov
ernment. is folly. It is upon this side
Of the water that the material has
been furnished and the aid has been
given to keep the cause alive and in
dividuals who found their activities
curtailed and their lives endangered
by remaining on Irish soil, have
sought refuge in America and here
have hurled defiance at the crown.
These are potent causes, they are
matters that cannot be lost sight of.
The voice of the Irish in America
is voice to be needed by John Red
mond and the Irish Nationalists.
TIT fl0llrnnl luS0 nIun