The Washington times., 1914-10-04
; THE WASHINGTON TIMES: SUNDAY; OCTOBER T. 1914
IRISH SYMPATHY FOR
BELGIUM, ENVOY SAYS
Richard McGhee. Redmond's
Representative. Ayers Erin's
Sons Are Loyal to England.

NEW YORK, Oct 4.-Richard Nc
Ghee. member of parliament for mid
Tyrone. who has been in this country
for several weeks on a special mission
from John Redmond. sailed yesterday on
the Anchor liner Caledonia. He told in
terviewers he was voicing the scnti-
ments of John Redmond and the Irish
at home" when he said there was no
doubt in the minds of the Irish party as
to the loyalty of the entire Irish peo-
pie to the British democracy at a ume
when il needs Irish support"
You cannot make that any 100
strong" he added. All this chatter
about disloyalty and refusal to enlist Is
exactly what some people want to think
IL ought to be.
Il have been six weeks in America on
my present visit, and have been cor
daily received by my nationalist fellow
countrymen everywhere. l have never
found a better or more loyal spirit
among Irishmen than exists at present
The successful passing Of the home rule
bill into an act of parliament has
brought joy and satisfaction to the
whole people of our race in America,
and they are grateful to Mr.. Redmond
and his colleagues.
The Irish in America will continue
loyal to Mr.. Redmond's leadership with
out flinching until the new parliament
has been set up and brought into oper-
alton. l see no signs of dissent wnat-
ever among Ir.shmen in America with
regard to Mr.. Redmond's policy toward
the European war. and there is GER
tainly complete approval of his policy
among Irish nationalists at home.
ask the American public to attach no
importance to little political wasp who
here and there may say anything to
the contrary.
Ballot Box the Place.
THE Irish ballot boxes, in the Irish
electoral districts, are the places to test
ones strength among the people, and
there John Richmond and his party
have been supreme. 1t is not in the
journals of Dublin Castle, printed In
New York, that the American public
must look for Irish policy. but to the
people Of Ireland themselves; and their
authorized spokesmen are not John De-
voy and his correspondents, but John
Redmond and his party.
The part which Mr.. Redmond ad
vises the Irish young men at home to
take in this war is a matter that
wholly rests with the people in Ireland
Nobody else can settle that question for
known John Redmond's work for thir-
ty years. They know. too, what Parnell
and O'Connell would have advised un-
der similar circumstances
They cannot be humbugged by any
PERSONAL views of those who do not
have to live in Ireland for the rest of
| Their lives. And so when Mr.. Redmond
advises Irishmen of their duty they are
quite capable of knowing and judging
for themselves whether 1t is the proper
thing TO manifest a spirit of patriotism.
| They are doing it now and will continue
to do il.
No Selfish Object.
ENGLAND has no mere selfish object in
view in this war. She went in TO de-
fend q principle dear to the heart of
every true Irishman-the independence
Of a rare and heroic little nation, Bel
| gtum, brutally and violently attacked by
| a madman and a despot. and Irishmen
are in full sympathy with Belgium and
| glory IN being able to join with Eng
land in her defense.
The victory OF Belgium. aided by
the British and Irish soldiers. will be
| lesson to all nations who. with big
armies. think they can trample down
the liberties Of small nations with inn
punity.
| 1T is the first war since the union
that England has engaged in without
| q stain on her character. and We Irish.
all the Irish at home. rejoice that 1t
should be so in a year that a real Brit
| ish democracy passed home rule act
| Of parliament for Ireland"