The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-26
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Ireland's Loyalty in War

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 Father Coyles reply in Mondays Age Herald, to my criticism of his Hymn of Hate still leaves me of the opinion that the publication of an impassioned prayer to the Almighty breathing hate and venom, is anything but an edifying spectacle
 Father Coyle in speaking of the na- ton that has 'drenched Erin's sun- burst with blood and with tears, should remember that the supbursts of Austria, Germany, Italy, France Holland, Spain, England and the Bal kan states have all been drenebsd with blood and tears, not only on ac count Of the antagonism of race. but also through the intolerance of re- hgion. Everywhere the people wera struggling toward the dawn of q bet ter day. But it has been left to q IeW emotional poets and rhetorical fanatics of Irish birth to fan the flame of race hatred. Their success is much more pronounced in this country .hau in Ireland
 AS to conditions in Ireland, I would like to point out that the Irish land act passed few years back and now, in operation, forces the landlord to sell his land for the benefit of the small farmer at valuation arrived at by a commission, the purchase money being loaned by the British government to be repaid by the small farmer in so yearly payments at about 3 per cent interest per annum. The English small holder has no such solicitud., shown for his welfare
 Legislation has been enacted in the British Parliament giving home rule to Ireland, whereby Ireland is to have a Parliament of her own in Dublin. make and enforce her own laws. have her own postal service, in fact, have the same status as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, but with this ex- ception: Ireland will still send 40 Irish members of Parliament to Westmin- ster, to help govern the English. Eng land is to contribute several million pounds in money annually to help her pay the expenses of government
 Ireland has for a long time been over represented in the British House of Commons
 England has one representative for every 74,0o0 people; Ireland has one for every 42, 500 people, Scotland has
 
 enc for every 6S,000 people. Ireland with population of 4,3S400o sends iO3 representatives,: Scotland with a population of 4,73S,000 sends only 72. Without the Irish vote the two po- litical parties are so evenly balanced that no legislation can pass except with the consent of the Irish party. And yet we have Father Coyie in an emotional tirade spouting out such halderdash as the "dastard tyrant,' ,' ''slavery's chains" "hated overload ' powers of hell with England leagued" " etc. Were the American people as well informed as to conditions in Irelarc as they are as to how much the Brit l ish army is reeling before the uhlars deadly lance it would be necessary fo, Father Coyle to again take refuge be. hind a poets license.
 i! Father Coyle says that I am of the 1 impression that the Irish people are 1 united with England in opposition to a common foe. Certainly, I am of that opinion. I admit there is a small hand 1 full of irreconcilables "agin the gov ernment," but with all everyone of the elected representatives of the Irish people in favor of the war with 200, coo Irish volunteers going to the front and with the churches in Ire land praying for the success Of the British army, I have no doubt what | ever of Ireland's loyalty Father Coyle admits that he is amazed at the Irish representatives recruiting for tn, army. He should remember that every man hasn't room in his heart for tho 1 hate and venom so beautifully ex- l pressed in his poem and that instead of living in cauldron of hate. the,
 prefer to live in amity and peace witf
 the people of England, Scotland ant l Wales.
 Father Coyle says that these represen l tatives have not mandate from the peo pie to do as they are doing. Whahsor of mandate does an elected representa- tive of the people need, to urge the peo'