The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-28

Quito to the contrary. Since the passage of the act of union, coercion bill after coercion bill has been placed on the statute book. The ascendency party or the Dublin castle ring, manipulated legislation that the great majority of the people were kept in subjection in the name of law and order, and even still in these much brighter days that same old party, vastly minority in Ireland, has control of practically all lucrative posi- tions and all places of trust and influence The banks, the railroads, the governing bodies, the education boards. the postof- fees are all at present governed by men, foreign in race. in religion and in senti- ment to the mass of the Irish people. Nationalist Ireland labout s5 members) did not at all times have the balance of power On the few occasions when she did hold 1t she used 1t naturally to Ire lands advantage and forced remedial legislation.
 l thank MT Craig for pointing out a very absurd mistake I made in my last letter with regard to the due propor- tion of soldiers that England should fur nish the army I unreservedly withdraw the statement, which, of course, cannot stand for moment. that Englands share on the basis of Irelands reply to the call to the colors should be S,000,0e0 men. What l should have said was that apart from
  should have rallied in Great Britain to de- fend the flag. And even that statement may be modified by 50 per cent reduc- ton since the entire war and morgan fzed strength of Great Britain in the British Isles Is not quite 100000 men,. It was courteous indeed, Of Mir Craig to do no more than call atten- tion to the blunder and to refrain from being, he might well have been extremely sarcastic on my knowledge of elementary mathematics.
 An, the unspeakable Turk. I wonder if he were so dubbed by, say, the London Times of 1854 when the Crimean war was at its height I wonder also whether the nation that same organ styles our gallant Muscovite ally was held in such high favor. l trow now. Mir Craig knows full well that certain gentleman is not as black as he is painted, if proverbs have any truth. Neither, l take 1t, Is the Turk. Indeed, l have always had a kindly feeling for that nation, since l read long ago in hoyhood days that when the great famine was sweeping over 1re- land, when our stricken people were dy- ing in tho ditches of starvation, relief was sent from the land of the Moslem, and more would have been sent had not representation been made through official channels that the amount given must not exceed the amount contributed by the reigning sovereign of the day the late Queen Victoria.
 As for Kitchener of Khartoum, I hope Mr. Craig does not think that I am very anxious to adopt him, or to glory In his warlike achievements The Irish can claim the title "the fighting race" with out the redoubtable earl. War Is the rul- ing passion of the people" says Mac Geogheban, and this is shown in the long history of the race from the days of Finn, son of Cumhal and Cuchulaim, to the present day.
 In conclusion. I will say that in re- ply to Mir Craigs wish. or implied wish, that I may find that I can love Ireland while admitting that her prosperity and happiness will be promoted by loyalty to the British empire, I can only say dubi- ously, The past history of the two na- tions would not lead me to believe that possible, but who knows. miracles still are possible" JAMES 10. COYLE.
 Birmingham. March 27. 1915.