The Irish standard., 1916-12-30
international Aspects
Of Irish Rebellio
By an Irish Carmelite Priest Who
Saw the Rebellion.

On Easter sunday morning rumOrS
of impending trouble were rife in Dub
lin, but were discounted by most peo-
pie as the fanciful tales of alarmists
and calamity mongers. One of the
brothers of our community, however,
who was on terms of intimate ac-
quaintance with members of the Irish
Volunteer organization, received
guarded intimation on Sunday eve
ming that an outbreak was inevitable
and the news caused us all consider
able anxiety. On Monday all was
calm in the city, but feeling of UNI
easiness pervaded the community and
was visible in every countenance. The
atmosphere seemed charged with
foreboding of the momentous happen
ings which were about to take place.
One could not avoid comparisons with
similar movements in the past, and
unconsciously ones thoughts reverted
again and again to the events of ",
1903 and 1898. Would this new effort
succeed where the others had failed?
Would the tragedies of former years
be re-enacted? TO what degree would
this bold attempt affect the outcome
Of the war and how would it be viewed
in neutral countries? Absorbed in
these thoughts l paced the floor of
my room from window of which
could be had view of the streets lead
ing into Stephens Green and from
which | watched the crowds go by,
young and old, passing along as if
nothing unusual were about to take
place, all unconscious of the gathering
storm clouds.
Gazing over-the roof-tops in the di-
rection Of the Green my attention was
suddenly arrested by the appearance
of a tricolor flag which 1 had not pre-
viously noticed. In the distance it re-
sembled the red, white and blue of
Britain, but OH closer examination
detected a difference in the shading of
the colors. 1t was then growing dusk
and | procured a field glass in order
to observe the flag more closely. There
was no mistake about it this time;
there in the failing light silhouetted
against the grey blue background of
the evening Sky tloated the green,
white and orange tricolor of the Irish
Republic. AS if in salutation the roll
of musketry fell on my ears, and l
realized that the fight for Irish indie
pendence had begun. Almost carried
away by the first flood of emotion, it
was with difficulty refrained from a
demonstration of my sympathy with
the cause and my desire to further it's
success, but rules of our community
governing such matters are strict and
clearly defined, and I limited my par.
tisanship to a secret prayer for the
success of the rising.
Next day a call from the rebel quar-
ters gave me an opportunity of com.
ing directly in contact for the first
time with the men who have since
written u glorious chapter into the
annals OF Ireland. | secured admission
to Jacobs factory. where Commandant
McDonagh and Major Mcbride of the
Transvaal Irish brigade were in com.
mand.
They had about three hundred mon
at this point, mostly young in years,
some mere boys, and a majority in the
twenties They were well supplied with
rifles, automatic revolvers, ammllni.
ton for both, and food. l had heard
much criticism of these men from time
to time and was anxious to study them
at first hand. | found them all. with.
out exception, clcan-cut, courageous
and God fearing men, filled with zeal
for the cause they espoused and Ell.
tirely free from the evil characters.
tics usually associated with the adyo.
cacy of rebellion.
had later several opportunities of
speaking with Commandant Thomas
McDonagh, who impressed me as a
scholarly gentleman, a jealous patriot
and God-fearing Christian man, so.
licitous for the welfare of his men and
the success of the undertaking on
which he had staked all that life held
dear for him. He was quite friendly
with me and spoke freely of the rising,
It's aims, prospects and results. He
did not expect victory, in the sense of a
decisive defeat of the British armed
forces. unless German troops were able
to land and bring supplies. He judged
its final results from the immediate
effect in Ireland and in England and
throughout the world.
Ireland's national soul would be re-
deemed, he estimated, and the continu-
ity of the national movement guaran-
teed. The unthinking and uneducated
element of the population would re.
ceive an object lesson in the elemen-
tary principles of nationality, and be
convinced in kindergarten fashion by
the evidence of their own eyes. No
amount of chicanery on the part of
false political leaders could offset the
example of men who went out and died
for the principle of Irish nationality.
He relied on the call of the blood to
swing the national ranks forward on