The Northwest worker. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1915-1917, 1916-05-11
THE IRISH REVOLT

Once again the Powers of State
has crushed out an uprising of the
workers, Irish soil, many times
soaked with the blood of rebels, has
again been drenched with the blood
of men and women who were fighting
for relief from British oppression
And yet they met the fate they had
bargamed for, No body of workers
can combat the powers of the state
by military methods. Even trained
body like the Irish Volunteers were
unprepared for the disciplined British
forces.
Ireland has passed through six re-
bellions, all of which have been throt-
tied, We like the Irish spirit but we
do not like the Irish method Amongst
the many Socialists who were shot
was James Connolly, who upon being
asked some time ago what he thought
of Home Rule, said: 1--WE are keen
about it, the people are aroused over
the question, and we must get it out
of the way before we shall be able to
meet with any great success in the
organization of the Socialist Party.
Besides, British rule in Ireland is cruel
and irrepressible. And in many re-
spects he was correct. "Home Rule
for Ireland" is as great an issue to the
Irish people as was the "No Taxation
Without Representation" cry in the
American revolution. All these
stages of evolution must be gone
through before the dawn of the CO.
operative Commonwealth.
The British CONSUMPTION bill stirred
the Irish to action. 1t has been sug-
gested that the British even precipi-
tated the rebellion because great
quantities of arms and ammunition
were being struggled into Ireland.
Lining the leaders up against brick
wall and shooting them down, is about
the only action the British govern
iuSlit, VI any othSi government ioi
that matter, could take under the cir
cumstances. Governments must not
be trifled with. Governments have
never feared the consequences of kill
| ing its rebellious spirits. 1t is one of
the functions of government to be rid
of these men and women; if it did not
get rid of them, they would get rid
of it. So we must come back to the
question of POWER and how to get
| it.
As long as the powers of the state
are in the control of others than the
working class, so long will that power
be used to protect and defend the
rights and privileges of the propertied
class. VS. must therefore get control
of the powers of government and we
see no saner or safer way of getting
control than by means of the ballot.
We may eventually be forced to take
other means, but to take those other
means at the present time would be
suicidal. The Socialist party may
have bigger membership than the
United States has soldiers, but a re-
bellion would draw thousands of civil
ians to the aid of the government and
the chances are that the rebellion
would be short lived.
So for the present let US take the
safe and the sane way. The burden
is terrible, but we must bear it for
while yet. The end is in sight. The
European war has brought US so years
nearer to the end of capitalist rule.
The increasing demand of the worker
for more ebay and oats" is good
sign. The more he gets the more he
will want The more he wants the
more he will run up against the pow
ers of the state, and so some day,
Giant Labor will cease to go after
more "hay and oats" and will go after
the mills, the mines and factories and
thereafter be in position to produce
and satisfy the needs of all humanity.