Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-29

of Ireland's own history? Leave the
question of principle out and consider the
question only of the mere interests of
Ireland herself. What did the situation
demand?
Drowning of Liberties
Neutrality? That was impossible.
Hostility to the just cause of the Allies?
! lis there sane man in Ireland who
| does not see this meant the drowning of
Ireland's newly won liberties in Irish
blood? Be this view right or wrong, this
was the opinion of an overwhelming ma
| iority of the Irish people. 1t was the
opinion which thousands of Irish soldiers
have sealed with their blood by dying in
the cause of the liberty Of Ireland and
| of the world.
But anyhow, it was the opinion of Ire
land, and surely I need not argue the
principle, especially with anybody who
has professed himself home ruler that
the policy of Ireland must be decided by
Ireland herself. That is the principle
which has been adopted by the Irish race
everywhere.
Millions of our people in the United
States and elsewhere. whose generous de-
yotion helped us so largely to win our
victories for the motherland of our race,
have always accepted it. However boun-
teous their help. never have they denied
Ireland's right to choose her policy for
herself That doctrine has been contest
ed only by the very same men who today
have tried to make Ireland cats paw
| of Germany.
"In all our long and successful struggle
to obtain home rule we have been
thwarted and opposed by that same Sec
ton. We have won home rule not
through them but in spite of them. This
wicked move of theirs was their last blow
at home rule. 1t was not half as much
treason to the cause of the Allies as trea-
son to the cause of home rule.
Germany's Plot
This attempted deadly blow at home
rule carried through this section is made
more wicked, more insolent, by this fact
that Germany plotted it. Germany or
ganized it; Germany paid for it. So far
as Germanys share in it is concerned,
it is German invasion of Ireland as bru-
tai, as selfish, as cynical as Germany 8
invasion Of Belgium. Blood has been
split. and if Ireland has not been re-
| duced to the same horrors of Belgium
| with her starving people, her massacred
priests and her violated converts, it is
not the fault of Germany.
And the final aggravation of this
movement is this: The misguided, insane
young men who taken part in this move
ment in Ireland have risked, and some of
them lost, their lives. But what am I to
say Of those men who have sent them
into this insane and anti-patriotic move
ment while they have remained in the
safe remoteness Of American cities?
Il might add this movement has
been met in motion by this same class
Of men at the very moment when
America is demanding for the blood of
innocent American men, women and
children shed by Germany and thus
they are guilty Of double treason
treason to the generous land that re-
ceived them as well as to the land
which gave them birth.
us it not an additional horror that
on the very day when We heard that
the men Of the Dublin 'Fusiliers had
been killed by Irishmen in the streets
of Dublin we received news of how
men of the 18th division-our own
Irish brigade, and the same Dublin
lfusilliers-had dashed forward and by
their unconquerable bravery re-taken
trenches the Germans had won at
Hulluch? Was there ever such a pic