The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-08-05
Irish Press and News Service.)


Standard Union, one of the leading
metropolitan papers of the country.
1t is splendid resume of the events
that transpired Immediately after the
rebellion and a scathing rebuke to
England's treatment of Irish prison
ers.-Editorial Note
England, in the opinion of the rest
of the civilized world, blundered badly
when, after the alleged rebellion or
Sim Fein rising had been put down,
she brutally executed in cold blood a
number of the leaders who surren-
dered with arms in their hands. They
were mostly poets and schoolmasters,
these young dreamers who led the
Sim Fein rebellion.
Prisoners of war they might we'll
have been considered.
They proclaimed Republic, fought
in the open and did nothing to dis
credit the manhood of their country,
however much their untimely essay at
establishing self-government reflected
on their ability as statesmen or even
fairly competent politicians.
To murder them in cold blood was
a bad blunder.
That is what the English Govern
ment did through it's military agents
in Ireland. And in at least one case
prominent Irish leader who had
taken no part in the rising" had, in
deed, advised against it, was seized in
the street and murdered by order of
an English officer without even the
formality of a court-martial.
A plea familiar here was offered on
behalf of the murderer.
Insane!
That was the verdict of his fellows
when public opinion as expressed
throughout the world forced an in
vestigation.
A similar verdict might have been
rendered with truth against the ma
jority in the English Government
which dictated the ruthless Staying
practically without legal trial of
the young men who had participated
as leaders in the struggle to establish
an Irish Republic. No criminal, how
ever degraded, was ever treated more
savagely. The savagery of England in
fact seems to be reserved for rebels
| who dispute her right to rule their
country.
She blew Indians from the mouths
of cannon in the Sepoy rebellion.
In Ireland recently men shattered
with wounds received in fighting Eng
lish soldiers in the open were after
surrender dragged into position a day
or two later and propped up against
barracks walls to be shot.
Cowardly!
Surely, that is mild name for it.
1t was like going round after an
engagement on the battlefield and
stabbing the helpless wounded to
death. There was the difference, of
course, that the firing squads in the
English barracks in Ireland acted I'M
der orders. Some of the soldiers, we
are told, almost rebelled against or
ders.
The bloodlust was not theirs.
But it was savage bloodlust born
of hate of Ireland, which, it appears,
almost impossible to quench in the
breasts of a large portion of the rul-
ing class in England. Presently there
| was reaction. The protests of the
civilized world against such barbarity
| began to be heard.
/ England. engaged in costly foreign
war. took heed.
To placate the Parliamentary party
in Ireland, known as the Nationalist,
who had not Joined in the Sim Fein
rebellion a measure of Irish Home
Rule was promised at once. 1t had
been previously agreed the Irish Home
Rule Bill, already passed when the
great war broke out, was not to take
effect until the end of the conflict.
The new circumstances called for a
revised program.
Then the politicians began to get in
their work.
A game was played apparently
which is not unknown in many of oul
own legislative halls. The manner O.
it is simple enough. Say, a bill is de
sired by some great corporation which
is believed to be inimical to the pub
lie interests.
A vote for it would spell popular
disfavor.
Now some of the most useful legis
lative agents of the big corporations
escape this public disfavor and sur
vive to fight the battle of their EN-
ployers another day by voting against
the corporation bill, but only after it
is certain there will be paid or 9th
erwise strong enough majority to pass
1t. If it needed the vote of the corpo,
ration agent who voted against it there
would be no linching on the part OF
the hired man of politics.
Some such treacherous agreement
touched the Home Rule promise.
Lloyd George. was entrusted with
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