New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-30
ROGER EASEMENT
SENTENCED TO DIE
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in Ireland before an Irish court By an
Irish Jury lie would have been salts
fed with the verdict if il had been
found By Ulstermen, by Nationalists,
by Sim Feiners, by Irish Protestants
or Catholics. but not in an English
court by an English jury. England
being an enemy land to the country in
which he had landed when he returned
from Germany
Declares Statute Obsolete.
a have been tried he said, mot by
a jury of my peers, but by fears of the
dead past As TO the statute of 1851,
on which he was indicted, he said:
Edward III was then King Of England
and France, but not of Ireland. There
has been no strand around the neck Of
France, but only of Ireland. Judicial
assassination is reserved only for Irish
men.
u am being tried, not by the civiliza-
ton of TIE twentieth century, but by
the brutality Of the fourteenth; not
even by statute framed in the Ian
guage of the land that tries me. but
couched in the language Of an enemy
land. SO Anticipated is the law that
must be sought to-day TO STAY an Irish
man whose offence is that he puts Ire
land first.
81 did not land in England; I landed
in Ireland. II was to lrelcnd / came,
10 ireland ! wanted to come, and the
last place I desired TO land IN was Eng.
land. But for the Attorney General Of
-. 1,~aI
is only his own country. There ~ no
ireland. only the law of England: no
right Of Ireland. Yet for me, the Irish
outlaw, there is a land of Ireland, a
right of Ireland, a charter for all Irish
men to appeal 10 in the last resort, a
charter that even the very statutes OF
England cannot deprive me Of, char
ter that Englishmen themselves assert
as a Fundamental bond of law that con
meets the two kingdoms.
Rule Based on Conquest.
at was not ! who landed in England,
but the Crown that dragged me mere,
away from my own country, to whlch !
had returned with a price upon my
head: away from my own countrymen,
whose loyalty is not in debut, and safe
from the judgment OF my peers, whose
Judgment | do not shrink from.
"That is the condemnation OF Eng
lish rule in ireland. of English made
law that IL dare not rest on the VIII
of the Irish people, but exists In de-
fancc Of their viii; that u IS a rule
derived not from right, but from con-
quest. Conquest gives no utle; u can
exert no empire over mems reason ana
judgment and affections. IL IS from
this law of conquest, without utIe' 10
tine reason. judgment and affections oil
my countrymen that ! appeal.
ave have seen the constitutional
army refuse 20 obey the constitutions
government. and we were told the mrs,
duty Of Irishmen was 10 enter 'ha'
army. If small nations were TO be the
first consideration l saw no reason why
Ireland should shed any blood Tor any
people but her own.
Epigrsms in Speech.
"If that be treason, am not ashamed
N avow il here. II the UnlOnlsts cnose
the road they thought would lead 70
the GOOD side, I knew my road led 20
the dark side Both Of US proved
right. SO ] an prouder to stand mere
in n traitors dock. than | would De 70
I'll the place Of my accusers
"Self- government is our right. IL is
M more IN ug 20 be withheld from
Us or doled ON 80 IS than the rlghl
TO life or light. to sunshine or spring
Sir Rogers speech. for it was moth
ing else. was fuli Of such eplgrafns'
CONQUEST give no title. 1t may exist
over the body, but fails over the mlnd'
he said. Again lie remarked; II chaI-
itv begins at home so does loyalty
and consider Ireland much more
than the empire"
He spoke Of America several times
telling Of his visit there Just after inc
war began, how he raised large sums
N buv ammunition for use IN lreiahu:
how he had received many messages VI
svnnsthv from American friends now
assured he felt that his motives wouiu
not no misunderstood there. lie re-
viewed the history Of the world since
lQ13. saving that when the war s'"r'eu
mis- nlans were completely upset.
Ruthlessly Loyal Treason.
"Wben | started out TO enlist Irish
,r;soners 10 fight for Ireland, Sir
Boger said. "a knew my road could
lead only 10 the dock. My treason was
based Oh ruthless loyalty ,-. c.
Throwing down his manuscript Sir
Roger said: Cu.o,
Of the jury. I wish to thank you ior
your verdict I meant no renee'Ion
upon YOU when said this was not 1"
trial by my peers
With q sweeping gesture OF ms arm;
o,d ,yi.b moro feeling than he had
shown before. he continued:
"How would all men here feel-h1owy
,roniS Won feel-if an Englishman had
landed in England and had been taken a,
TO Ireland. If tnst man had been
nlaced before a 'ury in a community
inAamed against him. believing MIN 10
be criminal?' - -.
When he had said MS last word ne
stood quietly facing the bench Wn1erie
sat his three Judges. wearing oIaCs
hoods. Lord Readings prohoGhot f.'i.
. eaop,aa "A feeble. lIulk-