Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-10
BISHOP ASSAMED
BY IRISH LEADER
Patric k McCartan De
nounces DIR. Rhinelander
for Attacking Meeting
CALLS HIM PRO.ENCLISH
More Interested in England
Than United States, Sim
Fein Leader Declares

ssfhere is more English propaganda
here than there Is German propaganda
and Bishop Rhinelander appears TO be
even more interested in England than in
the United States"
Dr. Patrick McCartan, Sim Fein men,
Der OF the British Parliament and en-
voy of the provisional Irish Govern
Z fnent." made that reply today to q
statement issued by Bishop Rhine
lander, of the Pennsylvania Diocese OF
the Episcopal Church, concerning a
mass-meeting to he held tonight in the
academy of Music.
Bishop Rhinelander., in declining to
serve as vice president of the meet
ing, said 'it would undoubtedly play
into the hands of German propaganda
The mass-meeting of Irish societies
was called to demand official recognition
OF Irelands claims for absolute freedom,
under the principle of self-determination
championed by President Wilson.
Bishops Statement
The head of the Episcopal diocese OF
Pennsylvania in his statement said:
Quite apart from the question as to
whether Ireland has so acquitted her
self doring this war as to deserve con-
sideration in this or any other form by
us or by any of the Allied nations, this
i proposed ACTION ny american CltlEenS
would most certainly be taken by Great
Britain as an unfriendly act. 1t would
necessarily imply our belief that Great
Britain of herself is either unwilling or
unable to solve this most difficult or
all her imperial problems righteousy
and wisely"
Commenting on that part of the Bish-
ops statement, Doctor McCartan said :
I'VE consider that Ireland is in the
same position toward Ireland as Bel
gium was toward Germany when the
Kaiser's armies seized Albert's kingdom.
We could never see why we should fight
for our oppressors.
But despite that, 1rishmen did fight
in the British army, thinking they were
fighting for the freedom of their own
country. The sacrifices made by the
Irish people will bear favorable COM
United states.
According to the British Government s
own figures, 10000 Irishmen fought in
the British army. In England itself and
in the colonies. $500 IrIshmen Joined
the colors.
.Ireland did its full share and more
IN the payment of taxes, too. Before
the war the Irish paid G12,000,OO0 in
taxes annually. Last year their taxes
amounted to e30,000,OO0, or, roughly
$150, ,000, 900.
.1'he bishop speaks of German prop
uganda, There is more English propa-
ganda here than German propaganda,
and Bishop Rhinelander appears to be
even more Interested in England than
in the United States
At the mass-meeting tonight, at
which Governor-elect Sproul Is expected
to preside, the speakers will include SEN
ator Phelan. of California; Martin Con-
boy. Of New York, United States draft
director; former Congressman Donohoe,
the Rev. Thomas J. Hurton, rector, of
the Catholic Church of the Apnuncia-
: ton; Judge Eugene c. Bonniweu and
Doctor McCartan.
Archbishop Dougherty will be repre-
scented by Bishop John J. McCort. Tho
Archbishop is in New Orleans.
Signed the Invitations
Monsignor Gerald P. CoghIan, rector
of the Roman Catholic Church of Our
Lady of Mercy, and the Rev. Thomas I.
Hurton, rector of the Church of the An
ninciation, signed the invitations to act
as vice presidents of the meeting sent
TO more than $50 men of prominence.
Father Hurton said the meeting to-
night Is not an Irish meeting hut an
American meeting, called to demand
justice for an oppressed nation. He
said the government of Ireland is
the least democratic in Europe and
that the desires of its 103 represent
ntives on purely Irish questions can be
4cutvoted five to one. Those sponsoring
the meeting, he said, had absolutely
no hard feelings against the British
empire. but simply desired to uphold
representative government"
u ,al,
176,000 the number of Irishmen in tn,
war were deliberately misleading, h,
said. More than a half million men borr
In Ireland, but exiled because of bac
economic conditions" he continued
. .fought in the Allied ranks"