The Irish standard., 1918-03-09
SkEFFlNGT0N
GIVES LECTURE
Continued from page y


Canada or Australia, she sharply and
proudly reminded her auditors that
Ireland was not and is not colony
of England like Canada or Australia,
but a separate and distinct race of
people, with history antedating even
that of Britain. She Dointedly asked
of Americans who advanced this argu-
ment, why were you Americans not
satisfied to accept the status of col
ony of England?" Belgium is recog-
nized, she pointed out, as a very i'm
portant small nation, but it's territori-
al area is only about that of one of the
four provinces of Ireland.
Received by President Wilson.
She expressed gratitude for the gra-
cious manner of her reception by
President Wilson, and felt confident
that he would not have babe her well
come if he thought she was engaged
in anything like treason. She present
ed to him the address Of the women of
Ireland asking to have their country
recognized as one of the small nation
alities in whose welfare this country
entered the world war, and he prom
Used that he would give it careful con-
sideration.
The Story of Sheehy skeffington.
Most of the lecture was devoted to
a recital of the facts connected with
the death of her husband, whom she
described as an antimilitarist, a fight
ing pacifist. A man gentle and kindly
even to his bitterest opponents, who
always ranged himself on the side of
the weak against the. strong, whether
the struggle was one of class, sex or
race domination. Together with his
strong fighting spirit, he had a mar
velous, an unextinguishable good hui
NOR, keen joy in life, great faith
in humanity and a hope in the prog
ress toward good.
His Arrest and Brutal Murder by
Crazy British Officer.
On Easter Monday, the day of the
outbreak of the rebellion, he had
risked his life in endeavoring to save
a British officer, Captain Pinfield, at
the castle gate. All Monday and Tues
day he was active in preventing loot
ing and preserving order Tuesday
evening everyone was afraid. He
called meeting that evening to or
ganize a civic police. I met him about
$3.50. We had tea together and went
home by devious routes, for l was
anxious about my boy. never again
saw my husband
He was arrested between Z and 8
o'clock at Portobello, while unarmed
and walking in the middle of the road.
Skeffington Brutality Shot Without
Warning.
Skeffington next morning was taken
out from his locked cell by Colthurst.
AS he walked across the yard (the
yard was only II feet long by feet
wide) he was shot in the back without
any warning whatever by the firing
squad. While he lay, the two other
editors were marched out also and
murdered in cold blood without warn
ing
! Efforts to Conceal Fate.
Mrs. Skefington described her anx-
ious search for her husband, of whose
fate she was in absolute ignorance,
and it was some days afterwards that
she learned of his fate The body was
first buried in the Jail yard, but on
May was exhumed in Glasnevin GEN.
etery without her knowledge. She de-
scribed the cOurt-martial of Colthurst,
who was adjudged insane" in order
to mollify the public wrath, but he is
still in the British service, though re-
tired. Twice her home was raided by
the garrison soldiers and looted of
everything of value it contained. Her
boys life was in danger at times and
her sister was put under arrest.
Message to America.
1T would be poor tribute to my
husband" said the speaker, IF grief
were to break my spirit 1t shall not
do so. am not here just to harrow
your hearts by passing thrill, to feed
you on horrors for sensations sake l
want to continue my husbands work
SO that when l meet him some day in