The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-05-06
IRISH. URGED
TO UNITE IN
DEFEATING
DRAFT LAW
Nationalist Leader Denounc-
es Consumption as Afro
cious Oppression and Urg-
es Determined Resistance
FRENCH MADE VICER0Y
(By Associated Press)

LONDON, May 6.-Anti-conscriptior
speeches were made from the same
platform by John Dillon, Nationals,
leader. and Prof. Edward de Valera
head of the Sim Fein, yesterday, al
Ballaghadereen. in Dillons constitu
ency of East Mayo. Good humor and
enthusiasm characterized the demon
stration, attended by $4,000 persons
Mr.. Dillon said that if the Irish kept
united and determined for another two
weeks they would defeat conscription
1t was an atrocious form of oppression
to compel people to fight for coun
try not their own. He personally op
posed conscription, whether in Grea,
Britain or in Ireland and believed il
was a great blunder to depart from
Englands settled policy against com
pulsory service, especially when it was
not to defend the soil of Great Brit
ain, but to send huge armies to the
continent.
He earnestly appealed for a spirit OF
frank and friendly cooperation
throughout Ireland Without this, unity
was impossible.
II the nations unity was broken in
the face OF the present terrific danger
Mr.. Dillon continued, the government
would be encouraged to pursue its
wicked and insane policy and the dis
cipline of the people. which is essen
tial to the defeat of conscription
would be broken.
Struggle for Principle.
The Nationalists and Sim Feiners
he said. actually agreed that the whole
struggle for Ireland's rights was based
on the principle of her rights as a
nation. There was an impression in
the country that all danger was over
This was terribly false impression.
There was no question that the gov
ernment had been staggered and no
longer was so confident about the
practicability of it's policy as profess
ed when the will was introduced
A powerful section of the house OF
commons and organized labor Of Eng
land had declared against conscription
in Ireland, Mr.. Dillon added. unless
and until an Irish parliament and an
Irish government was established
These things combined with united op
position in Ireland and the action OF
the county bishops had given the gov.
ernment pause, but it would be dis
astrOus mistake to suppose that dan
ger had passed. He suggested the for.
nations of Irish committees attached
to every church and chapel so that in
the event of struggle being forced
upon them the church could be the
rallying point.
The Nationalist leader declared he
was convinced it would take an army
such as England could i'll spare to
carry out successfully conscription in
Ireland. He was also convinced that
the government would split on the
Irish rock and instead of destroying
the Irish nation, the Irish would de.
stroy them.
Prof. de Valera said his followers
would unite with those of Mr.. Dillon
to defeat conscription. With reference
to the issue raised in East Cavan, he
said, there was only one arbitrator to
whom the Seinn Fein would submit
namely the free choice of the electors
French Made Irish viceroy.
LONDON, May 1.-THE appointment
of Field Marshal Viscount French. as
viceroy of Ireland comes somewhat as
a surprise. 1t was known that the
government was experiencing consid-
trable difficulty in finding a success
sor to Baron Wimborne, and that this
was the resaon for the delay in an
nounclng officially the appointment OF
Edward Short as chief secretary,
which was known unofficially many
days ago.
No one. however, anticipated such
a purely military appointment as the
celebrated field marshal. His name
certainly had been mentioned, but on
" in connection as way out of the
difficulty and even in that case the
name of General Mahon was generally
favored as likely member OF the tri-
umvirate
Viscount French is of Irish eXtrac-
tion He has a seat in Ireland, is
colonel OF Irish regiments and pop
ular figure in the country, but that is
hardly likely to reconcile the Irish
people to his appointment, for they
will see in II nothing but threat to
put conscription into effect.