Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-11-01
MUST BE FREE
Returned New Orleans Priest Speaks
of Ireland and Sim
Fem.
Says 1t Represents the Very Heart
and Culture of the
Nation.
The People Everywhere Are All Inn
bued With the Spirit of
Liberty. -.
THEIR RBm1HR1a

The Very Rev. Thomas J. Larkin,
s. M, pastor of the Church of the
Holy Name of Mary, Algiers, has
Just returned from visit to his old
home in Ireland, whittier he went
in June last to visit his relatives,
taking home with him his nephew,
the Rev. Michael Larkin, S. NJ, who,
having made his studies for the
priesthood at the Marist College in
Washington, and ordained at the
outbreak of the war, had not had
the happiness of meeting his dear
parents and sisters and brothers
since his ordination to the priest
hood. The Morning Star, of New
Orleans, sought Father Larkin, to
give its readers an insight into true
conditions in Ireland, especially as
regards the great movement fer ma
tional independence and freedom,
and which, sponsored by the Sim
Fem, has become a. leading ques-
tion in the peace of the world.
You ask me about Sim Fem"
said Father Larkin. LET me say
that the Sim Feiners constitute
more than three-fourthIs of the peo-
pie of Ireland and that Sim Fein
represents the very heart and intel
ligence and culture of Ireland. L
went from one end of the country
to the other and everywhere it was
the same story. The people of ire
land are the Sim Fein. Go where
you will in the cities, the towns, the
villages, the mountains, the glens,
you will find that Sim Fein, which
stands for the sovereignty of Ire
land, her independence and freedom.
has permeated everything. To any
impartial visitor from abroad, to the
man of intelligence and observation
who is determined not to close his
mind to facts, it shines forth, be-
yond the shadow of a doubt, that
deep down at heart Ireland is Sim
Fein.
The people are i1nbued with t;,e
spirit rof liberty. There is but one
thought ireland must be free and
Independent. This thought per-
meates all classes. Old and young.
men. women and children, are work
ing faithfully and earnestly together
that Ireland may be free. The issue
In Ireland is clear: Ireland nation
or ireland a province; Sim Fein or
And the people at the
polls, through the elections which
carry their voice, have declared for
Sim Fem, for liberty and independ-
snce and the rehabilitation of the
Irish nation. The combination of
declared Carsonites and Irish i'm
perialists at South Armagh will helm
10 pull the scales from the eyes OF
many. 1t will arouse, as il already
las, the last remnant of Irish ma
.ional slaves to sense of their in
1t will determine the
entire people to take the power
which is theirs alone into their own
hands and self-reliantly declare that
he people are the rulers of their
'wn destiny and of their fatherland.
wherever you CO." said Father
-arkin, you hear the determined
'lea, Ireland belongs to the Irish
llono and fun nationhood is her
'irthrjght.' Wherever you go you
re impressed with the fact that
'lnn Fem is the voice of Ireland as
nation, and that it claims full ma
lonai, political and economic indie
'endence for Ireland. She has been
making this fight for seven hundred
ears and she will continue it till
he wins herbirthrieht again.
Referring to De Valera's tour of
he United States, Father Larkin
aid he is speaking the voice OF
Ireland. De Valera is recognized as
he voice of more than four-fifths of
he people of Ireland. He has the
onfidence and love of the best peo-
lie OF Ireland. He has the conf
ence of the Hierarchy, who recog-
ize the voice Of the. people. The
IRISH are determined that the voice
I the people shall be recognized as
he voice of God. The Constituent
Issembly, which declared the Prcsi-
ency of De Valera, looks to the
eople, and each one feels that he
the Irish nation in miniature. Ire
md as bristling with English arms.
ut the people exercise a wonderful
elf-control in the midst of many
rovocations. Strive as she may.
'ngland will never succeed in crush
ig the spirit of liberty which filIs
ne hearts of the Irish people.
Il have seen for myself" said
ather Larkin, ''and the question
rises, as 1t must to every true lover
freedom, and especially every true
Shall the spirit of a peo-
lie be bound in chains; shall this
reat Independent Republic of Amer
a heip to keep Ireland In chains,
snail we demand in the great op-
ortunity that presents itself In the
ovenant of the League of Nations
lat her bonds shall be loosed for
ger?'"