The Irish standard., 1919-07-12

the world. 1t is being thwarted and
suppressed by the army and constabu-
larry. Wages of unskilled workers are
below a line which means to them
hunger, cold and privation. The wage
Of skilled labor is far below the min
| imum for decent existence.
In many of the larger cities and
towns the trade unions have 100
per cent organization. We met and
interviewed almost all of the ma.
tional leaders Of labor. The heads
of the National Irish Labor party.
which is in control of the situation.
are, without exception, ardent repub-
licans, fully alive to their rights and
insisting on self-determination for
Ireland. They have all been inno-
cent victims of atrocities against their
own persons such as are enumerated
herein, in the jails of Ireland and
England.
They work along traditional trade
union lines, but if their country is
not freed of foreign control and ex-
ploitation and quickly, many of them
declare that, in sheer defense of their
own lives, they will be compelled to
set up local soviet governments, and
refuse longer to produce wealth for
their oppressors.
THE REVOLUTION.
Ireland for the first time in more
than 100 years is absolutely cut off
from England, it's regularly elected
members of parliament having with
few exceptions refused to go to West
minister. They are attempting, un-
der the guns of the English soldiers,
to hold orderly sessions in the Man
sion House in Dublin.
There is a military organization of
approximately 100000 men of fight
ing age, poorly equipped as to arms
and without artillery. They appear
to be we'll differed, and seemingly
maintain a perfect organization, en-
gaging in daily drills and frequent
maneuvers. Upon all sides may be
heard declarations that they are ready
to fight and die for the right of SELF
determination, no matter how great
the odds against them may be.
The killing by the British govern
ment of these 100000 men would not
settle the Irish problem. Those below
the fighting age, and even the child
rem of Ireland, are singing "The Sol
dier's Song" shouting Long live the
Republic!" and trying to enlist in the
revolutionary movement.
ENGLISH TESTIMONY.
Erskine Childers, an English writer
of high repute, who served Great
Britain throughout the. war in the
Royal naval flying corps, coming out
4 major, made the following declara-
ticn in regard to the Irish situation
in the London Daily Herald of May
LES, 1919:
II could bomb crowd from an
aeroplane with better con-
science (and more skilD than en-
gage in this cold-blooded system
attic condemnation of respectable
| people to the rigors and igno-
mines of Jail life-to loss of
health, loss of business and ca
reer, too often to loss of life; not
for breaking the moral law, but
in very truth for Obeying that uni
versal law which impels men
worthy of the name of men to be-
come free"
Lord Cavendish Bentinck, union
ist member of the house of commons,
within the last month declared upon
the floor of that body, that England
was not governing Ireland but was
engaged in a mere scuffle with the
Irish people.
The lord chancellor of England in
an official report to the house of lords,
within the last fortnight, made the
confession that the vast majority Of
the people OF Ireland were now in
open rebellion against the rule Of the
British government.
Right Honorable Herbert H. AS
quith, former prime minister of Great
Britain, made the following statement
upon June 2, 1919, which appears in
today's London Daily Mail:
Lord French is at present vice.
roy of Ireland, which today is the
darkest of the dark spots on the
| map, not of Great Britain but of
| the world"
DEMAND FOR INVESTIGATION.
All Of the charges herein made are
based upon the actual observation of
the signer while in Ireland, or upon
the statements of men and women Of
unimpeachable character, who are
i nronar rod f0 vnoko diroc< 1o0o1 nroof