The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-26
IRISH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE
 MOVE OVERWKEI kAED BY BRITISH
 MILITARY FORCE HAS BAD RESULTS

ed prison cruelties and allied mat ters. It would be impossible, as I have pointed out, to discuss these in detail. and I shall not attempt to do so, only remarking that to all familiar with the facts Mr. Macpher- son's sweeping denials are as worth less as they are insulting to the Del egates.
 But 1t should be understood that some of the worst sufferinSs of poli- tical prisoners have been undergone in the course of more or less organ ized efforts to secure political treat ment instead of that meted out to common criminals. This involved in subordination or strikes leading to reprissls and punishments which in evitably become barbarous and in human. To the official mind prisoners acting thus are wantonly counting punitive measures for deliL crate mis- conduct. To the sane citizens mind they should not be in prison at all but, if there, they are right in fight ing for a high and sacred principle. The difference in the two points of view explains some of MT. Macpher- sons impudent charges of mendacity l hope that some day. when the trou- ble is over, young Patrick Fleming and the Governor of Maryborough SOINiCl VIII 60 friends in q narrative of FIemings nine months struggle, waged with al- most superhuman tenacity for poli- tical treatment; of the strait-waist- coats and handcuffs broken again and again. of the cells wrecked, of the long hours spent clamped up naked and starving in the 'muffs'' of in credible endurance under terrible suffering, and of the final victory
 
 mics of the Castle and the Dele gates.
 The reply begins with two remarka- ble quotations, one of which bears closely upon this very point, while both admirably illustrate the Castles point of view and methods of con- troversy. The second is an extract from the report of MT. Justice Dodd on the prison treatment of political prisoners at Belfast. No date Is giv- en, no commentary, no explanation of certain circumstances which rem der the report valueless. The prison CTS in question had Struck" in con- sequence, as they claimed. of the failure of the authorities to carry out certain conditions of political treatment promised to them after the scandal created by the death of Thomas Ashe in October, 1917, from AOENAbAo lttullB- All was 1n- situted at Belfast, but MT. Mac pherson omits to mention that the prisoners themselves did not take part in it on the ground that the conditions asked for them were re- fused: q) That privilege should not be claimed by officials of the Crown for withholding evidence in docu- ments. CD That the Censor should allow full publication of the proceed inss.
 The necessity for the first condi- ton had been proved at the recent Ashe inquiry. when the plea of priv ilege was used to conceal part of the truth. The necessity for lne second was unfortunately absolute Who would imagine in reading the report as quoted by Mir. Macpherson, with its enthusiastically warm enconf- Ims on the warders and officials con cerned. that he had not been cross examined, and that the evidence against them had not been heard? Quotation Without Context The second piece justificative Is . quotation, without context, in the manner of party leaflet, from a speech by John Redmond in June. 1915, enumerating the reforms claim cd to have been brought about in Ireland by the Irish Party in the last
 33 years. This is a, tacticul error. It will not pay the Castle to claim poor Redmond as an ally in u cir system | of military government
 But Mir. Macpherson has not ad- mitted yet that there is a military | government in Ireland, and he pro- ceeds, in so many words. to deny 1t l in replying to Points CD and (3) of | the Delegates Report where they es- ! innate the numbers of the Army of | Occupation and describe it's equip- l ment with tanks, bombing aeroplanes. | armored cars, etc. It is all misun- | derstanding. says MT. Macpherson. | The figures are grossly exaggerated. | The equipment mentioned is normal | in these days. As regards equipment. | the troops in England are similarly | equipped. as also are the troops of | the Allies, including our American ! Allies"