The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-09
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Sentiment in Ireland
0 the Editor of The Age-Herald:

Sentiment in Ireland
 To the Editor of The Age-Herald: | In today's issue appears a communica-
 ton from MT. Mackey of Fairfield voio ! ing a strenuous objection to the adver- l tisement published in a late issue of
 your paper by the Friends of Irish Free dom.
 | Mir. Mackey says that the F. O. l. F. 1 wish the American people to consider 1 the treaty of peace and the league of | nations solely on an Irish basis. Bourke ! Cochran on August 30. speaking before
 the Senate foreign relations committee. said:
 ! The Irish question is not really an Irish question. but question affecting l the peace and welfare of the whole world. , It will affect the world peace until it 1 has been settled" | glance at the advertisement will show | the F. O, l. F. say America first" and l in their final appeal say. For America,'s l sake, let your senator know your views" | What MT Mackey calls the Sim Fen ! faction is the voice of Ireland today. for 1 it is the voice of the vast majority of | the people of Ireland as was evidenced in the election held last year. when that party swept the country. There is to- day a greater majority for Sim Fein I there than was in the colonies for nde- pendence when the forefathers of the American people began their fight for | freedom
 The patriotism of Judge Cohalan and Jeremiah OIeary does not fortunately depend on the say so of any one man, | however ele7ated in position in this coun- ] try. If there be evidence of disloyalty let them be arrested and punished. The Easter week rising was only phase of the seventh century struggle of l Ireland against English domination. The Irish nation has never acknowledged de- feat, and the old slogan, England's diff ficulty is Irelapd's opportunity still holds good. The submission of a minority of the people to foreign rule does not bind the nation The Irish nation has been | always rebellious and will be so always
 until the necessity of rebell&n shall have passed forever.
 To say that Ireland is on an equal footing with England and Scotland is again but voicing the view of the fav- ored minority in Ireland. the minority that the British government has always upheld against the will of the majority. So, too, the statement that Ireland has the same social, religious. economic and
 political rights that England has. The
 majority of the Irish people do not con- slider that they have and so in accord ance with President Wilson's declaration
 of principles they have gone through the forms of self-government and taken these
 matters in their own hands
 The people of Ulster satisfied! By Ul- ster of course, MT. Mackey means the four northeastern counties where opposi- ton to a Dublin Parliament is strongest. The entire province of Ulster, though British propaganda, for the F. o. I. F.
 are not the only propagandists, would
 have us believe otherwise, is not at all
 unanimous in it's rejection of the re-
 public
 I would recommend MT. Mackey to read George Creels book. 'Ireland's Fight for Freedom" I presume it may be obtained in the public library. Therein he will l find an arraignment of British misrule | compared to which all the propaganda of | the F. O. l. F. fades into insignifcance, and -.E
 "As moonlight unto sunlight is AS water unto wine"
 JIG REILLY. Birmingham. September g. 1s1o 1o6 South Almond street.
 Commander of Alabama Veterans | To the Editor of The Age Herald: In the passing away of Gen. c. W. Hooper the U. c. V. association of Ala | bama has lost it's most useful and dis ! tinguished member. As the commander of the Alabama division he distinguished himself not only in his loyalty but emi- nently so in his executive ability. He added dignity to the position and made every member feel that the U. C. V. association had made its wisest selection and conferred the honor upon the best and most qualified man of the surviving veterans of Alabama. To those who had the privilege of close personal relation | with him his death is indeed an afflic- l ton, and we know that his like will
 not appear again during the short time left to the surviving veterans. His last l effort for the welfare of the veterans I in his endeavor to secure the passage ] of the increase pension bill by the pres | ent legislature will be remembered by i each one, and his name honored by every veteran in Alabama. These things can be said of him as divisj commander | of Alabama. But when loss is felt l by the city of his To. fife residence, and where he was one of the most active and efficient factors for it's growth and prosperity, language fails to pay an ade- quate tribute to him in all his relations ! Of distinguished family, he was a
 most worthy representative. He has left
 a legacy to his children rich beyond es- 1 timation in honor as man. as Chris ] tion gentleman. As an exemplar for the
 em mutation of the younger generation who will come after him. his precept was subordinate to his example. As a friend. companion, citizen and commander of the surviving veterans of the war of the six