The Irish standard., 1919-07-12

the men in duress. Nevertheless they have served
to reveal an almost incredible system of -wanton
cruelty and deprivation such as it is almost incon
ceivable that any government making even pre-
tense of democracy and Christianity would tolerate
i'll public administration system that is compar-
able in fendish atrocty only with that exercised
by the Pagan Turks against the helpless Armen-
lanS.
The prisoners at Mountjoy prison in Dublin were
confined largely in groups in steel cages like those
used for wild animals in the geological gardens.
Here they are being starved, beaten and unspeak-
ably maltreated and kept for days with their hands
handcuffed behind their backs In many cases they
were taken to underground cells too narrow for
human occupation, without beds, covering ven
tilation, dark and extremely cold These inmates
were subjected to inhunlan tortures and were in
nervous conditions bordering upon insanity Men
of the highest position in business and professional
life, journalists, lawyers and skilled tradesmen
well workingnen were found among the victims
Of this diabocal treatment and suffered to remain
in indefinite detention without having charges pre-
ferred against them or being given an opportunity
to establish their innocence in court OF Justice
For simply shouting Long live the republic many
OF them were assaulted by the brutal prison guards
Investigations made at Westport jails and in
other places by the delegates revealed similar in
stances of violence and unmitigated brutality. Hun
dreds of cases were examined and the results en-
bodied in seventeen blasting counts of an indict-
ment of the English administrators of government
in Ireland that is appalling to humanity At least
five men have died from the direct effect of their
maltreatment in prison, and hundreds have been
made incurable invalids from the cause.
Women and children of tender years are also in
cluded among those subjected to these vile and in
decent outrages, oftentmes under suspicion
Of political offenses The men who have suffered
from these atrocities comparable with Ameri-
cans who occupy such positions in public as Nor
gan ]. OBrien, John B. Stanchfeld, Levi Mayer,
A. Mitchell Palmer, Charles H. Grasty, Frank HI.
Simonds, Henry Watterson, the late William r..
Nelson and Herbert Bayer Swope.
Other counts of the whitening indictment cover
the educational system, the land laws, and labor
conditions, all of which given illuminating
review at the hands of these straightforward truth
telling American investigators, who prepared to
offer documentary and other legal proof in sub
sanitation of the charges preferred. Recognizing
the utiity of seeking investigation by the Brit
sh authorities, the suggestion is offered that
mission from the peace conference be appointed to
ascertain the facts for the benefit of that body,
such commission to conduct hearings in the cities
of Dublin and London and none of its members to
be citizens of Great Britain or Ireland. 1t is fur
ther pointed out that if hearing of this kind should
be denied the peace conference itself may share in
the guilt responsibility, and consequences of these
nefarious crimes and inhumanities.
Naturally this sweeping revelation of the true
conditions prevailing in Ireland has excited antag-
onsm and resentment among the British press; they
have already come forward with their usual cate
gorical denals of them, and publishing com
inlunications of high officials who solemnly deny
knowledge of them But these avowals will FIND
but scant acceptance, in America at least against
the clear, definite and specific accusations of the
American delegates. The days of censorship and
camouAage have passed and naked denials will be
adjudged insufficient in the face of the damning
testimony of such competent and conscientious wit
nesses as Messrs. Dunno and Walsh Whether the
investigation shall be carried out the lines sug
gested or not it is to be earnestly hoped that the
flood of publicity cast upon these atrocities shall
| lead to their immediate cessation.