The Irish standard., 1919-04-19
WEEK
IN DUBLIN

post he is holding at present, a soldier
who didn't know how to obey! And,
Carson, the rebel was given seat ilr
the English cabinet!
| Young Dublin looked on in wonder.
Naturally it said: what Carson is
able to do to prevent Home Rule, we
can do to force it through" And as a
consequence the Irish volunteers were
founded by Erin MacNeill. An Irish
man is born soldier, and in a very
short space the organization had as
sumed proportions that began to worry
England. The gun-running at Howth,
which ended in the murder of innocent
Dublin citizens by the military, gave
new impetus to the volunteer move
ment. Strange again, in the North
the authorities convinced at the gun
running in Dublin, they ordered o,:t
the military! Enough to make the
blood rise in any lover Of fair play.
Whilst this organization of the Irish
Volunteers is perfecting itself, there
are other movements afoot in Erin.
The Irish Workers organized by Jim
Larkfn saw the need of armed force
and they too secured rifles and am
munition. Then we have the Sim
Fein element, which has given a name
to the whole movement. Sim Fein
means eve ourselves" and their policy
was essentially passive one, policy
of let aloneness.
Meanwhile the entire Europe was
plunged into war. The Home Rule bill
was on the statute book and Ireland
generously waited. More than that,
her brave noble youth flocked in thous-
ands and tens of thousands to the
standard Of liberty-even though 1t
was helping their greatest. enemy. The
call Of the oppressed was never heard
in vain by Erin. The wall Of Belgium,
Faithful Catholic sister of Erin was
heard and answered. The piercing
cry Of France, ever the friend of Ire
land, was heard, and answered. Eng
land said over and over again that
she was fighting for the freedom Of
small Nationalities, and the majority
in Ireland believed her! For two years
we believed her! But, the better edu-
Gated, the leaders of the new move
ments did not believe her. Events
were happening under their very eyes;
some of which have referred to al
ready, which showed them plainly that
England was playing the hypocrite,
which showed them that tho she
should wear thousand masks she is
still Albion" Through two weary
years Of war they watched the trend
Of events, patiently waiting for Eng
land to make good her promises. She
failed, as might have been expected,
and the elements mentioned already
united in common effort to force her,
and we have what is slipping into his.
tory as the "Insurrecti0n of Easter
Week 1916"
Easter Monday 1916, Dublin is lead
ing her normal life; the buzz of busl-
ness is not heard for it is back holi-
day in the old city by the Liffey. The
street cars are filled with holiday
makers; automobiles are taking pleas
ure seekers to the race meets and sea
resorts where in one Joyous afternoon
they forget the worry and toll of life.
In fact everything speaks of happiness
and Joy in peace-loving Dublin. Around
Dorm companies of Sim Feiners are
seer coming from headquarters; all
are armed and fully equipped as if for
days march. This is not very un-
usual, they have been taking these
marches quite frequently of late. Peo.
pie stop and look at them, admire their
physique, their light-hearted air, and
manly swing, and then pass on. Sew
eral companies come along and then
disperse.
was in O'Connell street, and
watched the maneuvres of these COM
panies with keen interest After some.
time, all the companies but one had
disappeared from O'Connell street.
This one led by Sergeant O'Connolly
marched up the center Of the street
and wheeled at the general postoffice
O'Connolly entered at the head of his
men and thundered forth, I'VE take
charge of the postofice in the name
of the Irish Republic" In short
time all was in their hands-the mill
tary on duty surrendered, seeing that
resistance was useless; but few shots
were fired. realized then that this
was no rehearsal and that these gay
fellows meant business. Reports and
news spread like wildfre. The other
companies had taken all the points of
vantage around the city, and in half
an hour the nag Of the Irish Kepub-
10.