The Irish standard., 1919-06-14

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Prisoners All Political.
'No treaty ought to be ratified by
the Senate of the United States that
will rivet more securely the chains
on Ireland and make Great Britain
the super-lord of the earth. OF course,
the people of Ireland believe in the
high ideals enunciated prior to the
war, during the war and since the war
by President Wilson and accepted by
Great Britain.
"The touchstone of the truth of all
these professions is Ireland. and no
subject people has made the sacri.
fees that Ireland has made and per-
formed the deeds that Ireland's sons
have performed to win the victory for
America"
Asked If there was any real founda-
tion for the cabled reports of riots
and law breaking in Ireland, if the
Sim Fein was growing in strength,
and for information as to economical
conditions In Ireland, Mr.. Ryan said:
"The Jails in Ireland are free of
prisoners except for men committed
for political offenses. These offenses
consisted in the main of addressing
meetings and of singing the Soldiers
Song, which seems to have become a
sort of national anthem.
"It is true that during the last
year or more four policemen were
shot and that ten civilians were shot
by policemen, but even including
these incidents 1t is safe to say there
are more crin1es-real crimes against
persons and fproperty-committe in
a week in the large American cities
than will be found in the whole of
Ireland in a year.
.,Iita .ssas+ IIIisht. people. are comparative
ly prosperous now. In fact, they
have more than they ever had. Food
is abundant. Taxes, of course, as in
England, are exceedingly heavy, but
generally there is prosperity due to
the fact that Ireland, next to the
United States, has been the chief
source Of food supply for Great Brit
ain.
'"The industry of Ireland made
possible large crops, without which
England would not have been fed
Fair prices for the food was paid
o1tho,oh tho prioo ,,,oe fvod I,,, the
English Government and was lower
than that paid by England for Amer
ican products.
"The strength of the Sim Fein OF
Republican party is increasing daily
and one of the latest converts is
Captain Robert Barton, we'll known
in America, owner of a lage estate
at Glendalough. He was a captain
in the British Army and took part
on the English side in the Easter
Week Rebellion.
'He was one of those in charge OF
De Valera, and the splendor of the
intellect of men like De Valera
Count Plunket, and Arthur Griffith
and others made him inquire into the
cause that could make men face
death with such wonderful courage
"He resigned his commission and
threw in his fortune with his own
people. He is a splendid type of cul
tured 1rishman and I think typifies
this new kind of young men who
have answered in hundreds of thou
sands the call of their country. They
regard death with as little fear as
do giving this interview.
Cali classes Of people, merchants
managers of industries that yet re
main in the island, are eager for q
settlement, and there should be nc
doubt the race that gives great lead
ers Of industry to other lands will be
capable Of moulding it's own future II
permitted to do so unfettered by the
rule of a Government against which
four-fifths of the people protest"
lHoIIHLAulr LNIEc lEEr