Evening journal., 1920-04-06


turned out his troops on an unarmed
people, who had met TO voice in public
meeting their protest against alien
tyranny--you know that these soldiers
without warning used their guns as long
as their ammunition lasted until they
had shot dead 1--WE hundred and left
two or three times that number lying
seriously wounded. England was able
TO hide this from the world for eight
or ten months, and no doubt If she
could hide similar acts equally we'll In
Ireland she would not hesitate 20 en-
courage them there also. The public in
terest OF fhis country Is the only safe
guard Ireland has against similar mas
sacres.
The struggle in Ireland Is not civil
war. ireland is not really part OF the
British Empire, at no time has Ireland
voluntarily accepted British rule or
British partnership. Ireland has been
held solely by brute force In the past
just as 10 Is today. In the time that
Ireland has been classed as part OF the
United Kingdom she has not been in
any sense a voluntary part OF that
Kingdom. The so-called Union has
never received the sanction OF the
Irish people-it has been truly the
union OF the shark with its prey-as
Lord Byron prophesied It would be.
For seven hundred and fifty years
we have resisted the invader and In
that time we have never accepted the
status OF a conquered people.
This nation OF Ireland that has
never relinquished ITS rights TO sover-
al ind -
makes It's claim on the world today on
the basis Of the principle Of self-de-
termination. What the will OF the
fish people Is there is no room for
doubt.
Even Lloyd George. speaking few
days ago 10 the British House OF Com
mons. said that II asked what plan Of
government they would accept the
Irish people would declare by an en-
phatic majority We wan. independ-
enoe and an Irish republic
"The question then is whether cOun-
tries Ike yours will act on This prin-
ciple or self-determinst'on. will main
tain The right OF nations 10 choose
their own way OF life and obedience
or whether they will bow down again
and worship the brute force OF might
which Lloyd George invokes.
The Irish people ask for nothing
but what is theirs by every title. They
want nothing but their own country
shall those who but a short time ago
proclaimed that no nation should be
forc-d under a sovereignty under
which Il did not d1sire to live'-hand
Ireland over now 70 be crushed and |
~ frs
more right TO Ireland than the foot |
pad 20 The purse OF the travelar he !
has robbed at the pistol point? Shall |
peoples that fought against militarism /
and Imperialism a few days ago now
lend their cOuntenance TO militarism /
IN It's most naked form7
England has no right in Ireland. I
Selfish interests. imperial and com
mercIal she may have. Are these sell
fish interests, even II real. 20 be given |
preced nee over Ireland's risht?
That she may be mistress Of the !
Atlantic ocean, Britain wants to retain
possession OF Ireland for the Irish har-
bars. Is It Just that this selfish inter
est OF hers for imperial domination,
should be accepted as an excuse for
feprivine our ancient nation OF It's
right 10 live-lts right 10 develop In its
own way, along its own lines OF cul-
ture-respecting equally the rights or
other nations and seeking TO lord IL !
over no one.
Britain also wishes 10 retain pos
session OF ireland that she may con-
tlnue 10 exploit it commercially as In /
the past. Is 10 Just that the people OF /
Ireland should be deprived OF their /
right 10 use the resources OF their own
country, in order that foreign peO-
pie might batten upon hemg II 1t Is
lust what nonsense it is 10 speak OF
the equal rights OF nations. the small
with the great.
The British government seeks 10 use
ireland today exactly as the same gov
ernment uscd the Colonies prior 10 76.
Their action Is based on the self-same
only the people OF Britain
have rights and that il is their peculiar
privilege 20 use other peoples for their
benefit
The conditions in Ireland today are
exactly those OF your Revolution. There
Is the same CONSTITUENCIES invasion OF
.he liberties OF the people. the same
brutal attempt 10 stamp out in blood
a spirit that is not sufficiently ac-
to aooustom Itself 20 the
shackles OF slavery and also the same
brutal and unabashed misrepresenla-
ton OF the resistance with which the
attempt is met. II Americans want 10
the conditions In Ireland.
today. II Americans want 10 under
stand the attitude OF England toward
Ireland. hey need only study in de-
tail the story OF T6.
There is no people that should un-
Ireland's cause as well as you
that Is why we have come to you
first ihat Is why In you II is that
our highest hope lies.
'The concrete question we are bring
inc before you IS this: In Ireland To-
iav there are tXo governments-one
Ihe native Irish Republican Govern
neut. the deliberate choice Of the peo-
nle determined by a regular national
,lectlon and obeyed by the people as
ts legitimate government. obeyed even
Ia Imprisonment and death the other
an alien government. foreign mill
.arv autocratic satrafy with no sane
ION that the bnyonets OF its soldiery-
itself by brute force
AGAINST the protests OF a whole ma
ion To which OF these two govern
nents will you give official counten-
1nceq Which will you recognize IN
gour dealings with the Irish people as
he official organ Of Ircland's national
ife?
Would it not seem almost on insult
n suggest that you should even hesi-