Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-03-14
- Z ~ L 4
APPEAL MADE FOR
STARVING IN ERIN
Seek Aid For Starving Wo-
men and Chill
dren
r<fpRINC ADDRESSES
STIRRING ADDRESSES
d. c. O'Flaherty, of Richmond. Rossa
F. Downing, of Washington-Leo
P. Harlow Presides.

Stirring addresses in an appeal for
the starving women and children of
< Ireland were made at a mass meet
ing held yesterday afternoon in the
Richmond Theater presided over by
LEO P. Harlow.
D. c. OFlakerty, of Richmond,
Virginia, former head of the
f. Downing, Of Washington, and
Master D. C. 0'Flaherty, the last
named about twelve years old, made
addresses.
Me. Harlow, who presided, said
the meeting was called for the relief
of the starving women and children
Of ireland. Continuing he said: ''Those
of you who do not sympathize with
the cause may not have any hesi-
fancy in lending their aid to the
starving women and children. They
are suffering as the Belgians did L
am not going to ask you TO take my
word for it ana will read from ex-
tracts from an article written IN
this months Earper's by Sir Philip
Gibbs, an Englishman.
Mr.. Harlow then read few ex-
tracts showing: the deplorab!e condi-
tions existing il that country today
and said it was sufficient to stir the
heart of any red .blooded American
He described acts of arson and inur-
H der eommittetA by the Black and TarS
lhna told Of fSlr extreme brutality
lalnl,!af the saeking Of hish towns and afd
Slof tire shooting down Of innocent
persons.
The presiding officer than introduced
D. C. O'Flahclty, of Richmond, Va.
In opening his remarks, Mr..
OpFlaherty declared that he felt that
If he could NOT speak for a land like
Ireland within the shadow of Mount
Vernuf, ,,hc would say, God saye
America.
Z Continuing Mr.. ,OFlaherty said:
What man can show cause why Ire
land should not be free. Ireland gives
England s1s5 100000 year and tins
money is being used to shoot down
her people simply because they want
to be free. The duty Of the Aneri-
ran people IS for humanity and in the
name of humanity come to you and
ask aid for these people. There WILL
never be any peace in this world until
Ireland secures her freedom. The
fight is not religious one, but slnp-
" one of commerce and keeping Ire
lands people down. Hundreds OF
men Protestants and Catholics, are
in his fight. Ireland is today the
only small nation that is not free.
"During the world war 25o,oOo
Irish boys fought for England to
e. make her free. say that this fight
IS not religious war.
II say when you tear down the
irish flag you run the risk OF tearing
down the stars and stripes. Where
ever you find man of Irish blooo IN
= his veins he wants to see the lrish
people free. This fight has been on
for 75o years. Anyone who ever
thinks Ireland is going to give up
this fight is mistaken.
Don't stop on giving and don't
let your prejudice stop YOU. You
can't kill the Irish spirit. It viii
never die. If England don't behave
herself she is just as liable to get in
trouble as Germany did"
The next speaker was Rosa F.
Downing of Washington. There IS
no mow worthy cause than the re-
2lief work in Ireland he said. The
speaker opened his remarks by de-
claring that he thought that branch
|pf the militant organization was to
be formed at ti.s meeting. The chill
dren of Ireland he asserted are suf-
fering for food. The speaker refuted
E. the statement that the Irish did not
fight during the war.
He told of the large number that
volunteered and fought under the
British banner They were told that
they could fight for the freedom of
any small nation except ireland. The
Irish afterward said they woult
fight no more unless Ireland .coulc
obtain her freedom. Ireland, said tht
speaker, is no part of England, he
population being a different race ant
iiferant people. Mr.. Downing as
serted: I'VE do not want to take par