The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-04-05
Bridgeporters

| Several hundred Bridgeporters heard the case of the Irish republican | party from the lips of it's official rep l resentattves, Hon. Austin Stack and J. J. O'Kelly, at the Casino last night. The venerable Patrick Cuddy, a life i long worker in the Irish cause, was 1 temporary chairman, and John B. Dillon was permanent chairman. Rev. 1 Michael J. O'Fianagan, vice-president 1 of the Sim Fein political organiza- | ton, and Hon. Patrick J. Kerley of | Dunda1k, Ireland, an attorney-at-law 1 before the Irish republican courts, who accompanies the delegation, also 1 spoke. The meeting was under the auspices of the American Association public.
 O'Kelly 8 Scholar. James J: O'KeIly, the first speaker, Is of the scholarly thoughtful type to life in journalistic and literary pur- suits. He prefaced his address by ex- pressing appreciation in Gaelic to the audience for coming. in such mum weather, and vigorously challenged l statements appearing in several | newspapers criticizing the Irish re- 1 pubicanS.
 recent issue of the "CathoMc Tran script official organ of the diocese of Hartford, he said:
 What I feel ashamed 9f as a Catholic journalist is that a diocesan l organ edited by a priest and issued with the approval of the Bishop should sboop to the conten1ptible prac- tice of publishing letter of that kind from a man 1 can describe by no other name than fugitive scoun- drel''
 Mir. O'KeIy declared that the au- thor of the letter, who gave a New Haven address. could not be found in that city.
 No Election Possible.
 After an analysis of the steps lead land, MT. O'Kelly said:
 'Under circunlstances no general election is possible in Ireland. During four years war great many of the documents which would enable a general election to be held have been destroyed. Part of the work of Mir. Stack as Minister of Homo Affairs was to wipe out alien courts in Ireland, and set up republican courts in their stead. In annihi1ating these courts many documents were destroyed. All the police barracks and coast guard stations in Ireland were destroyed With their records.
 The custom house in Dublin was burned because 1t contained a lot Of documents of use in the British gov upon which the British government relied to collect the income tax in Ireland. Since the Dublin custom house went up in flames, England has
  and I am poor prophet if England ever will. In addition the soldiers and other instrume entS of the Brilish crown burned down all the county offices and urban district council of- fees and offices of every public board that had sworn allegiance to the Dali Eireann, thus destroying many more documents.
 No List in Cavan.
 ''In the county of Cavan, repre- sented by Arthur Griffith. there is not in existence a single voters list.
 We want an adequate register every adult man and woman in Ire land, and we hoped the Free State party would cooperate. but by a par " vote they defeated the motion of Mrs. buckingham, widow of the mar tyred mayor of Limerick. asking for a register prepared in accorda nee with the Easter week procla1na tion of Padraic Pearse, giving women the franchise on the same terms as men,
 Mir. O'Kelly pointed out as his four principal objections to the treaty, any one of which he considered sufficient to demand ilS rejection: CD Oath of allegiance to the King of England; (2) The partition Of Ireland, "the cut ting off from the main body of the Irish nation of hallowed Ulster, where the ashes of St. Patrick and Columb- kille and Biran boru lie, where the O'Neils and O'Donne1ls were nurtured- dIlu WH6TS 1TlSIl uh1NeIS4l1SS O1 6dI- gor and Armagh were the intellectual centres of Europe; (3) The taking over by England of four of the prin- cipal Irish ports; (4) The denial to Ireland of the right to cable or wire less communication with the outside world. Dilating on the last objection. he declared that Arthur Griffith had once said that England by her con- trol of the press and the wires had built wall of paper around Ireland, writing one side whatever she wanted the world to know of Ireland and on the inside what she wanted Ireland to know of the world, and asserted that the treaty would per- petuate this condition. In conclusion he made a plea for membership in the A. A. R. l. R.
 Stack Displays Energy.
 Austin Stack, the next speaker, dis played in his address much of the driving energy which early won him fame on the football field and later lasting reputation as Minister of Home Affairs. He said in part: ~Are- man was free and independent na- ton and since the coming Of the Nor man. Ireland has never submitted to the invader. therefore England has no right to trespass on our country. England as an act of grace offers us certain concessions.
 ''She says: T will take you into my Empire, appoint you caretaker of part your OWL TOT 4Ileb II you acknowledge my overiordshtp and render an account when I ask you to the person whom I send you as Gov ernor- General, and at the same time swear an oath of allegiance to me- I say we cannot accept such an offer, because it is submission to England. Not a single generation has passed in Ireland in 75O years without blood protest against the invader.
 The question of the Irish republic has loea-1 rhrea times submitted to the Irish people at three successive gen. eral elections and the lowest majority at any time was s4 per cent
 Irish Have Decided.
 More than two years ago Lloyd George said: We know what the Irish people want. They have already decided. They have set up what they call a republic and they will have nothing else If that wasn't an acknowledgement by Lloyd George tht Ireland had conformed to the principle Of self-detern1ination laid =.