The Daytona daily news., 1922-01-30

mar the SO-C0lIed Irish question"
Is not question Of religion but o.
nationality. and that because the re-
ligcns question had been injected
into it many persons had been blinded
to the real merits OF the case. was
one OF the main points developed at
the Open Forum in the Auditorium
yesterday afternoon by Denis A. Nc
Carthy. OF Boston. irish poet, lecturer
and associate editor Of a Catholic per.
ictlical.
MIR. Mccarthy spoke to a large aud
tcnce on THAT Irish Question and
gave many interesting sidelights on
his native country's age-old dispute
with England as to seif-government.
because of the speakers religious
faith and his subject the day was des-
ignated as Catholic Day and there
We're many members OF that religious
belief among his audience.
Mr.. McCarthy's address was preced-
ed hy an excellent musical program.
Benjamin De Wolf gave several VIC.
lin selections accompanied BY Mad
anne Nepolkachicski, there were two
piano numbers by Mrs. Clifford Ewart.
and Mrs. w. Redwood Wharton sang
three solos.
Mr.. Mccarthy was introduced BY
Robert =. Holmes and In opening his
address 10 said he came to this coun-
try from Ireland when fifteen years
CID and that he had been ar Ameri-
can ever since In fact. he said, he felt
pretty sure he was an American be-
fore he left home
Referring to Mr.. Holmes introduc
tory remarks that Mr. Mccarthy was
lover OF peace end presented the
paradox Of lone Irishman who wal,
not fighting Irishman," Mr. Nc
Carthy said that he spoke on the
Irish question as an ambassador OF
peace and not as an antagonist of
other peoples opinions
when Mr. Holmes asked me last
summer to come here ana speak On
the Irish question" said Mr. Mccarthy.
II felt some hesitancy about il. be-
cause the Irish question at that time
was a very live one and was the cause
OF considerable bitter feeling. and
while mentioned It in all my writ
ings hesitated about going before
the public with an address about it.
However. considerable water has
gone under London bridge since last
cuhiHhCt anu IidFC
pened. Lloyd George, who had said
that he would never enter into con-
ference with the Sim Feners. whom
he had branded as a gang Of murder
ers. has changed his mind on the
irish question ard has entered into a
conference with the Sim Fen. And
the change of mind of the British pre-
mier is symbolic of the changed at
~
Lloyd George has practically adj
mitted that the Irish We're right in
their demands for selfgcvcrnment
As to the reasons why the Irish de-
manded government OF their own
Mr.. Mccarthy said:
"'rhe Irish claim they are distinct
nation from the English and they
have always disputed the assertion of
the English that Ireland is an integral
part OF the British Empire and there
fore should be- contented to remain I'M
der British domination. The Irish
claim they have distinct history and
that the Irish were a civilized and 1t
Christianzed nation before Great
Britain was civilized and Christianiz
ed
when the Normans came over and
conquered England they did not con
uuer the Irish, they merely irritateh
them. Perhaps If TIE Normans had
been able to coGuer ireland they
would have been assimilated aps
there might never have been any re-
| bellious sentiment among the Irish
people.
| Il do not blame any Englshman for
taking pride in the history OF the
British Empire and ] would have
small respect TO any Englishman who
did not fee. proud OF it's progress and
It's achievements, but of this progress
and this achievement ireland has ne
yer had the benefit which the oiher
component parts ot the british Elm
pi.e received.
"The Irish have not been pfosper
ovs as the other portions OF the Brit