The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-20

Editors Note: What has become of the
Irish republican movement? 1t is one of
day that while the Free State government
is functloning as the successful ruling
body, the Irish. republic also continues
to function under obvious limitations
Eanionn de Valera, President" Is i'm
prisoned 10y the Free State authorities. but
Patrick Rutledse. an oid-time Sim Fein
leader, is acting in his place. Rutledge
Is fugitive-"on the run" as 1t is called
in Ireland. However. he manages to carry
and orders. eiude the Free State authorf-
ties. and now has written three articles
telling the republicans side of the Irish
situation. In presenting them, The Age
Herald does so solely because of the in
terest attached to the subject and without
assuming responsibility for the views ex-
pressed.
BY PATRICK RUTLEDGE
Acting President of the Irish Republic
Copyright 1924. for The Age-Herald.)
Dublin, April 19..-The policy of
Irish republicans now. as at the time
of and since the establishment Of the
republic is, briefly, TO maintain and up
hold the right of. the Irish people to
sovereign independence. From this it
follows that republican policy is:
!. To take every effective means to
deny the right and oppose the exercise
of any foreign authority within ireland.
2. To use every effort : to prevent
the consummation of partition (the
division of Ireland into the separate
units of the Free State and Ulster).
3. To secure as elected representa-
tives of the people men and women
who will stand by the nations declared
independence and refuse to compromise
the nations right by an oath of al
legiance to a foreign king or by ac-
ceptance of an authority and constitu-
ton imposed by foreign power.
An Offer or Friendship
If returned at the next general cleo
ton, the republican government will
administer the resources of the nation
in the best interests of the nation, and
will make to England, in behalf of the
Irish people, an offer of friendship,
based on the recognition of Ireland's
sovereign and Independent rights. Only
by such recognition can lasting peace
between the two countries and internal
stability be obtained.
While the Free Staters maintain
their present submission to the British
Empire refuse to recognize the ma
tional rights, and continue their unjust
and repressive tactics towards the re-
publicans, there can be no cooperation
between republicans and them.
Last April President de Valera put
forward proposals on which genuine
peace and cooperation could be Sc
cured. The Free State authorities
turned down these proposals. We con-
tinue to appeal to them co return to
their former allegiance and unite with
us in the cause of complete indie
pendence.
mo Treaty Peace Possible"
= Absolute freedom cannot come
through exercise of Irish rights under
the treaty with Great, Britain. The
treaty represents neither national eyo-
luton nor possibility of evolution, but
retrogression. @ -,
The excuse given by almost all treaty
adherents for its acceptance was that
it would be used as stepping stone
to complete freedom. But, once having
fenounced their allegiance. to the
sovereign republic, the supporters Of
the treaty have been driven by their
own utter W ikness and the weaknS -