Evening star., 1935-02-01
Further Replies to Mr..
Lappin's Irish Views

To the Editor Of The Star:
Without intending to prolong q con-
troversy with your correspondent, Mr..
Lappin, permit me to observe that
questions Of fact and not questions OF
opinion are the issue. Facts will 30
remain regardless Of opinion, and in
asmuch as Mr.. Lappin does not re-
affirm his misstatements he seems "a
man convinced against his will"
To Mr.. Lappins Illuminating dis
sertation on the origin of boycotting
let me add few details that he inad-
vertently, no doubt, omitted. The
"offense" Of Capt. Boycott consisted
in such trifies as evicting hundreds Of
families in the dead of Winter and
afterward leveling their cottages to
the ground with a ''battering ram"
He threatened and carrier into effect
similar outrages against neighbors for
the offense of harboring even the
children thus despoi,ed of their homes.
Naughty Mayo men, that you should
ostracize such q paragon Of human
virtuei
That the origin Of the boycott did
AhoSkA W AONuo WOAtu atbChblOh OAl bllC
scourge Of absentee landlordism would
seem ample justification for the use Of
the boycott in this instance at least.
OF the reckless bravery Of so Or
angemen, each carrying a revolver" /"
so feelingly described by Mr.. Lappin,
that did chores for the gallant cap
tain, and "the strong body Of cavalry,
infantry and police with artillery
added" (where was the Royal Navy?)
over 800 in all at time when Mayo
men are said to have been armed with
automatic shillelahs.
SEAN oDoHERTY.
To the Editor Of The Star:
I'm an American of English extrac-
ton. The letters Of r. Lappin pub
lished in The Star are chiefly indica-
tive of peevishly petulant hatred Of
Ireland and everything Irish. He
would even have us believe that ostra-
cism originated in Ireland. For what
is the word boycott" except another
name for ostracism? If Mr.. Lappin
thinks he is serving the cause Of Eng
lish amity by writing these peevishly
petulant letters he is entirely mistaken.
1t has been my good fortune to have
visited both England and Ireland on
more than one occasion. I found that
the Irish and the English are cordially
friendly despite their political ami
mosities. It is my real opinion that If
busybodies will only keep their fingers
out OF the Irish-English tangle they
will serve the interests of both coun-
tries best. If the Irish want to re-
taliate they could point the finger of
scorn at England because of Englands
reputation of her financial obliga-
tions to the United States. Let the
Christian spirit predominant; hatred
and animosity are inconsistent with
Christian charity: guard, therefore,
against the slightest indulgence of
them. ROBERT j. DIXON,
To the Editor of The Star:
After being all but massacred in his
charges against the Irish Free State,
r. Lappin in his letter of the 29th
abandons the field and takes refuge
in another charge. The boycott"
says he, originated in Ireland" Evi-
IDENTIFY every knock from r. Lappin is
boost for Ireland, for, far from deny
ing being the originator of the boy
colt, 1t has been one Of Ireland's
boasts. 80 what? Did Mr.. Lappin
ever hear of the Blue Eagle and how
all patriotic citizens were urged to
patronize none. but those bearing this
sign? Then, again, does he go to the
movies. and has he noticed Approved
by Production Code Administration"
before each picture? This, for his in
formation, was brought about by the
''boycotting tactics" of the Legion of
Decency and other organizations. Per-
haps Mr. Lappin is unfair to organ
lied labor" and views with concern
the spread Of this "pernicious evil" as
a weapon Of underpaid workmen.
Nevertheless. his concern for the
poor landlords" in Ireland in 1881
and the textile manufacturer of New
England in 1885 is out of step with
the New Deal. j. SWEENEY.