Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1939-12-14

Little did an Irish mother and q
Spanish father In the year 1882
dream that some day their new
born son, EamOnn De Valera,
would not only be premier of the
Irish Free State but also president
Of the Council Of the League of
Nations.
Head Of the worlds greatest
board Of arbitration, he will listen
TO the many briefs presented BY
representatives Of the Finnish and
Russian governments. No matter
how great Solomon he might
want TO be, his heart will dictate
in favor of minorities. And BY
favoring Finland he will of neces-
sity place the present day standard
Of England a little higher. What
viii be De Valera's thoughts a.
be reviews England's policy Of the
last few years? Before his eyes
will fash a picture of the British
lion. mighty champion of the op-
dressed and prosecuted, protesting
Russia's invasion of Finland:
Stains pick-pocketing of Poland;
Germany's ruin of Poland; Hitler's
triumphant marches into Austria
and Czechoslovakia, his incarcera-
ton and ruthless slaughter of the
Jew and the pernicious habits of
the German and Russian govern
ments against the Catholic Church.
Will not De Valera wonder why
England never applied any chart
table and altruistic principles to-
ward Ireland? Win he not wonder
why England, since 1857 has been
lacking in tolerance and uderstand-
ing toward the Emerald Isle?
The Irish Premier, fighting pa
triot and astute historian, might
allow mis- thoughts to drift back
to the reign of Henry II when,
after the conquest of Ireland by
the Normans, it was divided into
counties and English courts were
set up in Dublin. He might think
of Henry VIII, who confiscated
Church lands and attempted to
force the people to give up the
Catholic religion; or of Elizabeth
and the continued fight of the Irish
for independence.
His thoughts may dwell on the
Civil War in England under
Chrles II and the vengeance of
William III, brought upon the Irish
because of their loyalty to James
II. He might wonder why the
Mighty Champion of Righteous
ness did not exercise tolerance
when, after the surrender at Linn
erick, she broke the treaty, and the
penal laws so called, were placed in
effect, with the object of driving
Catholicism from the land. He will
undoubtedly shudder at the
thought of the rebellion in 1898
which cost the lives of 10000 of
his countrymen the horrible
tragedy of 100000 Irish men, wom-
en- and children dying from starva-
ton in 1845 viii flash across his
mind.
These will probably be his
thoughts, bad enough in them
selves. Yet far worse will be the
memories of England versus Ire
land during his own life that has
been spent in fighting for the free
dom of his country from the OPP
preston of England.
What bitterness will swell his
heart at the picture stamped in
oelibly upon his mind of the bru-
talities committed by the Black
and Tans? Men he will remember,
a majority of whom were recruited
from many of England's jails, who
took pleasure in desecrating and
destroying men, women and
churches of God.
Will he wonder why the British
lion, that today roars at the I'M
Goodness of Stalinites and Hitler
ties, was SO ferociously tearing
about Dublin and other parts of
Ireland from 1916 to 1922?
Perhaps, because of the mate
humor that rests in the hearts of
all Irishmen, he will smile at the
fickleness of fate that places him
as the Judge in situation which
England, past master of persecu-
tion and present crusader for the
oppressed, plays so important