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THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE-TUNE1917EYESOFTHEWORLDAREONTHEIRISHCONVENTIONFriends of Irish Freedom, the A. O. II.,the Irish National Foersters, to make some statement, as to what they think oi the proposed convention, and its chances for success or failure. Pres Smythe of the Irish County Clubs did not have time to prepare a statement. The articles are presented today.the preservation of which they have endured privation, famine and penal servitude and gave up their lives.Opinions of American Leaders of the Race, Who See An Opportunity to Settle a Centuries-Old Problem, If Opposing Elements Meet With Honest Desire to Come to An Understanding and If England Will Keep Its Word.Parliament of that Kingdom, in all cases whatever; and to have all actions and suits at law' or in equity which may he instituted in that Kingdom decided in His Majesty’s courts therein, finally and without appeal from thence shall be and is hereby declared to be established and ascertaihfed forever and shall at no time hereafter be questioned or questionable.”Could any act. be more thorough ormore solemn? Yet the infringement of this declaration began the very day it was made, in 18 years in an orgy of blood and corruption, the English Government extinguished the Irish Parliament with wfiich it had so solemnly pledged itself never to interfere.With such a record, even though the spirit of nationality did not possess every generous Irish soul as it does, as meie matter of common prudence what can any irishman do but cry with the revolutionary leaders, “Damn Your Concession. We Want Our Country.”ENGLAND CANNOT PUTOFF THE SETTLEMENTBy MARTIN E. JOYCESupreme Chief Hanger, Irish Nationalv Foresters.The proposed Irish convention will place England on record, not Ireland. Many people believe that because of England’s fast the plan is one evolved toput off Home Rule by saying that the Irish cannot agree on anything tangible.We in America, with our ideals ofdemocracy and fair play, should be willing to give the ministry the benefit of I he doubt in the matter. Wit h the United States in the war, it is a far different matter than when we were neutral. Instead of making suggestions our men in high positions can nowpresent demands.English Cabinet officials may be able to throw dust in the eyes of the people abroad, but they cannot fool the men chosen to direct the affairs of this Government. Therefore, if there is a disagreement on the question England cannot turn and say the Irish cannot agree, so the matter will have to be postponed.People in this country will point to the fact that it is a very small minority that is holding up the settlement; that they always held up reforms; that they agreed to them after making threatswhich never were carried out; that the standard of democracy is the carrying out of the will of the majority; that thethe many as opposed to the objections of the few, and therefore England will be told to put in force its majority ruleof law.We. being an Ally, can demand this rightfully on the grounds that the huge army now in Ireland, and the other one in England, are not needed there and as a requisite to the success of thewarthev should be fighting, not doing patrol duty, otherwise this country caa consistently say to England, the dominating force of the Allies abroad, unless you choose to utilize every means to bring the war to a successful issue—and the settlement of the Irish problem is a vital issue—you cannot expect unanimity of action from the United States.England is not getting it from her colonies, and so she cannot expect that this country is going to fill up weakened gaps caused by the unstatesmanlike action of ministers who have placed the whole war in jeopardy, if we are going to sacrifice blood and treasure in behai£ | of a democracy, there must be no blem-j ishes upon it. Russia has practically said that same thing to England.| No matter what happens in the Irish convention, it will bring mattetrs to an , issue, rfo 1 am hopeful for the future.Rule; but some of his followers would not tolerate it.On the other hand, Lord Northciiffe. who was chief abettor in the so-called Ulster scheme of war against Homo Rule, has completely relented and is as anxious for Horn* Rule as is Mr Redmond. - ^ gThe solution, *hen, to you* Ration caik be found only rn the attitude or the implacable handful of Grange opponent* Judging by their nction* tn the past three years, it would be impossible to expect tfiat any form of unanimity could be reached by tlw convention.But inasmuch as the convention l» planned to be composed not only of politicians, but of business men and of representatives of all creeds, it is possible that an agreement may be attained at the last moment. Such an agreement would not be more difficult than that reached in South Africa with Britain and Boer opposed and no hope of conciliation.DOUBTS SINCERITY OF OFFERBy JOHN F. KELLYPresident Massachusetts Branch, Friendsof Irish Freedom.A sufficient answer to your question would perhaps be to state that no Irishconvention has been proposed and that Mi- George does not qllow one for a freely elected convention would inevitably declare for th* Ir;.«h republic oneand indivisible.Mr George’s object is to prevent the case ol Ireland coming before the pence conference. With that end in view he is calling an assembly of notables care-By JAMES T. SULLIVANEvery since Lloyd George made his announcement offering to settle the Irish question on the basis of either a partition of Ireland or by means of a convention there has been a great deal of comment throughout the United States on this subject.It was readily understood by all interested in the matter that the partition plan would not be accepted by any great number in Ireland. The convention seemed the more logical.Opinion on its success is divided, some believing England is not acting in good faith, and others feeling that Lloyd George should not be condemned until the convention is given a trial.The entry of the United States in the war made it international rather than an English domestic problem. Should there be another clash in Ireland, which is possible any time because of the Martial and Coercion laws, the soldiers would have things their own way, for the Irish people have few arms and little ammunition.Such an event would arouse a stormof protest here which would be felt in Washington, it is because of the treatment accorded Ireland that Australiavoted against conscription, that Canada is having its troubles getting recruits, and many young men here are lukewarm toward going abroad to light.IMany people here take the attitude that England should straighten out the Irish situation and so allow the 140,000 troops now in Ireland to go to the front, where men are so greatly needed. They would be more effective right awayJHthan the troops wre could send over some months from now.Capt J. M. A. Maloney, a New York physician who was in Ireland when the war started and was wounded at the battle of the Marne and again at Gallipoli, is now trying to suggest a, remedy to clear the trouble. In the New York Evening Post he made some good suggestions.He proposes that a commission be sent to Ireland representing various organizations in the United States to give aid and counsel to the convention. Before sending it he would have the opinions of many leaders here secured as to what might be done for Ireland.He believes that if such men as Michael J. Ryan, city solicitor of Philadelphia and president of the United Irish League; Justice Cohalan of the New York Supreme Court, Justice Keough, also of the New York judiciary; Ex-Senator O'Gorman, Victor Herbert, the composer; Bainbridge Colbyand prominent Irishmen from other cities were to get together and go it would help matters.Before going he suggests that throughWOULD ENGLAND KEEP HER WORD TO IRELAND?By MAYOR CURLEY OF BOSTONThe history of English negotiation,either in the matter of Catholic emancipation or Homo Rule, is one long chapter of broken promises and violatedsome medium the ideas of the Irish people here he gathered by answers to the three questions following:(1) Are you in favor of a convention of the Irish, in Ireland determining the plan of the future Government of Ireland?(2) If that convention he arranged on a basis as equitable as isconsistent with the present exigencies of war, will you abide by its . decisions?(3) If the British Parliament legalizes these decisions, will you loyally and whole-heartedly cooperate with the Irish Government thus constituted?Capt Maloney states that a deputation of eminent Irish-American Presbyterians is about to go to Ireland to-place at the disposal of their Ulster brethren their wisdom in all matters upon w'hich their counsel may be sought.So he feels that a similar deputation might well go to confer with those of the Nationalists and Sinn Feiners, who would like to get some idea of public sentiment in this country. They would not attempt to thrust themselves upon the convention or the delegates, but offer such advice as they might be called upon to suggest.With a view of getting some idea of the sentiment here the Globe has asked Mayor Curley and one of the leading officers of the United Irish League, theiPtedes on the part of the English Gov- J fully hand-picked by the Governmenti and the Redmond and Carson machines warranted to do nothing Democratic or prejudicial to English rule in Ireland.J he recommendations of this assembly u adopted unanimously Mr George promises to try to have enacted into law. Why in Ireland unanimity should be reqmred for the adoption of a constitution Mr George does not explain, but the reason is obvious.Lack of unanimity which he can man-ufaeture will provide him with an excuse for doing nothing, he will be able to say that he can not ascertain what the Irish people wish and most regretfully he can drop the task of pacifying Ireland. Should, however, he still for any reason desire to pose as the active friend of Ireland he may introduce a measure into Parliament and have it defeated there. Or he may even have it passed and then suspend it, like the Home Rule act “now on the statute book,” through alleged fear of the Army officers and Carson.The George offer is not made in good faith. No English offer of reconciliation ever has been made in good faith. No English concession has ever been granted except with the intention of taking it back at the first opportunity. England has never kept a treaty or an agreement with Ireland. She has violated even the Act of Union she forced on Ireland. And no solemnity, no form of words can bind her.What she did with the treaty of Limerick is burned into every Irish heart. What she did with that treaty Is what she has done with all. In 1783, fearing the volunteers and in dread of America and France her Parliament formally went on record as follows: “Be it enacted that the right claimed by the people of Ireland to be bound only by laws enacted by His Majesty and theernment.In view of past history, it is impossible to conceive, by any stretch of the imagination, a fulfilment of the present, agreement to accept whatever decision might be arrived at. through a convention of the Irish people.A Government that honors and ele-vatees Sir Edward Carson for substantially the same character of offense that it executes Sir Roger Casement cannot be depended upon to act either with honor or equity on the only demand which the people of Ireland are justified in presenting at the present time— namely, the independence of Ireland.To deny independence to Ireland is equivalent to repudiating the proposition that the present war is being waged to maintain and safeguard the integrity of small Nations.Democracy, as Americans understand it, means a Government representing the will of the majority, and government other than by the will of the majority is not democracy, and enforcement of minority rule by the power of brute force alone is anarchy.To require the people of Ireland to convene under circumstances that render impossible a unanimous decision is to insult their intelligence.While the immediate granting of independence to Ireland might prove offensive to a few millions of persons of Irish blood throughout the world, it would be hailed as courageous, magnanimous and just by more than 20,000,000 of people of Irish blood and by hundreds of millions of lovers of liberty, whose respect for Irish character and valor is hightened by the knowledge that for more than TOO years they have striven for independence, with never a thought to run the white flag to quarter in token of surrender of an ideal forCOULD BE MADE EPOCHIN IRELAND’S HISTORYBy PATRICK F. CANNONOf Clinton, National Vice President of the Ancient Order of Hibernian*,I believe that this convention can bo made an epoch in Ireland’s history. Let it he representative of the best, brain*in the country, regardless of creed, social or political station. Let the representatives of the whole country when assembled make of it an “Irish Runny-mede.” Let them there consummate their charter of Irish liberty.Let them decide for themselves what their relations shall be to the British Empire. Let them make of that constitution a charter of liberty and law, with due care for the protection of the minority.Let them present it to King, Lords and Commons of Great Britain for adoption as the basic law for a democratic and emancipated Ireland.Let them remind the present English Premier that, the repressive triumph of British statesmanship over Ireland heretofore has been only “Cademean Victories” and that they sincerely hopethat he will accept the occasion andmake the bonds of freedom wider vet.Ireland today has the ear of the world: if they honor themselves bytheir love for liberty and law they willhave its sympathy and support, andthey will at last have compelled thoir oppressors to again demonstrate their perfidy or make good their claims of championing the cause of democracy and the rights of small Nations.ALL BUT NINE-TENTHS READYBy MICHAEL J. JORDAN,National Secretary United Irish Leagueof America.The National convention in Ireland will be a success if the patriotic desire of the Nationalists to meet all opponents halfway is respected. On the lloor of the House of Commons and in every part ol Ireland the leader of the Irish party, John E. Redmond, has expressed himself over and over again ready to concede any measure in reason that will guarantee the rights of the people in the three protesting counties of l ister.Considering that nine-tenths of the people of Ireland demand Home Rule and are ready to make every patriotic sacrifice to accomplish it, even by way of compromise, it is safe to say that any reasonable opponent would be willing to meet such a compromise in a spirit ofharmony.The business men of the north of Ireland favor Home Rule, a large proportion of Presbyterians of Ulster favor Home Rule; the representatives of the ascendancy Government, in Ireland only are opposed to Home Rule. How far they will carry their opposition is a question that no one now can answer.It seems, however, that Sir Edward Carson, the creatoi of the new covenant in the north, would be glad to find a means of escaping from the position Home Rule bill represents the will of j of uncompromising hostility to Home+-
Newspaper Details
Boston Sunday Globe
Boston, Massachusetts, US
Sun, Jun 03, 1917
Page 40
Full Page
Clipped by
New Y.
NY, USA 23 Sep 2018
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