MR P. C. WEBB ON IRELAND.

Grey River Argus, 29 November 1920, Page 3

MR P. C. WEBB ON IRELAND.

Speaking of the evils of Capitalism at the Plaza Theatre, Dunedin, on last Sunday evening Mr Webb amid great applause, referred to the present conditions in Ireland as follows: — Under no conceivable circumstances could a Socialist community be guilty of the abominable crimes now being committed by men of tho Carson and Lloyd George type", who profess to believe in the rights of all small nations (outside their own Empire) over whom they have no control, but who, when asked to give effect in a practical form to the principle for which they contended the war was waged, belch forth their answer through cannon to ♦he people wlio expect them to practise what they preach. When one looks into the history of Ireland and reviews the 800 years.' struggle in which an unconquerable nation has been engaged, one is .struck with orror and amazement to think it possible that such brave souls as Terence MacSwincy should be so cruelly assassinated by the tools of Capitalism. However, justice will prevail, and in spite of tho Lloyd George and Carson elements Ireland, India and Egypt will enjoy the blessings of self-determination, and will be permitted by the rest off the world to work out their own destinies in keeping with their own ideals arid aspiration. That great day of reckoning is at hand, and the Labour movement in England that prevented English Capitalism from declaring war on Russia nvtfst and will apply the siunC principle towards the oppressed peoples within the Empire; and on that day when the Parliament and the wokshops arc controlled by the force of Labour, |ho flag of liberty will fly for the first time over the whole Empire. The soul ofN Ireland will be expressed in sclfdotermination and the names of Maer Swincy and Connolly, together with those brave comrades who suffered and died for the sacred cause of Irish freedonf, will be emblazoned in letters of goldl, for in his (the speaker's) opinion, no martyrs past or present ,died braver deaths than did these men. Think of MaseSwiney, drifting slowiiig to his grave until weakness compelled, him to lie in his prison cell, there to be toT-, merited' by the pangs of hunger. And when dainty, tempting viands were set before him he refused to accept a morsel from those whose hands, wero red with the blood of his comTades, and, Avhen daily, the grim tspectro of death was creeping nearer, and when all physical strength had almost departed from this, heroic man his soul cried out (I think to his sister in attendance): "Bear witness, I die a soldier of the Irish Republic,''' and his last prayer was: "May God Bless Ireland." Such men will live in memory as long as life lasts on this planet. Deeds like these will stir the. soul of man when Lloyd George and Carson and , the horde of satellites havo sunk into oblivion, cursed and been forgotten by a free people. Mr Webb's references to Ireland were received with; loud' applause.