CHILDREN AND THE UNION JACK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15233, 21 February 1913, Page 4

CHILDREN AND THE UNION JACK.

Sir,—ln the Herald of Wednesday, July 3 last, "a body of Hibernians, whilst returning from a Nationalist meeting at Castledawaon, Londonderry, attacked" 500 children who were taking part in a Sunday-school excursion, and tarrying tho Union Jack. On July 4- anotrier.«cablegram appeared as follows" The attacks by Hibernians on tho school children who worn carrying tho Union Jack in Londonderry has led to reprises in the shipyards at Belfast. _ A dozen men who were suspected of belonging to the Hibernian Society were driven out. Several men were injured, and removed in an ambuLmoi\" In December last the trial of those Hibernians took place in Londonderry, and they, with several Unionists, were found guilty of rioting, and received short sentences for riotous conduct. The judge (Mr. Justice Wright) who heard the cases addressed tho jury on December 20. ll© said he was ;?)ad to know that "women and children had "ot been struck by pikes." What had been absolutely proved in that Court ; was that no injuries had been inflicted on any woman or child, andghe was glad to hear that proved in Court. It detracted very much from the seriousness of the charge, end they wore glad to think that nothing so dastardly, or unmanly had taken place. The idea that decent, respectable-looking men like the prisoners would attack a woman or child was a horrible idea, and, added His Lordship, "I'm glad that the lie has been given to that." Tho Unionist members made tho welkin ring on platforms in Great Britain and in the north-west corner of Ireland, exclaiming "Remember Castledawson." 2500 men and boys -were deprived of their •living :in Belfast. "It is a hard task to' overtake a lio with seven months of a start, I therefore «"sk you, sir, to insert this refutation and vindication of a body of men which,;, was maligned for base party political pur-" poses. Justitia.