The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1914. IRELAND AND THE WAR

New Zealand Tablet, 12 November 1914, Page 33

The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1914. IRELAND AND THE WAR

tn IIE figures and facts which we publish bn y {jp, I ** Page 7 of this issue afford interesting and jfWr& conclusive evidence that— altogether J from the later ; special recruiting appeal issued by Mr. John Redmondlreland is uot onl r well represented, but is, as usual x -pp r over-represented in the trenches and the firing » line . and the places, where’ things are happening in Belgium and France. In this respect history is merely repeating itself in the present war. Mr. John Redmond is authority for the statement that since 1885 Ireland’s enrolment in England’s armies has been 73 per thousand to England’s 44. For reasons that need not now be dwelt upon, Ireland has been the only nation within the Empire ' where ' population has declined at a phenomenal rate, where trade has shrivelled hope withered, and discontent has been a running soye. And yet we cannot find'in the history of any nation 1 or empire that ever existed an instance in which ' a con-, quered country rendered such conspicuous and faithful military service to its conqueror. And that service has been steadily and continuously rendered despite the fact that through all these years the Irish people in their own land have been subjected to galling political disa- : bilities which forbade any claim ' upon- them for such sacrifice and fidelity from those who guided the destinies' of the Empire. British Ministries—and especially those of the Tory . persisted in keeping up a: little Poland within a few hours’ journey of the heart of the Empire. Their deplorable policy towards the Irish nation not only deprived; the British dominions of 'the services of much fighting material of the highest order in the day of her need but actually sent it abroad in every ship to swell the military strength of nations with which England might at any time be engaged in a deadly struggle. . , - r. * ; . ‘ . • -. ... ' *■-" ■ ’■■■ - y A-r. y But although Ireland is already doing more, than could fairly be expected of her in 'the firing line, "she is now being asked to do” still more. ‘ Ireland has already given more than her. share to England’s armies,’ . said Mr. John Redmond at the great Dublin meevihg, ‘ and now that England 7 has kept faith with her, ail responsible people agree that she must do more.’ The Dublin Freeman and Independent are also advocating recruiting, and* even Mr. William O’Brien is preaching the same doctrine and urging the Volunteers fo join, the allied forces in France. It is urged, on the other side, by the Dublin Leader and some of the provincial papers that the Volunteers are for the defence 'of Ireland only, that English misgovernment has -denuded Irelaiid .of its •, A-i'J: v' , i. -'m ivo h e.H,,■? ■ j MI ,

best manhood, and that the remnants -have given England more soldiers than they can spare.. In a country with such a history as Ireland has since she was robbed of , her Constitution, such a line of argument is not unnatural ; and if this were any mere ordinary war and not, as .it really is, a life and death struggle .for, all parties—such' considerations might be conceded to •be by no means without force. ‘ Never , for, .one?. hour, said Mr. John Redmond, , on'; one - memorable occasion, * have the elected representatives of the majority of the people of Ireland had the control or even a • potent voice in the government of this country. Never for one hour has the British Constitution been in force in this country, whose own Constitution . was destroyed. The mere fact that in one hundred y'eats eighty-seven Coercion Acts have been passed by the English Parliament for Ireland in spite of Irish protests is sufficient to establish the facts I have adduced. Martial law, suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, suspension of trial by jury, suspension of free speechthese have been the permanent blessings conferred, on Ireland by the suspension of its Constitution.’ The sense of bitter suffering and injustice has been burnt into the people; ’ and old and rankling memories are not obliterated and’ forgotten in a night. Enthusiasm for the British cause will be a thing of growth, but it will come; and the fine fighting spirit, so native to Ireland and Irish manhood, will find its full and adequate expression. * The new spirit that is awakening has found noble expression in the Irish Leader’s stirring appeal; and the case for the Empire in the present struggle could not be more tellingly presented than in the following weighty sentences?- A test to search men’s souls has arisen.. The Empire is engaged in the most serious war in history. It is a just war, provoked by the intolerable military despotism of Germany. It is a war for the defence of the sacred rights and, liberties of small nations and. the respect and enlargement of the great principle of nationality., Involved in it is the fate of France, our kindred country, the chief nation of that powerful Celtic race to whom we belong; the fate of Belgium, to whom we are attached by the same great ties of race and. by the common desire of a small nation to assert its freedom; and the fate of. Poland, whose sufferings and whose struggle bear so marked a resemblance to our own. It is a war for high ideals of human government and international relations, and Ireland would be false to her history and to every consideration of honor, good faith, and self-interest did she not willingly bear her share in its burdens and its sacrifices. We have, even when no ties of sympathy bound our country to Great Britain, always given our quota, and more than our quota, to the firing line, and we shall do so now.’ Ireland’s hour at last has come, and with it the dawn of a new day and a new spirit for her people: ‘ O, Paddy dear, the hour is near for which our fathers died,' In gladness Ireland ’now can live by a nobler Eng- . i land’s side ; : O, the future is too bright and grand to weep for what has been, 0 So we’ll go singing to the dawn; and wearin’ of the green. . ‘ O, bright the day that now has dawned, and proud the past that’s dead, A race that’s won the right to live can sure lift up : ! its head! Hold up her head, dear Ireland shall, by all it shall be seen .';V- •’ . Her heart’s' true British thro’ and thro’ when wearin’ . .7, of the green !’