Current Topics

New Zealand Tablet, 31 July 1919, Page 14

Current Topics

The Goalless Coalition - ;-■■ The Christchurch Press scores heavily against the Coalition for which sarcastic persons have already found names which will be remembered when all else about the achievements of the gang is forgotten. In the following tables we find statistics giving the coal supplied to the railways and the train mileage for the years from 1913 up to date. And the Press wants to know the reason why, considering the good supply in 1918-1919, and the reduced mileage for the same period, a shortage is alleged at present: —•- *

Press Blackguardism David Beatty is an Irishman, born in the county in which the sexual filth of the regulars and the Orange yeomanry drove the people to rebel in Ninety-Eight. Therefore the British Navy is under the control of Sinn Fein. Lord French is blessed with an Irish name. Therefore the army was at the beginning of the warunder Sinn Fein direction. We are not advancing the foregoing as a specimen of our own logic : we have too much respect for the intelligence of the readers of the Tablet. The Argus (Melbourne) finds that men of Irish names are connected with the strike in Australia. Therefore the Argus insinuates that Sinn Fein is behind the strike. The logic is the logic of the Argus and of the vile British propaganda generally. One could expect nothing more reasonable or more honorable from the Argus and the paragraph is a fair measure of the intelligence of the people for whom such piffle is made to order. Not to be behind in the dirty work, "Granny" Times unctuously reproduced the tit-bit in last Friday's issue. The bedraggled old virago is true to the bitter end to her soiled colors. The reproduction of the Argus item was a little thing in its way, but. many people called our attention to it as a characteristically cowardly and dishonorable specimen of the Times journalism. If misrepresentation, lies, suppression of the truth and wilful exploitation of canards could kill a cause, the gentlemen who do the propaganda work in this country and in others would have killed Sinn Fein long ago. Remembering a line from Tennyson we feel we can use the word "gentlemen" "Defiled by all ignoble use, Profaned by every charlatan." "Granny" and the Argus gave very little credit to the Irish who died for the "champions of small nations" at V Beach, Mons, and elsewhere. But that is British fair play, of course.

Sinn Fein Converts Shane Leslie has made his profession of faith in Sinn Fein as the only sane policy for the friends of Ireland now. He has formally recanted his Parliamentarianism; he has abjured Devolutionism; he has shed the last vestiges of Federalism, and the learned editor of the Dublin Review has pinned the Green, White, and Orange to his breast. No less remarkable than the testimony of Shane Leslie—who is a cousin of Mr. Churchill's the candid opinion of Commander Erskine Childers, expressed in a long letter to The Times, and reiterated in the following note more recently publisned: A SELF-GOVERNED IRELAND. To the Editor of the Daily News. Sir, —In a leader published in your issue of May 16 you state that "all sane Irish opinion opinion

that is of the men who love '"_ both : Ireland and;England, and I desire to see them living 'in amity,; men like Sir Horace Plunkett, Lord Mac Donnell, and-Mr. Erskine Childers—all converges on the Dominion solution with certain modifications to meet any possibility of danger." With the utmost respect for Sir Horace Plunkett and Lord Mac Donnell, my position differs from theirs, and is not correctly described in the sentence I have quoted. It was stated fully and clearly in my letter to The Times of May 5, already referred "to in your columns, in which I urged that a choice should be given to Ireland to determine, under circumstances absolutey free from coercion, her own form of government, even if the form chosen were that of an Independent Republic. But I gave reasons for the view that her choice, if absolutely free, might fall upon Dominion Home Rule and the status of a sister nation. My opinion was that, at any rate, here lay the last and only chance of obtaining a self-governed Ireland within the Empire. So far from suggesting "modifications to meet any possibility of danger," I urged the complete and permanent withdrawal of the British army of occupation from Ireland, and endeavored to show that for an Empire which is master of the seas of the world and has the power to starve and ruin the whole continent of Europe, to fear a small and defenceless country like Ireland was to give way to childish and ridiculous hallucinations. May I add this: That the fear is also ignoble ? In a question of human justice it is the weak who have the right to require safeguards from the strong, not the strong from the weak. Erskine Childers.

After the Fair After the "world's fair"—at which the world was parcelled and bought and sold by the Entente "statesmen"—many Irishmen were disappointed that Wilson proved so weak and so faithless when it came to the practical demonstration of the sincerity of his speeches. But it must be remembered that his strongest defenders are the Sinn Fein leaders, and also that Sean O'Kelly thought from the first that the Irish problem was a question for the League of Nations rather than for the Peace Conspiracy. Nor is it to be forgotten that the first session of the League will be held in Washington in an environment of people who will want to know why the war-pledges were all broken. It is important, too, to note that two Republican delegates to Parisone of whom was General Bliss—expressed their disapproval of President Wilson's inaction as regards the Irish delegates. The mind of Sinn Fein on the situation is thus revealed in the editorial columns of New Ireland (June 7 ) : ~ "The next move will be made in America, where the Irish question has, owing to the efforts of our friends, been taken up by radical reformers who see the Irish question not as Irishmen but as a test of international justice—as the acid test, the touchstone of the League of Nations. When we consider the resolution already passed by the U.S.A. Congress, to which Mr. Arthur Griffith referred in his speech on Saturday in the Mansion House, and when we remember the growing hostility to the peace proposals in America, we must realise that the Irish question has taken its rightful place in the vital politics of America and the world. How small Westminster looks now, and the 'floor of the House.' To-day the Irish Cause is more vividly before the public judgment of the world than ever before. To-day it is causing not petty inconvenience in the House of Commons no, to-day, owing to Sinn Fein, Ireland has ceased to be the one bright spot,— is, according to Mr. Asquith—'One of the darkest spots on the map, not only of the British Empire, but of the world'and Mr. Asquith, like Lord Reading, knows the truth. We are getting along nicely, and the IrishAmerican delegates are hustling along rather faster than most of us thought possible. • Let us remember that among the causes of the small oppressed nationalities Ireland has had far more success than most of the others,

and that it is not merely Ireland that awaits the coming of international justice, but the whole world. "" Even Belgium has more cause for disappointment than Ireland." •

A Sample of Propaganda Work Readers will recall that some months ago we had fablegrams to the effect that President Wilson had said to a Senator at a banquet that as Irish affairs were a domestic concern for England, America could not interfere. That was duly and assiduously promulgated by the "Propaganda." From American papers we learned that as soon as the foregoing report was published President Wilson's private secretary wrote to the press an emphatic denial of the, malignant falsehood. We have no vivid recollection that the Propaganda went to much trouble to circulate that part of the story. Last week another fablegram came through. This time it was alleged that President Wilson was said to have said to some Senators ■privately that the Irish-American envoys discredited themselves by their sympathy with a people's demand for self-determination, or in other words, with Sinn Fein. No attempt was made to explain why President Wilson was likely to say such a thing knowing what its result would be for himself. Nor were we informed where the Senators were found who were in such a hurry to betray private information. On the face of the .thing it was just one more malignant fabrication of the type we have come to expect normally from British pressmen. Anyhow, it was good enough for one editor of a "daylie" to issue an Olympian editorial on it. He supported it by quoting the arch-liar, MacPherson, and an unnamed correspondent. He wound up by telling his readers, in so many words, that unless Irishmen acted according to- his views there was no hope for them. Well, it is a standing joke in Ireland that the Skibbereen Eagle once said, that it had its eye on the Government. That joke pales into insignificance beside the Pabelesian and Munchausen absurdity of the self-assurance of the editor of a morning paper renowned for the quality of its "tripe." As a matter of fact, President Wilson told the envoys when they interviewed him in Paris that he was doing, and would go on doing, all in his power for Ireland. Here is their account of what he said to them in June—long after their experience of Irish persecutions:—"We have had a conference with the President to-day (June 12), in which he stated that the American commission could not take up the case for Ireland officially with the Peace Conference, but he himself and others had done and would continue to do unofficially what they could." Apropos of the envoys, let us note here that they have given the lie to MacPherson once more. They stated that the Government threw Countess Marciewicz into gaol again because she had told them how women were ill-treated in English gaols. The "Moralist" issued a denial, saying that she was arrested on account of a speech inciting to boycotting, which (he did not say) was made many months before ! The envoys repeated their charge, and said that they knew that she was followed by spies and threatened during the time she was treating with them. What a pitiful, vindictive, cowardly bully John Bull is, after all! Note that a fablegram on Monday relates that Mr. Marconi George once more appeals to the Convention as a proof of what he did for Ireland. He does not explain: (1) that the Convention was packed ; (2) that he refused to allow Irishmen to choose their own delegates; (3) that he refused to promise to ratify its findings: (4) that its chairman publicly accused him of breach of faith; (5) that he tried conscription before reading the report of the Convention. But anyhow, the tripe is good enough for the asses who read our morning papers.

Alsace-Lorraine Before the war natives of Alsace-Lorraine told us more than once that as a result of the infidel persecutions of the French Masonic Government, and of the evil moral effects of the French godless schools which our own are a bad imitationthe old attachment

to France was fast waning and people were beginning to recognise that they were freer under the rule of Germany. During the war this was corroborated by the well-known fact that the French Government dared not consent to have the fate of the two provinces determined by a plebiscite. Naturally, enthusiasm for France in the hour of her victory may have turned the scale for the present, and the population may be more willing to come back to the motherland. However, events are happening which are disquieting to many, and it is being made clear that if they do come back they will not submit to the despotism and wickedness of the friends of Viviani and Caillaux. The Masonic Liyue cle VEmeignement is active in the provinces, and vain attempts are being made to hoodwink Catholics as to its true nature. . La Croix issues a warning to Catholics against the insidious efforts to introduce an infidel campaign in the Rhenish provinces, and shows that this League of Education is Masonic in origin, in spirit, and in operation; that it is directly anti-Cath-olic, and that if the Alsatians allow themselves to be deceived they will suffer as their co-religionists suffered in France. The people of Alsace-Lorraine have already made their wishes clear to France. They are expressed in a speech made by Dr. Pfleger, member of the National Council, before a large assembly at Strasburg: "As far as our traditions, our customs, and our convictions are concerned, we find in France a certain state of affairs, which in vital points is quite contradictory to our manner of life. We must look to it that during this period of transition no attempt is made by devious ways to introduce this new state of things. We ought therefore declare immediately and with all frankness to Senator Debierre, of whom- so much is being said lately, that he will not find supporters of his ordinance amongst us. The neutral French school does not accord with our wishes ; on the contrary, we wish to retain our denominational schools. As a consequence we do not wish religion to be banished from our schools. On the contrary, we wish the denominational schools to be re-established in France. ... As for separation between Church and State, we declare that we will not sacrifice our religious liberties, and that we will not accept a persecution of the Church." The French generals and statesmen guaranteed that religious liberties should be maintained in AlsaceLorraine, and the people are going to see that no Masonic influence shall interfere. General Joffre declared that "France, happy to open her arms to Alsace, so long and so cruelly separated from her, has no doubts, that victory will soon effect the deliverance of the provinces torn from her by force, France will restore them to the heart of their native land, and will respect their traditions and their liberties." President Poincare endorsed this pledge when he told the Alsatian mayors that "he came to give the people of Alsace confirmation) of the declarations already made to them by General Joffre." In November, 1918, General Mangin proclaimed: "The army of the Republic brings to the land of Lorraine liberty and justice. Your institutions, your traditions will be respected." During the same month General Gouraud said: "France comes to you as a mother to her beloved child that has been lost but found. She will respect your customs, your local traditions, your religious beliefs, your economic interests: she will bind up your wounds and give you food." On November 14, 1918, the following was issued from General Headquarters: "The French Republic intends to resume in the lands which have been restored to her the traditions of liberation which our fathers established in them. How can the people of Alsace doubt that their customs and local traditions, their religious beliefs and their economic interests must be respected, when they are aware of the manner in which France for four years has governed and administered the Alsacian cantons which it succeeded in reconquering in 1914?" Already the Masons are beginning to deny that General Joffre ever gave a pledge of religious liberty. Now that the fight has been won, the schemers and the corrupters of society are emerging to,play their dirty

game once more.. Catholic France was saved by Catholic generals in spite 6f Freemason and Jewish plots and the capitalists of no nation who have crept into every Government of the world. The Vivianis and the rest of them, fat with the plunder of sanctuaries and living in luxury on rentes derived from the evictions of religious, are coming again to try to banish from Al-sace-Lorraine that religion which is a living condemnation of their infamy. In spite of the fact that the exact words of General Joffre are found in the Bulletin des Armies de la liepublique, Masonic papers are spreading reports that no such words were ever spoken. What he said was exactly as follows :- "Notre retour est definitif: vous etes Francois pour jours. La France vous aqyporte, avec les libertes qu'elle a toujoUrs representees, le respect de vos libertes a vous, des libertes Alsaciennes, de vos traditions, de vos convictions, de vos inocurs. Je suis le France, vous etes l'Alsace: je vous apporte le baiser de la France.". La Croix warns the Government that there is danger already foreshadowed in the attitude of the antiCatholics towards Alsace-Lorraine. It points out that the provinces are profoundly religious and that it is in the national interest of France not to offend them now. "But," it goes on, "by the spectacle set before these people, by the efforts to render their schools irreligious, by the numbers of non-Catholic officials introduced they are astonished and saddened. Beware! We are on the way towards humoring the anti-clericals. We are on the threshold of committing grave faultsvery grave faults." The fact that soldiers are impeded from going to Mass on Sundays in the French army has already aroused anger in the provinces. The attempts of the Masons is exciting strong feeling against the Government. La Croix was certainly justified in sounding a note of solemn warning. France has but to look to England which has been guilty of wholesale murder of a people for the sake of the Orangemen who are as much the enemies of religion and freedom as the Masons. The heroism of. Catholic France will be badly rewarded if the godless gang are allowed to drive the provinces from the arms of the motherland again—this time, of their own will. What a disgrace it would be ! But when did Orangemen or Masons ever feel the lash of disgrace or the stain of dishonor? Only men who have some conscience can do that.

Coal Train Year. Supplied. Mileage. Tons. Miles. 1913-14 ... ... 293,157 9,319,268 1914-15 ... ... 306,656 9,383,420 1915-16 ... ... 324,343 9,356,522 1916-17 ... ... 330,660 9.146,331 1917-18 ... ... 271,110 7,468,646 1918-19 ... ... 307,369