IRISH NEWS

New Zealand Tablet, 29 April 1920, Page 31

IRISH NEWS

MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT DE VALERA TO THE 'sioi IRISH EVERYWHERE. m>;don -u ,- . ,?; 3 The following St.; Patrick's Day message has been sent by President de Valera to men and . women of Irish blood throughout the -world : :>k .: '->->;. " ■-; ' sm* ■■■■•■:-.-:. - -i ~-. ■/ '■/■■" to vOfJ:-;v/>; -y.VT: .<- . ~.:-.:';: ' ;;' ;,>v Washington, D.C.i-H>"« '-- Sons and Daughters of the Gael, wherever you be today in the name of the Motherland, greeting! : . ~ : ' ■ v -' Whatever flag be the flag you guard and cherish, it is consistent with your highest duty to band yourselves together, to use your united strength to help break the chains that bind our sweet, sad Mother. And never before have the scattered children of Eire had such an opportunity for noble service. To-day you can serve not only Ireland, but the world. ;/*._. "A'-"cruel war and a more cruel peace have shattered the _ generous of. soul. Apathy mocks the high-minded, and heartless cynicism points the way of selfishness. ti '/ We, the children of a. ■ race that has never ceased to strive—that has endured for ages the blights of war and the disappointments ; of peace-—who have had the cup of the fruition of hope dashed from our lips in every decade, and have always "looked forward for the good in to-mor-rowthe world needs what we can give it to-day. Once before our people gave their soul to a barbarian continent, and led brute materialism to an understanding of higher things. It is still our mission "to show the world the might of moral beauty"— t»>och mankind peace and happiness in keeping the law of love, doing to our neighbor what we would have bur - neighbor do to 11". . . We are the spearpoints of the, hosts in political slaverywe can be the shafts of dawn for the despairing and the, wretched everywhere. /j. And those of our race who are citizens of this mighty land of America, whose thought will help to mould the policy of the leader among the nations—how much the world looks to you, this St. Patrick's Day—hopes in you —rtrusts iii you. '■'-■ • You can so easily aocomo'ish that which is needed. You have only to have th" will —the way is so clear. What wouldj»not the people in ".the old land give for the power which is yours? .. *:' ./'l' .May God and St. Patrick inspire"" yon to use it, and to use it well. . li .fl; Eamon de Valera. St. Patrick's Day, 1920. LLOYD GEORGE'S SINN FEIN '•.FRIENDS." Some amusement has been caused in Dublin (says an exchange) by the publication in facsimile of a letter addressed by Mr. Lloyd George to Alderman Thomas Kelly, M.P. for the St. Stephen's Green Division of Dublin, inviting him to attend the* opening of Parliament by the King in person. Alderman Kelly, who is Lord Mayor of Dublin, was not at home when the letter arrived, for he was a guest of his Majesty in Wormwood Scrubbs Prison. The Prime Minister's letter says: "I hope yon will find it convenient to be in your place." The Evening Telegraph, which publishes Mr. Lloyd George's letter, comments: "Is the incident an ill-conceived and unmannerly practical joke? Or is it to be deemed merely an outstanding example of the crass ignorance, not to say stupidity, of those who assume the right to/rule in Ireland? The English language knows no words to suit the situation." The letter was delivered at the Sinn Fein headquarters. Mr. Arthur Griffith and other Republican members of Parliament also received invitations. /" ? / A CATHOLIC MAYOR OF DERRY. >.;, For the first time, at least since the reign of King James 11., a Catholic again fills the office of Mayor or Derry, -the honored distinction falling to Alderman Hugh C. O'Doherty, solicitor. Centuries ago there were Catholics in the Mayoralty, a Cor mac O'Neill once occupying the position, but since those far-off days, and down through .the years since the Siege, the Protestant succession was maintained. A Hindu quack doctor stood a fair chance once of being elected; but the upholders of civil and religious liberty drey the line at a Papist. In their pledge-bound policy of bigoted exclusiveness they wero relentless, never showing the slightest example of toleration to Catholics, and in the recent elections a last desperate effort was made by the ascendancy clique to retain" dominance, but ,_ they failed. On the occasion of. the election | of Alderman O'Doherty, there was a scene of wild enthu- ' siasm amongst the /crowd which thronged - the - s Council -Chamber. ~Cheering continued for ta couple 4 of minutes,

and broke, into a lusty render^ :of "God*-Save Ireland" and "The Soldiers' r Song;"- The Green Flag'; 'the"Tri-color, and the Stars and.: Stripes were waved. i v : --.^.. ; :*-'':"-\ % _ V ■ __ PROTESTANT APPEAL AGAINST COERCION,; ":- ■' The following letter was sent to the Protestant Archbishop of : Dublin in ' time ; for, the monthly. meeting of - the ; Irish Protestant'.- Bishops oh December *. 17 last. , l A forjraal acknowledgment was received in reply:.—:./"-., i '"\ v / ■ ■■••'' ; - 11 Hume Street, Dublin," s v « December 16, -1919. y ,:/: Your-Grace, —As acting-president , of the Irish Guild A the Church, : I feel bound v to ;. bring : before your notice I the enclosed expression of opinion. It is only one among a. number, that/have been sent to;me with a' view to get- : ting a strong resolution about the state of the country passed at a general meeting of the guild. M-I/>asH well as others, have been reluctant to take up what may -appear at first sight to be : a political position; but the broad principles of religion and humanity -.must ; take . precedence of other considerations, and we feel that the: crisis .-/likely V. to be brought about, by the provocative conduct of the Government would justify us taking such a. step. -■■!',< ■ The suppression of the Aonach in the Mansion House, where a number of people (and ; ; especially women), only anxious to -pursue their peaceful; avocations, -, were ? put &to great inconvenience and , expense, ~ and distress of ; mind, lias aroused strong and deep indignation, and also the hounding and persecution of many, often r without any charge at all being preferred . against them, and their treatment in prison leading very often to the ruin, vof their constitutions, and / sometimes to death. \ Ireland, is our country, and I do not myself see how, we can possibly refrain from protesting against injustice and wrong done to her;' hut we prefer before appealing publicly to our fellow-Christian people, as we may feel constrained to'"do to approach your Grace privately, and the heads of our Church generally, of which we are loyal members. We ask you to dissociate yourselves J from those who see no remedy for our national troubles but coercion and more coercion. _-•■:, -r. -.-..-:■■ ."■*"..'.■,■■ May I ask that you will give this your best* consideration, and will take the opportunity of bringing . our "point of view before the Bishops.l am, your Grace, ] yours sincerely and respectfully," . .'/..:/.. ~; -v. '";-""" .., (Signed) Nellie O'Brien*. .- Most Rev. Dr. D'Arcy, Archbishop of Dublin;//^47 The following is the enclosure referred to in above letter: ■..- .. ... .. ~;>.-. .., /- ■ "'/.... /.«• '■'Many of us feel that the Irish Guild of the Church should give expression to our feelings of grave .concern for the future of our country, and we feel it our duty as Christians and members;, of the Church of Ireland to protest in the most solemn manner against the silence .of our branch of- the Church in" Ireland at a time when ".:. our fellow-Christians and fellow-countrymen, are being subjected to such treatment as is unheard of in any part of the civilised world at present. We, therefore, most earnestly appeal to the Archbishops, Bishops," and, clergy -/of the Church of Ireland to raise their voices and use their influence, as followers of Christ, on behalf of our tormented country and persecuted fellow-Christians. And, that our Church may not be brought into contempt, we implore an effort on the part of our. Christian leaders, to bring about peace, and goodwill in the exercise of Christian fellowship hero and now." .■"/-./. // / 'v'- ////// /"/-*// Tho Irish Guild of the .Church is an exclusively Protestant body. '..-/ / /'. / > "•"/' ' . : '."-''.".''■■■"-?■'"* "■"''•■' BELFAST'S VULNERABLE SPOT. * ~/r'f ' In several important towns in, the West of Ireland active steps have been taken by the local traders to cease doing business with Belfast (says an exchange). /,/ This withholding of orders from Ulster firms is to last until Ireland is governed in accordance .with, the wishes ;of « the majority of the Irish people., There is a disposition /in some quarters to regard this action >of the business-; people of Con naught as a petty; affair that can be safely ignored by the big Belfast,. establishments. , ;v Connaught,- however, is determined, and the movement will spread throughout the West. r> There is only ; one. .way by which the/. Belfast business magnates can be taught that they cannot for all time stand in the way; of- Irish National Freedom. Connaught leads in administering r this il salutary 1 lesson, and, when the i pockets ■of < the.. Belfast merchants , are touched deeply enough, they will.:learn ; that it will pay them ,to he on good terms with the ; people , with whom wish to have business intercourse. ?..., .. •.^:. v '/ ' .-/*-/'//!/"