THE DEPORTATION OF FATHER JERGER

New Zealand Tablet, 17 June 1920, Page 23

THE DEPORTATION OF FATHER JERGER

The extraordinary demonstration on Moore Park, Sydney, om Sunday afternoon, when 200,000 citizens of all shades of religious and political beliefs gathered to give public expression of their disapproval of the deportation of Rev. Father Charles Jerger, C.P., was unparalleled in the annals of Australian history (says the "Catholic Press" of 3rd June). That great demonstration had a double significance. It proved that the Australian people are determined to thwart the machinations of the handful of jingoistic hypocrites who have temporarily gained control of the reins of Government, and that they are bent upon protecting the rights and liberties of all true citizens in our free and sunny land of Australia.

The story of the momentous happenings on Moore Park last Sunday is a glorious one. It was really an epoch-making event, which will play no small part in the shaping of the destiny of the young democracy of Australia. It was the most remarkable and spontaneous ebullition of public feeling on a matter of national importance that has ever been witnessed within the four shores of our island continent.

The Sydney daily press has, as usual, been at great pains to misrepresent what actually occurred at Moore Park on Sunday afternoon. Reading their biassed reports, one who was not present on the occasion might be excused for imagining that, the demonstration was not the wonderful success that it undoubtedly was. So herewith we give a plain and unvarnished story of the actual occurrences on the memorable afternoon of Sunday, 30th May. when the citizens of Sydney assembled in unprecedented numbers to voice their united opinion, not only of the shameful persecution of Rev. Father 'Charles Jerger, C.P., but of the threatened usurpation of the rights and liberties of all free Australians.

The announcement that a monster meeting to protest against the deportation of Father Charles Jerger would be held on Moore Park created tremendous interest and enthusiasm. The meeting was timed to commence at 3 p.m., but long before that hour the whole of Moore Park was one dense mass of humanity, the total number present being estimated at about 200,000. There was a scene of indescribable enthusiasm when the Lord Mayor of Sydney accompanied by Very Rev. Father Athanasius Ryan (Act-ing-Provincial of the Passion ist Fathers). Very Rev Father M. J. O'Reilly, CM. (Rector St. John's College, within the University), Rev. Fathers Peter. C.P., and Joseph, C.P., the Hon. E. A. McTiernan (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice), the Hon:. T. J. Ryan, M.H.R., and Mrs. Ryan, Mr. P. J. Minahan, M.L.A., Miss Jerger (sister of Father Charles, C.P.'), Senator Gardiner. Alderman Davoren, Mr J. E. .Barron (Vice-Consul for Brazil). Alderman S. Dovaren, Mr. W. E. O'Driscoll (Warden-General, A.H.C. Guild), Mr. Butler (High Chief Ranger, 1.N.F.) Mr. McCormack (Past High Chief Ranger, 1.N.F.), Mr. Shannon (District President. H.A.C.B. Society), J. J. Oahill (District Vice-President, H.A.C.B. Society), Mr. J. J. Sheehy, Mr. J. Donovan and Private Conway mounted the lorry, which served as a platform.

Eloquent and stirring addresses, which won unanimous and thunderous applause, were delivered by the Lord Mayor, Very Rev. Father M. J. O'Reilly, CM., Mr. E. A. McTiernan, Mr. T. J. Ryan, M.H.R., Alderman Davoren, Mr. W. E. O'Driscoll, Mr. J. Cahill, and Mr. T. Boatwright. There was a large number of returned soldiers in the crowd, and they showed unmistakably their sympathy with the objects of the meeting. , At the conclusion of their addresses, Very Rev Father M. J. O'Reilly, Mr. E. A. McTiernan, and the Hon. Mr. J.T.Ryan left the platform, and moved

to another lorry situated on another portion of the Park, in order to address a great overflow meeting. On this platform Mr. P. J. Minahan, M.L.A., presided. Others present were Mr. C. •; O. Lazzarini, M.L.A., Dr. Fallon, Mr. J. J. Massey, Mr. J. Carlton, Mr. W. Ross, and two or three returned soldiers. Mr. P. J. Minahan delivered a stirring address, which was freely punctuated with ringing applause, as also were the speeches of Mr. Lazzarini and Very Rev. Father O'Reilly. Father O'Reilly finished speaking at 4 o'clock, and a show of hands was then taken of those in favour of protesting against the deportation of Father Jerger. A whole forest of hands went up, without any dissentients. After that Mr. J. J. Massey rose to propose a resolution of thanks. He had just commenced to speak when a large, rowdy lot of men, some of them wearing returned soldiers' medals, who had been holding a meeting in the near vicinity, approached, and, standing on the outskirts, commenced to count out the speaker. Then, without any provocation whatever, they suddenly dashed into the centre of the crowd, knocking women and children over, and trampling them under foot. The onslaught was so cowardly and unexpected that the majority of. the crowd were taken by surprise. Women and children were lying helpless on the ground in all directions, and appeared in grave danger of being trampled to death. The majority of the men, who had been listening attentively to Mr. Massey/ immediately turned their attention to the rescue of the women and children, and whilst they were thus engaged the remainder did their utmost to ■stem the wild rush of the hooligans towards the platform. The attack was so sudden and unexpected, however, that many of them reached the edge of the platform, and attempted to lav violent hands on Very Rev. Father M. J. O'Reilly. ' Father O'Reilly was more than a match for his cowardly assailants, however. With the glint of battle, in his eye, and a look of determination on big

usually smiling countenance, he caught up a chair, and. holding it aloft with both "hands, calmly invited the howling mob to "come on." Father O'Reilly's determined and menacing attitude discomfited his would-be assailants. They wavered, they hesitated, and finally retreated, and the business of the meeting was proceeded with. The calm was short-lived, however, for the hooligans, having again gathered their forces and plucked up their courage, charged into the centre of the meeting with a Union Jack at their head. Their obvious intention was to capture the platform and hoist the flag. And just here the hooligans who tried to break up the meeting came in for a particularly rough time. Many of them were bowled over like ninepins, and were observed to slink dejectedly away with broken heads and bloody noses. One well-known member of a. Catholic Friendly Society is credited with having laid out no fewer than six of the assailants. In the midst of this confusion a number of the returned soldiers, who had been enthusiastic members of the meeting of protest against Father Jerger's deportation leapt on to the platform with the object of protecting Father O'Reilly and his comrades, 1 hey broke the legs off a cedar table and a number of chairs, and armed with these weapons they resolved t;o give the disturbers of the meeting a rough time if they persisted in their lawlessness. When these reinforcements gathered on the platform' however, the crush was so great that some were accidentally pushed off. Very Rev. Father O'Reilly, Mr E A. McTiernan, Mr. P. J. Minahan, M.L.A., the Hon! T. J. Ryan, M.H.R., and Mr. J. Carlton were among those who could not retain their foothold, and they had perforce to give way before the crush. At this stage the police, who had hitherto remained in the background, came on the scene. They cleared the platform and : took possession, and thus ended the incident which the daily press endeavoured .to make so much capital out of. I . ~f. f jTj-