GOVERNMENT BY HIGH EXPLOSIVES.

New Zealand Tablet, 9 September 1920, Page 33

GOVERNMENT BY HIGH EXPLOSIVES.

At a great demonstration for the right of Irish self-determination in her form of government, held in the Liverpool Stadium recently, Prof. Eoin Mac Neil, T.D.E.,- talked straight from the shoulder on the reign of terror which the British militarists are enacting in Ireland. “The present state of things in Ireland,’’ he said, is a most curious state of war— most cowardly state of war ever organised in any country. The trials of the last few years, however, and the high example set the Irish people had so imbued them that there is no danger of a breakdown. “Some people unfortunately think that having got through the war they are in a safer and .more secure position, can do whatever they like, and can take high and strong measures, especially in regard to Ireland. I will not oe surprised if, on appealing to the great heart of English democracy, they find themselves threatened with the great boots of that democracy. “I have been referred, to in an Australian paper as a moderate man. Well, I am a moderate man. The only thing I ask for is : Ireland for the - Irish people. But men like Sir Horace Plunkett I look upon as dangerous persons, because they ask that Ireland become a partner in the British Empire in ruling the world, or as much of it as can be grabbed for themselves.These men want Ireland to become a partner in a world-power, to dominate black men, red men, and yellow men to be, in fact, joint owners. This class of men are dangerous extremists. Those who want to rule the world should be left to fight for it. Ireland’s Empire Employs No Force. “We have an Empire on which the sun of justice never sets, an Empire that exists, does not boast of tanks or airplanes or high explosives, but is enthroned in the hearts of millions of men of Irish blood. This 18 the only Empire we want. As for any other, we wish freedom from the responsibility. “Ruskin said there is no government except selfgovernment. And Mill added that the government of one people by another is an impossibility, and it could not exist without its essential badness. Government of Ireland by England is not government, because England is not able to govern Ireland. The system is nothing else than arrogance and rascality. “There is at present an attempt to modify the methods, but Dublin Castle is incurable, and the only way to modify it is to get it as far away from Ireland as possible. W f. in Ireland will have nothing to do with any modification proposed, and if such is attempted the ■nrrmncnlo will kn fI.U„ .U • ... , r > fr, 1 r“*“ "T w “““K ~ We have got past the stage when we will discuss this or that measure of Home Rule The people have decided to stand for an Independent Republic, and will not lay their proposals before any British Cabinet but the democracy of the civilised world. North-West Review, Canada