IRISH NEWS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 9, 1 March 1923, Page 43

IRISH NEWS

THE NEW HORROR.

The campaign against the Free State is developing along new lines. Revolver bullets were used to murder Sean Hales. On a recent Sunday night the gangs displayed their prowess with petrol and incendiary bombs. Attacks were made on the houses of the Postmaster-General, of. Mrs. W yse-Power, who was elected to the Senate the other w • k; of Mr. Sean McGarry, T.D., and of Mr. McDunphy, ActingSecretary of the Cabinet. The selection of a Minister, a Senator, a Deputy, and a Civil Servant would seem to have been made deliberately. Nor is the vendetta to be confined to representatives of the people and to public servants. Their wives and children are also to serve as targets for attack. One of the propaganda-sheets of the Irregulars boasted on that Sunday of their “clean and chivalrous fight.” Since he has the burning of innocent children become part of the tactics of clean fighters? These things may be done by men with the catch-words of idealism upon their lips; but they know in their hearts that this is not. war but savagery. Not only do they disgrace the cause which they profess to serve; they disgrace Ireland’s name in the eyes of the civilised world. Is it idle to appeal to the leaders who have loosed this horror? Unless blind hatred has stifled every prompting of humanity they must be appalled by the results of their handiwork.

DERRY'S PROTEST: THE ORANGE ASCENDANCY YOKE. At a recent meeting of Derry Corporation, the Mayor (Aid. Hugh O'Doherty) presiding, Aid. P. Doherty proposed the following resolution: "We, the Corporation of the County and the City of Derry, representing the majority of the inhabitants of said city, hereby reiterate our protest against the partition of Ireland and the .setting up of a Parliament for six counties thereof in Belfast. "We further protest against the arrangement of tin 1 wards in this city, made by the Belfast Parliament for the purpose of depriving the majority of the citizens of their just rights; and, further, we protest against the imposition of tests by the Belfast Parliament, enacted for the purpose of excluding those of the Six Counties from public bodies who cannot pledge allegiance to the Northern Parliament. "We also request the members of this Council opposed to partition to assist any local committee set up for the purpose of putting forward the right of this city to be included in the portion of Ireland known as Southern Ireland by reason of the wishes of Hie people, its economic interests and geographical position." Aid. Bonner, seconding the resolution, said it was downright hypocrisy for Sir James Craig to suggest that the Catholics in the Six Counties wore gaining confidence in the impartiality of the Belfast Government. Aid. Cahal Bradley said he was convinced that the majority of the people of Derry would not ask any representative to submit himself to the imposition of a penalty of £25, the humiliation of a test, and the degradation of sitting in the minority in a- Council in which he wuold represent the majority of the citizens. Councillor Mrs. Morris said the whole disaster lay in the signing of the Treaty, but the majority would, please God, come back again. During Mrs. Morris' speech the Unionist members left the Council Chamber. The Mayor said that just like every other act done by England, the Treaty giving great and large Dominion powers was defective, inasmuch as it recognised the right of a small Ascendancy party in the North-East to vote out. No more fatuous act ever was done, because the people of Ireland were no less opposed to partition than they were determined to get independence. (Hear, hear.)

The voting out by the “Northern’’ Parliament did not end the matter, because Sir James Craig was now faced with the Commission, and even supposing that the conspiracy which seemed to have been entered into between the British Prime Minister and himself to defeat the Treaty succeeded, he would be no further forward, because he would then have to deal with the people of Southern Ireland in regard to Customs and Excise, railways and ports, and the hundred other matters that would call for his attention.

Having deprived the minority of their civil rights. Sir James Craig invited them to come and partake of all the good things he had provided. It reminded him of the story of the fox and the stork, but he would never clip his beak in Sir James's dish or feed out of his hand. (Applause.) Tie was as determined to work for a united Ireland as when he entered that chair three years ago. (Applause.) The resolution was passed. A UNITED APPEAL: WEXFORD MEETING IN FAVOR OF PEACE. A conference representative of North and South Wexford Sinn Fein Clubs, Co. Wexford Farmers' Union, Transport Workers' Union, G.A.A., and kindred organisations at a public meeting in Wexford confirmed the following resolution passed at a previous meeting: "We, the representatives of the Sinn Fein Executive of North and South Wexford, of the Farmers' Union, and of the Transport Union of the Co. Wexford, earnestly implore all parties to the present lamentable war in Ireland to pause and consider the position of our country. We are convinced that the continuation of hostilities and of bloodshed is depriving Ireland of her ablest sons, and must inevitably result in national destruction. We stress unhesitatingly the vital and essential importance of an immediate armistice, pending the opening up of discussions. Upon the leaders of the people we urge that the best interests of the nation will be served by finding a. basis for settlement before Christmas. To all Irishmen and Irishwomen, to all public and private bodies in our own and other countries, we appeal for the adoption of this resolution, and lor their untiring support and co-operation in the quest for peace." Rev. J. F. Sweetman, 0.5.8., Mount St. Benedict's, expressed approval of everything which had been put forward by the speakers. There was no one in the country more anxious for peace than lie was. That meeting, he suggested, should insist on free speech and a free press, lie did not make that suggestion in any contentious spirit, but there would not be any progress made without insisting on free speech and a free press, to which he would add and a general election shortly after a truce was declared. As they had not a* s free press, the opinions of the average person were not being given a fair chance. Aid. Corish, T.D., said those who initiated the peace movement in Co. Wexford deserved the thanks of the people The people whom he represented in Bail Eireann were anxious for peace. The people who were governing Ireland claimed that they were acting in accordance with the will of the people, but he said they were not doing any such thing. To his mind what was responsible for the happenings in Ireland to-day was secret diplomacy. They had had two parties sitting for six months in secret conclave squabbling and fighting about positions in the country while the people were loft in ignorance of the deliberations. The time had arrived when these deliberations should be placed before the people in order that they might see what the squabbling was about. If the country was to live and the people were to survive as Christians this war would have to lie stopped. It could never stop until there was created a spirit of peace amongst the people. Labor had adopted a certain course when an attempt was made to enforce conscription on Ireland, and Labor was also now in a position to bring the conflicting elements to their senses.

Messrs. J. J. O’Byrne, M.C.C., and Aid. N. Connolly also supported the resolution, which was adopted. • '