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THE W.A. RECORD.
SATURDAY, JUNE 14, :519.
Protestant Tributes to Irish Catholic Tolerance By Alfred W. McCann
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as pro This, from the creator of Sherlock as an object of suspicion and in AmBritish propaganda Holmes, should mean more to his ad- German. the desert." ardent mirers than the inventions of a score erica, had it not been for the The Rt. Honourable Thomas Shil- of propagandists. love Irish -Americans bear for AmeriBelfast of to manufacturer devotion linen their lington, can institutions and Notwithstanding these facts, Ameri- the land of their adoption, might well and member of the Privy Council, 4 avers: ca was informed as late as February have split the United States into bitthat Ire"So far from conducing to the dis- 22, 1919, by Jdhn Galsworthy,hopelessly ter factions, just as it sought to split Ireland. advantages of Protestants, I am con- land consists of two nations, insisting that if vinced that by granting self-govern- divided, one of them the We Americans of Irish descent and of other cannot ment to Ireland, the Protestant popula- one of them is free talk about Irish names have to live with our feltion will be placed in an altogether bet- possibly be. "But, let a ussneering ulti- low -Americans, and they have to live ter and desirable relation toward their Ireland," he said, with no falsehood. with us. When one group of Amerifellow -country-men. It is a great mis- matum that neutralised should cans is taught by misrepresentation and fortune that religion should be drag- Mr. Galsworthy must know or of calumny to look with suspicion upon ged into the service of a political party know that the "two nations" consist another group, there is certainly nothand be used by it for political purposes. thirty-two counties, and that butonea ing in the process designed to inspire disservice to England. Ireland has been degraded by those part of four counties constitutes of feeling, of sentiment, of During the last hundred years, when who have sought to stimulate and foie of the "two nations" to which he hope- unanimity mutual regard, but on the contrary the Catholics of Ireland stood solidly ter to the utmost of their ability among lessly refers, whereas twenty-eight it circulated to break there is much united behind their great Protestant Protestants an aversion towards and a counties and parts of the divided four down the very-in spirit of Americanism, counties, constituting the other naleaders, Henry Grattan. Wolfe Tone, distrust of their Catholic neighbours." Thomas tion, convict him of ignorance or mal- and to introduce dissension and hostilLord Edward Fitzgerald, union and conshould be where all ex ity Harrel, Rt. Honourable Sir David ice. Emmet, Robert Emmet, Smith O'Brien, cord. If English politicians truly lovThomas Davis, John Mitchell, John Under Secretary of State for Ireland, If he were to tell us that an incon- ed America, as they now assert, they Martin, Isaac Butt, Charles Stuart declares: might have considered the effects of Parnell. it became necessary, in the de"I owe it entirely to non -official Ca- siderable minority of stubborn men, hating freedom and loyal only to their their propaganda at the expense of signs of the imperialists, to smash this tholic friends that I was placed in a large element of America's popuba unanimity of sentiment and conviction position of trust and responsibility. own interests, who have abjectly sur- that origin that helped to save by setting up an artificial irritant. Thus Yet I, a Protestant, have never had any- rendered to the bogey of political ma- tion of IrishEmpire the British during the last two happily which now have they always played upon the pas- thing to recommend me to my Catholic chinations, through years. are the clearly sees, of Ireland the rest appeople sions and prejudices of a countrymen beyond a deep sympathy proaching unity of purpose, for the for the cheerless, often hopeless, condi- tools with which Sir Edward Carson Dr. Austin O'Malley, a true Amerioperates when he presents to the world can, openly avowed object of disuniting tion of the small tenant farmer." declares: "That I love my wife, the heroic spectacle of himself espousthem. devoutedly does not preclude America, The Rev. William McKeown, Presby- ing the cause of "terror-stricken Ulster," The outside world must never be per- terian minister, Scots Church, Cork, de- his words would look less like propa- my love for my mother, Ireland." He is a type of 20,000,000 Americans of mitted to believe that Ireland is unit- clares: ganda. Irish descent, who have been embittered or is capable of being united. Hence, "In the nineteen years I have lived in Mr. Galsworthy knows that Sir Ed- ed by England's campaign of falsehood even to -day, the British propagandists, Cork I have never experienced and playing upon the religious prejudices of have never known an uncivil or an un- ward Carson attained his reputation as against Ireland, and who, many of America, seek at Ireland's expense, to friendly act done by a Catholic to a a lawyer, not in Ulster, but in Leinster, them knowing Old World politics more make America believe that an inde- Protestant on account of his religion. and that after he attained fame he intimately than most Americans do, pendent Ireland would mean persecu- No Protestant who has lived in the transferred his practice to London, have been wholly incapable of accept,tion of Protestants by Catholics, and South and mingled with the people has abandoning Ireland altogether, and be- ing as sterling England's alleged regard that Sinn Feinism is something odious, any such fear. It is only in Ulster coming a member of the English Bar. for the freedom of small nations when like Bolshevism or I.WAV.-ism. These that the people talk of intolerance, In He knows that Sir Edward Carson not her conduct towards Ireland, not only propagandists do not tell America that all the cases I have investigated, where only is not an Ulsterite, but never in Ireland, but in America, has indictjust before the war overwhelmingly it was asserted that men had been dis- practised law in Ulster, and that merely ed the good faith of her designs. Catholic constituencies elected the fol- missed from their employment because because of his strength and reputation Love of freedom is the motive that lowing Protestant members of the Na- they were 'Protestants, I have never he has been used by the imperialists as Irish origin. Where tionalist party: Swift MacNeill, Sam- found one such case to be true. The a figurehead of Ulster-misrepresenta- animates all men ofmenaced, whether it uel Young, William Abraham. Hugh fear of religious persecution in Ireland tion throughout the world, gaining his they see freedom in Ireland, or States, be in the United Law, Richard McGhee, Haviland Burke, is a pure bogey invented by politi- first unsavoury reputation as Crown every ready to they are in Nigeria, Stephen Gwynn, and Captain Donolan. cians." Prosecutor in coercion trials when meet the issue. This is why countless Arthur Balfour was Chief Secretary. Sir Horace Plunkett himself says: thousands of Irishmen have fought in I am in possession of fifty such state''As I have stated publicly more than "the Irish Brigades" of France in all ments by Protestants, including Mr. Mr. Galsworthy knows, or should once, 1 have never observed that be- Edward Archdale, Deputy Lieutenant know, that when this artificial Ulster- her wars of the century. This is why, ing a Protestant is a disadvantage to by actual count, nearly fifty per cent. ite. Sir Edward Carson, assures:I the Judge and ex -High Sheriff of Fermanagh and a man in Irish public life." Tyrone Counties; Professor Sir W. F. Kaiser back in 1913 that England had of Washington's Continental army were Rentoul, of the Central Criminal and Irish, many of them Ulster Protestants. of SciRoyal College Barrett, of the question, her full with the Irish hands City of London Courts, declares: "Eng- ence; Walter Kavanagh, ex-M.P. for he then and there consigned the world This is why Washington himself issued lish audiences never believe these re- Country Carlow ; Sir Samuel Keightley, to war, because in his own defiance of so many proclamations extolling the large My very ligious arguments. Liberal; Sir Hugh leading Ulster a the British Government, backed up service of the Irish in the cause of number of relatives in Ireland are all Mack, a leading Belfast linen mer- by drilled men and arms purchased in freedom. This is why the O'Brien reProtestants. Religious persecution is chant; Rev. W. J. Nelson, an English Germany and shipped to him from giment, the Walsh regiment, and the the very last thing they fear." Episcopal minister who served thirteen Hamburg on a Danish steamer, he as- Dillon regiment sailed to America from The Rt. Honourable Pirrie, chairman years in Ireland; George W. Russell sured the Kaiser that England, disturb- Brest with Lafayette, a fact deleted of Harland and Wolff, Ltd , shipbuild("A E." whose rebuke of Rudyard ed by internal troubles, would not enter from many school histories. This is ers, Belfast, ex -Lord Mayor of Belfast, Kipling's bigotry will ever be remem- the war on the side of France. The why Irishmen to -day are more arousex -High Sheriff of County Antrim and bered; Rev. R. Herbert Sewell, pastor conviction will not down, even in Eng- ed over the question of international county Down, declares: of Great George Street Congregational land, that had it not been for this mis- freedom than they have ever been. "The records of Irish Catholics show Church, Liverpool, who has spent years taken reliance of the Kaiser upon Car- This is why Isisnmen, even the persethe greatest generosity towards Protes- in Ireland; Sir Alexander Shaw, an son's treasonable conduct and words, cuted Irishmen, whose chief offence tants who are accorded positions of Episcopalian, ex-President of the Cham- Germany would not have provoked the seems to be hatred for England, are honour and emolument far beyond the ber of Commerce, Limerick, and num- great terror. Ask Asquith what he good Americans, to be counted upon for ration to which they are entitled upon erous other Presbyterian and Episco- thinks of Carson. Asquith's letter of life and treasure whenever America Lord Beaverbrook, December 4, 1916, to Lloyd George, needs them, and who, for this very reaany copulative basis. I confess with pal clergymen. shame that even now the spirit of re- "the greatest censor who ever lived," does not flatter the great "Ulsterite." son, remembering Benjamin Franklin's ligious intolerence, although in ever les- according to Lord Northcliffe, never Men cannot perpetually be deceived in appeal to Ireland for help when the American colonies fought for their freesening degree, still prevails amongst a permitted such statements to filter his regard. through to America. The testimony dom, are now determined that Ireportion of the population of Ulster. Americans are beginning to look at land, struggling for freedom before Amof Lord Dunraven, of Lord Aberdeen, General Sir Alfred E. Turner, on the of Sir Edward Grey, himself, in his the facts of 1910, 1912, 1913, and 1914 erica was discovered, and having given staff of Lord Spencer, Lord Lieutenant Plymouth Declaration, December 5, in chronological order as they involve to America the aid America sought, of Ireland, private secretary to Lord the "Ulsterite," Sir Edward Carson. and shall not be abandoned when to-day she 1911; of Joseph Hocking, all ProtestAberdeen and Commissioner of Police, ants, is never heard in America. his intimate anti -Irish friend, Lord calls for America's help. Counties of Cork, Kerry, Clare, and LimBeaverbrook, and their intimate antiIn the very crisis of the anti -Papal Irish friend, Lord Northcliffe, junkers erick, says: America has paid ner debt to Lafaypropaganda 1911, Sir A. Conan Doyle of and imperialists, all of them. Ameri- ette, but the statue of John Barry, -I never came across a case of reli- wrote: cans are beginning to appreciate the erected at the doors of Independence yious intolerance, far less of persecu"There is no more chance of Roman fact that throughout the war Ireland Hall, Philadelphia, reminds America tion, on the part of Catholics towards Protestants, though I heard of several, Catholics persecuting Protestants in was calumniated in America and that that her debt to Ireland has not yet than of Protestants persecut- British statesmen themselves have re- been paid. On Washington's BirthIreland which upon investigation proved Even G. day, 1419, I assisted 20,000 other Amgroundless. There is far more religious ing Roman Catholics. In Bavaria the probated these calumnies. Bernard Shaw, rank materialist that ericans of Irish origin to place a animosity on the part of Protestants population is enormously Catholic, with wreath upon that monument erected to movesmall In Sinn Fein minority of Protestants. he is. describes the towards Catholics, and this is the re- a 4111 ,ult of the old leaven of Protestant as- Saxony the royal family is Catholic. ment as "noble and exalted." Ameri- the Irish father of the American navy. cendancy. which, like all hereditary If the Pope has any designs on any ca also is beginning to perceive that That we remember whence we came and inherent consciousness of imagined country, which has mixed religion, why throughout the war any American who and the present travail of the mothersuperiority, dies eery hard. The has he not done something wonderful bore an Irish name, and who sought to land softens not the bitterness that If he has refute the anti -Irish calumnies, was at anti -Irish falsehood inspires, nor does bogey of religious persecution of Ire - in Bavaria and Saxony? blind us, as Americans, to the ideals OS and is displayed to alarm Protestants, done nothing there, why would he at- once branded by British propagandists itupon which America is built. before his American fellow-countrymen though there is about as much reality tempt it in Ireland?"
What the British imperialists, who do not represent the rank and file of honest Englishmen, attempted when they made use of Sir Edward Carson to spread the impression throughout the world that Ireland, 1910-1919, has been hopelessly divided into hostile factions on a "religious issue," they nearly accomplished through Sir Edward Carson's intimate personal friend, Load Beaverbrook, in another way, in America. These hired agents of imperialism have proved that not only are they not friends of Ireland, but that they are nut friends of the United States. Thereby they have incidentally done a great
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