YOUNCentenaryG Supplement IRELAN, June 1948 D OUR III: (SOI* ARE by DESMOND GREAVES THE PEOPLE O people are more acutely con- r leaders are more like labels attached capitalists usually led. In leading the J^HE Irish people are thus interested "" scious of its history than the Irish. to different aspects of popular will, people they tried to indoctrinate them in history because x'epeatedly Englishmen accept their past without though this is not to say their in- with their own prejudices as to the they took a hand in its greatest judging it, seldom pushing back their fluence is negligable. Most important sacredness of private property. But national convulsions. But it has controversies beyond living memory. is the class which leads, the class since this private property was the never left the field of controversy be- Their landmarks belong to societies whose outlook permeates the con- thing which injured the people most, cause in each Irish Revolution the for the preservation of this or that, sciousness of the movement. the logic of a property-owning class conflict within Ireland decided and their shrines are usually little- r leadership was the attempt to exclude J^HE tragedy of the repeated the issue, as it will again, and each known and well cared for. the people from the movement, with attempts made to achieve Irish class has its own heroes. J^UT controversies over the distant freedom is however much the its belittlement and consequent col- lapse. past still rage in Irish news- people participated the landlords and J^ECAUSE the same class division papers, arousing a public interest persists to-day contending parties which would be unthinkable in Brit- glorify and claim descent from those ain. It is as if. modern issues were who represented its interests at the fought out simultaneously in the crucial time. We of the great Demo- present and the past. cratic tradition would be ungrateful JJENCE has arisen the trade of falsi- indeed if we did not remember with fiers of history. One thread runs pride Tone and Lalor, Jamie Hope through Ireland's past, the struggle and William Thompson. to escape from Britain's Imperialist But this said, our heroes are the embrace. The struggle was fre- people. quently betrayed in the interests of class and property. Attempts are TPO-DAY the democratic tradition repeatedly being made to justify the centres round the working class, double-dealers like O'Connell, and to no longer the ^dilating capitalists discredit or kill with kindness and would-be rapitalists. That the patriots like Pearse and Connolly, day of the final emancipation of Ire- also in the interests of property. land is not so far off, is proved by the 'J'HUS a pamphlet has been pub- frantic efforts now being made to dis- lished to depict Connolly as a rupt the democratic forces, destroy muddled -well-wisher whose only their inner cohesion, self-confidence, merit was to die a Catholic. Anether and unity. This is the purpose of the infamous document claims that "if over-done .Communist bogey. The Connolly were alive to-day" he would aim is to 101 it up the Democrats, con- advise the young NOT to follow him. fuse them, and defeat each section By the same token in a Dublin weekly separately. Reaction's desperate need the attempt is made to trace the dictates its desperate remedies. For evolution of one grand tradition in In the autumn of 1941, Gavan Duffy, John Dillon and Thomas Davis sat down under an elm in Phoenix Park and discussed the project of our part we propose to do all in our Democracy, Jacobinism, Socialism power to help the sick man to die. and Communism. But it is concealed founding the newspaper subsequently known as the "Nation." that this is the tradition from which- Irish nationalism sprouted. gIMILAR is the attempt to whip up What Happened in '48 support for Fianna Fail middle-of- the-roadism, with its reactionary ker- irpoWARDS the end of February, 1948, TN the light of this conception, there was greeted a new Coercion Bill disarming the nel, by means of a campaign to save -L Europe thrilled to the news of the J- no effective attempt to organise by far peasantry, and was convinced of the folly Derrynane, home of the liberator who successful revolution in Paris. The leaders the most numerous class—the peasantry— of trying to woo the landed gentry. never liberated. of the Young Ireland Movement, who but who could have supplied an irresistible They, he proclaimed, "had finally taken some three weeks before had condemned motive force to the revolution. An appeal their side against their own people and for ^ BOGUS tradition is being John Mitchel's revolutionary policy, now to force .among the starving peasantry the foreign enemy." He placed his faith in trumped up. There is no clerical threw themselves enthusiastically into would have reoeived an immediate re- the peasantry. In other words, Mitchel was nationalism so it must be invented. preparation for an insurrection. Pew now sponse. Eighteen forty-eight was the third willing to risk a sotial, as opposed to the dared to speak of achieving national inde- political, Though it sapped the people's will to year of the great famine and their condi- revolution, which the other pendence by constitutional measure—by leaders alone intended. They, led by Wil- fight throughout the nineteenth cen- moral force. They constituted a National — by — liam Smith O'Brien, himself a landlord, tury, quieting, pacifying, reconciling Guard, after the manner of the French, and Charles Gavan Duffy,-tha editor of. the to the intolerable, clericalism is being and began enrolling members, Muskets HECTOR CATHCART "Nation," denounced Mitchel's policy in proclaimed the central - Irish philos- were procured and forges worked hard to no uncertain terms. Mitchel, with Devin ophy. Yet simultaneously the "Stan- produce pikes in quantity. In Dublin and O'Reilly and many others, left the Irish dard" Catetchetical preaches that the in the towns throughout the country men tion was desperate. But a peasant Insur- Confederation, That was three weeks be- modern counterpart of the absentee drilled and trained. The "Nation," organ rection would have been directed against fore the revolution in Paris. With that landlord, the employer you may of the movement, printed articles giving the true authors of the famine, the land- event Mitchel and his party walked back never see, derives his authority from instruction in street fighting. lords, who were engaged in a systematic \ into the assembly without ceremony. In campaign of eviction. Property would be the meantime, Mitchel had founded his God and must be obeyed. To hell threatened, the landlord class would be own paper, "The United Irishman" (12th with the landlord of 1848 when the ""pHE nature of the revolution envisaged finally alienated from the national February, 1847). capitalist of 1948 must be defended. by the Young Ireland leadership was struggle. The bourgeoisie would have none WE need a touchstone in politics, thoroughly bourgeois, in conformity with of that! not only for historical truth, but the prejudices of the class from which irjiHE 'United Irishman" preaching open rebellion and an alliance with the for historical significance. It is true they were drawn. They deplored the sug- The revolution was to be urban in char- gestion, imputed to them by their enemies, acter, and Dublin was to be its touch- Chartist Movement, was a tremendous that Father Murphy fought with the success. It was this fact as much as the insurgents in Wexford. It is signifi- that they intended to imitate "the blind stone. To take over the administration and anarchical riots which have dis- would involve street fighting with a mini- February Revolution, which forced the cant that in 1846-7-8 throughout the graced the great towns of England and mum of bloodshed. Hadn't this been the hand of the Irish Confederation. length and breadth of Ireland the Scotland." It was not to the vicious ex- case in Paris? priesthood with O'Connell's acquies- cesses of the Chartist mobs that the "good TN the event of a rising, Mitchel was ob- cence, taught the famine-stricken citizens" eyes were to be turned, but to the A CONSIDERABLE dissident minority A viously the leader to whom the people peasantry to perish rather than revolt. "heroic struggles which illuminate the would look. Of him it is important to bear * more realistic plan of campaign in the continent," where they would find "ex- in mind that he was not a democrat like "YY"HAT then is significant in amples of how liberty could be won, with- Irish Confederation for some months be- Davis, but a republican with an implac- history? Events are important out outrage upon religion, property or fore the February Revolution. John able personal hatred of the English Gov- insofar as the people participate in order." The National Guard were to be rtJitchel, the hard-hitting and plain-speak- ernment for whose overthrow he was will- them and understand them. History as much concerned with watching over ing son of a northern Presbyterian minis- ing to adopt any means. is not made by heroes who create "the order and tranquility of the metro- ter, was at its head. Mitchel had observed movements in their own image. The polis" as with making the revolution. the satisfaction with which the landlords (Continued on Page Ten, Column One) June, 1948 4 IRISH DEMOCRAT SUPPLEMENT June, 1948 imSH DEMOCRAT SUPPLEMENT 5 Irish Ireland Wept WRITER, THINKER, MILITARY STUDENT THOMAS DAVIS Stormcock on the tallest treetop, flings His wild February challenge like a fife interlude between the by winter of Tone's defeats and the blackest of autumns "/ \N 16th September, 1845, Thomas Davis lems as British white papers did for DAWtheir impulse of every man but a fool and a * Leslie Daiken diedTHOMA, and the cause of Irish inde- country. Nor couldS she hav e such papers —which the Irish call 'THE GREAT STARVATION' coward. To fight for your family, your pendence lost its very heart and soul.' without her own administration, but why neighbour and your country in a just quarrel should not the Association become a kind of Mitch. d Davis killed him- ("Last Conquest.") Mitehel tells of his is equally the duty and almost equally the and so to permeate a people's con- Sound observation .and deep last meeting with Davis a few months "inaugural legislative" and issue unofficial impulse of every man; and it is a vain and self through overwork. Davis died white papers analysing the parliamentary sciousness. Yet Davis, more than pericnce infuse many an open earlier, in the May of that ve&r. There impracticable thing to preach non-resistance aged thirty-one. "due to incessant estimates, bills and projects from the Irish Thomas Moore or Willy Yeats, seems gambit: had been another "monster Repeal meet- as an invariable rule. Every countrv has labour and excitement for three years viewpoint? So began the series of reports by recognised and enforced the duty of defend- to personify the Irish popular love of ing" in Dublin the previous day, and Davis the Parliamentary Committee of the Repeal on an ardent temperament and un- "The tribune's tongue and poet's ]). ing it on all its citizens, and in emergency it songs and' stirring balladry. What was scornful. "These demonstrations," he Association, among the most valuable of the is the legal and moral duty of every resting brain." The news of his death works initiated on Burgh Quay. The Charge of the Light Brigade is May sow the seed in prostrate nva: said, "are runing us. They are parading man to defend it by force. But as men taking literally made all Irish-Ireland weep. But 'lis the soldier's sword alone (or was) to the average English the .sen! out of us." The two friends the field unprepared could neither know Daniel O'Connell. remote in his Kerry Can reap the crop so bravely sown!' walked out to the R.I.A. library and then manoeuvres nor the use of arms, most free schoolboy, so are the vivid lines of mansion, cried till the tears blinded to the studio of Moore, the sculptor. "On By BRIAN O'NEILL countries made provision for the military Fontenoy to the*'imagination of his education of their male population. By al- him. The funeral at Mount Jerome or. returning to his home he showed me a Irish counterpart: most all the codes in the world the people cemetery drew a cross-section from long rcw of small volumes—copies of the T° Vol. II Davis contributed six reports were commanded and encouraged to practise "A Nation's voice, a nation's voire 'Artillerist's Manual'—gave me one of and, apart from* the first on the general the nation's greatest and most humble "Push on, my household cavalry!" Kino, in their districts the use of arms (the bow 'Tis stronger than a king ..." them and told me that was what we must estimates for 1844-45, all have militarv as- the quarter staff, the bill or the rifle ac- such as only the death of one truly Louis madly cried: all study now." pects, taking in turn the army, militia, com- cording to the time) and to take their turn well-beloved can unite in time and To death they rush, but rude their shock. and, in all its simplicity: missariat, ordnance and navy estimates. The of military instruction and duty as militia p 1 a c e. Academicians, aldermen, not unavenged they died, / 1 AVIN DUFFY also records this interest stamp of Davis is on them all. "The first men." ^ T of Davis in military matters. "A born object of these reports is to prove that in clergy, artists, writers and poets (his On through the camp the column trod— 'For, ah the poor exile is always alon. soldier," Duffy calls him. "The place he most cases where the distribution of the ex- / \UR present L.D.F. might well take that PROFESSOR FARRLNGtON FAITH OF A FELON friends of The Nation), the '82 Clubs King Louis turns his rein: would have loved to fill was not beside Moore penditure can be ascertained Ireland's share "Not yet. my loice," Saxe interposed, "the Singers will tell us that Davis' lyrics and a succeeding paragraph as their 1. In order lo save lives the occupying in full uniforms, the Trinity College all the phonetic ease and euphonious li'i and Goldsmith, but beside O'Neill and Grat- is unjustly small," he stated in his introduc- charter. says Irish troops remain!" . . . tion, but, being Davis, he is not content tenants of the soil of Ireland ought next dons with their red gowns . . . the make singing them a pleasure: tan." "For home purposes it is quite possible to autumn to lefuse all rent anil arrears tJien This evidence by two of his closest collea- with taking the estimates to pieces from this i( myriad poor. The scene is well- While there is always a dramatic aspect. His first general report, therefore, make a militia effective," Davis continues. due, beyond and except the value of the over- climax in his patriotic verses. Davis "Oh. she's a fresh and fair land! gues is interesting, because few of the "The bulk of the male population should be plus of harvest produce remaining in their known. So, too. is the thrilling story national fathers have suffered so much as gives a short history of the development of they left us a drives straight to his target, which is Oh, she's a true and rare land! public finance, discusses direct and indirect accustomed to handle arms and occasionally hands after having deducted and reserved a of his newspaper, the idea of which Davis at the hands of the bowdlcrisers. At drilled (say for a fortnight every year), and due and full provision for their own sub- to rouse the blood, to stir the will to Yes, she's a rare and fair land— the worst he is portrayed as a Shellyish taxation and quotes Adam Smith and other he conceived, with Dillon and Charles writers on economics before turning to the ample provision should be made for military sistence during the next ensuing twelve action, and to invoke the past only as This native land of mine . . " "ineffectual angel," preaching platitudin- schools and colleges, and a militia army rich heritage" months. Gavin Duffy, as the powerful trio estimates proper. The very thing that was an incentive to to-morrow's victory. ously about forbearance and sobriety to a needed in a movement whose natural back- formed wherein every citizen would be bound 2. They ought to refuse and resist being talked and planned and passionately or, as in that spriteliest of all period-pitv: famished tenantry and wholly innocent of in turn to serve three years. Some such plan TN one of the moving pamphlets he wrote prepared the new venture, in the one fit for any musical programme. 1 I!. wardness in all real political knowledge had made beggars, landless and homeless, under Another feature of his technique is the means by which a people really gains been intensified by the demagogy of much of exists in Prussia and would seem adequate in preparation for 1916 Pearse named the English law of ejection. Phoenix Park, on a mild autumn Girl I Left Behind Me": its freedom. At the best he is too often to every just object of defence." that the first line, or couplet, always the O'Connellite agitation. those whom he considered the four evange- 3. They ought further on principle to re- morning in 1842. shown only as a man of personal charm and lists of Irish nationalism. They were Tone, holds the gist of the poem, and this "The dames of France are fond and free. / \NE could fill a good-sized booklet with fuse all rent to the present usurping pro- faultless integrity, a talented balladist, TTE is even more painstaking when he Davis, Mitchel and Lalor. The three last prietors, until the people, the true proprietors And Flemish lips are willing, essayist and amateur antiquary. * ' interesting quotations from one or other As editor, propagandist, speaker, theme is developed with the clarity -A-*- turns to the military reports. Again he of these reports. Davis indignantly con- were Young Irelanders. They were lead- have in national congress or convention, And soft the maids of Italy decided what rents they will pay and to lecturer, political thinker and repor- and craftsmanship of a man accus- AVIS was all the best and something traces the development of standing armies demns flogging and the other brutalities to ers in that revolutionary decade which And Spanish eyes are thrilling; D more. Not only, as Mitchel tells us, was from the small crown forces; investigates the whom they are to pay them. ter, Davis' work is there, for the look- tomed to think in logical steps. \vhich the army rank-and-file were then gives Ireland a place with so many other Still, though I bask beneath their smile. he preparing in the closing months of his life strength and composition of the European subject. He argues vigorously against the 4. The people on grounds of policy and ing. It is as a poet and song-writer for the crisis which he sensed lay ahead; the and American armies; considers the merits nations tn the year of revolutions, 1848. economy ought to decide that these rents Thus: Their charms fail to bind me, continuance of an officer caste, buying its that he has his warmest place in the fact is that he was the Repeal Association's of universal service, the nation in arms, as corSnpissions and often ignorant of its duties. rjiHESE men were great leaders of a great glial', be paid to themselves, the people, for We've been too long to braggart wrong. And my heart flies back fo Erin's isle recognised military expert. adopted by France, Russia and Prussia, "The true \yay to secure a high-class of J- movement, a movement which produced public purposes arid for behoof and benefit popular memory. And the girl I left behind me." of them, the entire people. While force our prayers derided: While O'Connell was imprisoned in Kil- compared with the then British belief in a recruits, to diminishfpunishment and aug- a remarkable political literature which all It takes a whole generation for We've fought too long ourselves among. mainham in 1841 the Young Ireland Group small professional army; aligns himself with ment zeal, is promotion from the ranks. It serious Irish revolutionaries should study. JAMES FINTON LALOR His love-lyrics are as delicate and well- inevitably came more to the fore in the Re- the progressives who were striving to reform may be that for the time there would be In the writings of Davis, Mitchel, and Lalor (slightly abridged from "Irish popular insurgent literature to cool By knaves and priests divided . . . conceived as anything in his more robust less silken manners at the mess tables; but Irishmen can still learn the lesson of en- Felon," 8th July, 1848) peal Association. It was at this time that the British army, and throughout lays down style, and, were his martial music not quite Smith O'Brien made an excellent suggestion. a still valid doctrine of national defence. the company accounts would be kept by lightened and disinterested patriotism. They so heady, these might have set Davis beside Ireland had no official white papers of her "To take arms in defence of person and those responsible for them, and the field can still learn, too, from lesser lights of the Ben Jonson and the Elizabethans, as a own, dealing with Irish statistics and prob- property," he says, "is the first-felt duty and movements not less rapid and exact." time, from John Martin, Devin Reilly, Gavan master of lute and woodwind lyrics that re- DuQy„ .Dufiy's Life of Davis, for instance, flect a lover's yearnings. In A Plea For Love, afid His three* tolutnes of contemporary Greatness and Limitations we can And the nature of the man who Irish history^ are important monuments in wrote new words to Eileen A Ruin: our political literature. The men of a hundred years ago left us a rich heritage, if Lalor looked upon O'Connell as the ing" that I am engaging, not in a mercan- JAMES CONNOLLY declared that The summer brooks flow in the bed EUROPEAN CAULDRON only we were worthy heirs. apologist of Britain's rule in Ireland, who tile concern, nor in a private speculation or the Irish middle-class historians The winter torrent tore asunder and politicians had either suppressed at the same time played the game of the enterprise, but in a political confederation 'THE New Year chimes of 1848 ushered by reactionary Prussia for leadership. Before T)UT great as these men were, when James landlords by diverting the attention of the for a great public purpose." And further The skylark's gentle wings are spread J- in one of the greatest years of Jj Connolly, who wfas greater than they, or ignored James Finton Lalor's con- the year was out the last vestiges of the starving peasants away from the real on in the same letter, he says: "To found Where walk the lightning and the thunder; workers' struggle in the history of Europe. Liani Concannon Assembly had disappeared and the workers' came to write about them, he found them wanting. What was their fatal defect ? They tribution to Irish revolutionary litera- issues. It is part of Lalor's greatness, that such a journal as the 'Felon' for the mere And thus you'll find the sternest soul During the early months of that year the resistance was being crushed. Germany had ture, and he called upon the Irish The gayest tenderness concealing, "T7IEWED, therefore, from the standpoint to wait for unification until Bismark, th£ aimed oniy at political revolution and were he alone understood the relationship be- purpose in whole, or in part, of making a peoples of Ireland, England, France, Ger- unable to understand economic revolution. working-class to be as energetic, in And minds that seem to mock control • of the economic development of the res- German Cromwell, completed the job in tween the struggle for national freedom fortune, or making a farthing, would be many, Italy and Hungary were swept into pective countries, it is easy to understand the 1870. They did not understand that even if they popularising Lalor's writings, as the and the struggle for economic freedom. a felon's crime indeed, deserving no hero's Are ordered by some fairy feeling ..." the vortex of revolution, challenging Pope, cause of these spontaneous uprisings in so could get the government of Ireland'shifted ruling class were in suppressing doom, lamented death or mourned exile, King and Emperor in their determination many countries during 1848. It also enables TTUNGARY was rent with racial prob- from Westminster to College Green, that them. but death on the scaffold amid the scoff But if you would trace the touch of a to advance the democratic cause in their us to realise the depravity of those political J- * lems concerning the Croats and Rumans would not avail to avert the threatened and scorn of the world." great lyricist, compare the phrasing of respective countries. Canutes of our time who, denying the exist- not having yet learned thk maxim that famine. They could not see that the flght Eileen A Ruin with any of the sentimental ence of the inevitable struggle between the liberty cannot be won for one's own country of the peasants for the land was the neces- N a letter to John Mitchel on June 21st, efforts of his day. France, further politically developed than at the price of the slavery of others. Quick sary basis of a successful fight for the free- the others on the continent, struggled classes, and refusing lo acknowledge that dom of Ireland, for the freedom of Irishmen. TAMES FINTON LALOR was the clear- X 1847, Lalor declared that he could no The only way to evaluate the worth and the maintenance of outworn institutions' to see their advantage in a divided country, longer consider himself a member of the quality of Davis is to read them, grave and against the bankers and Industrial leaders Austria and Czarist Russia were glad to join They were afraid of the question of property. ^ est thinker, and most revolutionary who systematically robbed the people of the prevents the realisation of great social neeWs Often they came near to understanding and T ALOR saw the danger of a revolution- gay, rhetorical and tender, in their entirety. force forward the process of revolutionary in the strangling of revolution. fighter of Young Ireland. * This unfortunately (and for a country proud fruits of their great Revolution in 1789. wrote many striking sentences exposing the ary journal becoming a commercial convulsions as a method of solution. These The Austrian General Haynau suppressed social iniquities of the time. But it remains Lalor developed in a country with a very of its saints and scholars—we might add— Germany, with Its thirty-six Princelings, numbskulls would have us believe such up- the rising with Cromwellian brutality, and Patrick Gancy newspaper, and he advocated some form unhappily), is not so simple; because the preventing the unification of the country true that their theory was Inadequate to small working class. Hence his ideas of of co-operative ownership. In the same risings by whole peoples throughout the on a later visit to Barclays Brewery in' Eng- their task. Accordingly Connolly had to pass revolutionary actiop may seem conspira- earlier editions of Davis' work are long since into an organised state, s«ffered from the world are the work of individual "agitators." land, was chased by the English workers who analyses the life, letter he says: "I certainly would have out of print. No new edition marked the feudal fetters upon agriculture and trade this historical judgment on the Young torial. While in Britain a movement for This also explains their liberal use to-day were determined to administer the chastise- Irelanders as a whole, that "they sacrificed wished that this journal had been estab- anniversary of his life's work held in Dublin which, allied to an Ignorant and presumpt- ment in which he specialised. the emancipation of the working class was philosophy and teachings lished on a subscribed capital, and the in 1M5, when postcard reproduction of his uous bureaucracy, stunted the development of the epithet "Communist" In the ceaseless the Irish peasantry on the altar of private property." moving forward with rapidity, Later lacked effective ownership in a joint stock com- portrait was how the recent Government of its economy and thrust the opposing effort to deny the clamant need for social the background to understand this move- of change in our own time and in our own Foreign Aid pany of say 800 or 1,000 subscribers." paid tribute to this "eagle of the empty middle-classes into their first serious struggle HERE was, however, one exception. ment. In Britain large-scale industry h*d eyrie." for political power. _ country. Lalor held the view that land should TTALY, whose Young Italy stimulated the T Lalor was for public ownership of the made its appearance as early as the 30's. JAMES FINTON But, for a cursory reference I must men- means of production. He was a true prophet. 1 be the property of the whole nation, and 1 supporters of Young Ireland, continued The revolution in technique, which played tion the paper-backed edition of selected Hungary's Fight Not Isolated her fight for freedom and unity, carrying The Russian revolution put the ownership of such an enormous part in developing LALOR that no man was entitled to own a foot of poems, in the series "Honn And Ballad* By N Hungary, the fiery young journalist, the struggle into the Papal States where the the land and all its wealth and resources In large-scale capitalist industry, had created it except by agreement of the nation. Famous Irishmen," (published by Walton's, TT is not possible to give here a detailed Pope had forbidden the introduction of the the hands of the people. Ownership acquired by any other means 3-4 North Frederick Street, Dublin), at six- Louis Kossuth, was leading his country's 1 account of these European struggles: It Is a new class, and a new form of exploita- Confederation. "I never recognised the Ifight for national freedom from the Austrian railway or the telegraph, and where only RITING of Lalor, Connolly said: "Fin- was at the expense of society, and by the pence. sufficient to see the pattern into which our 2 per cent of the rural population could read. tion entirely divorced from the land. The landowners as a part or portion of the It is, Indeed, through the sixpenny pam- Empire, whose slothful nobility still pre- Irish rising in 1848 fits, as a part and not W tan Lalor, like all the really dangerous terrible conditions which this new class Irish people. I recognise them as aliens enemies of society. Here we find teachings served mediaeval privileges over the peasan- Appealing for foreign aid to Louis Napo- revolutionists of Ireland, advocated his prin- phlets (like the broadsheets of the last an isolated action. leon, the Papacy for a time maintained its bad to endure, particularly in the cotton and enemies." which are the embryo of modern Socialism. generation) that Davis' genius becomes try, and enjoyed complete exemption from ciples as part of the creed of the democracy He mercilessly lays bare the material and taxation. The struggle in France reached tremend- temporal supremacy with the aid of French of the world, and not merely as applicable mills of Lancashire, the exploitation of available to those for whom It was so freely ous heights, the working-class making its bayonets. During the long struggle which child labour, long hours, loss of limbs moral poverty of a people under class rule. expended—the common people. Let them Italy, divided into thirteen states after the only to the incidents of the struggle of Ire- first appearance as an independent political ensued "Crusaders" were recruited from land against England." For Connolly, as for through operating machines, served to He depicts with the touch of a genius, the buy Davis' rebel words and sing them to the Congress of Vienna 11815) continued her force—the task later performed for the Irish many Catholic countries (including 600 from speculative swindles which flourish when old rousing tunes and remember what they long struggle against Austria and the Papacy Ireland), for the defence of Papacy. But Lalor, the Irish struggle against England make Later teak with horror at the de- iTJ^HE policy of trying to win over for freedom and unification. This struggle, by James Connolly. And just as the Irish was part of the world struggle for democracy. velopment of industry. He did not under- ^ the Catholic landlords Lalor de- class rule is collapsing, and the petty shop- mean, for, the meaning of their music has jvorkers in our own generation saw their the People's cause was all-powerful. Victory keeper outlook of the Irish middle class. not yet been consumated: ably led by Mazzini, Cavour and Garibaldi, middle-class leaders turn upon them In the came to their arms In 1870 when France's The problem of Ireland cannot be solved In stand the historic role of the working class nounced as playing the game of the des- Touching is the memorial paid to one poet finally triumphed In 1870, after which the isolation. The partition of Ireland Is more as the harbinger of a new society. pots. Nothing less than complete inde- moment of power to deny them the fruits of difficulty during the Franco-Prussian War by another, The Lament For Thomas Davis Pope became a "voluntary prisoner" in the their struggle, so did the French. became the People's opportunity. than a local question. It is one of a group pendence, and an agrarian revolution that by Samuel Ferguson: Vatican, refusing to "emerge" until the of problems whkjh British Imperialism can- would completely eliminate the landlords Fascist Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty Left to starve or to fight, the French work- not solve but perpetually creates—the parti- as a class, that was Lalor's policy. He Young husbandman of Erin's fruitful seed- (1929) under which the temporal power ers who rose in February, 1848, had to Real Gains tion of India, the partition of Palestine. T^HILE his contemporaries were con- of the Vatican was resuscitated and the wanted to see the Confederation clubs time, mount the barricade anew In June against TT is here that the Importance for Ireland HEN Lalor first put forward his ideas *» fused and disillusioned, Lalor saw Vatican received £16 million compensation. their so-called "leaders" who unleashed the I RESPITE the setbacks suffered by the A of the Communist Manifesto, written by of an agrarian revolution to those transformed from talking-shops into revo- clearly the need for a revolutionary trans- In the fresh track of danger's plough! utmost ferocity against the workers before workers in this stage of European W struggle, real gains were made permanent. Marx and Engels in the year of revolutions, producing "The Nation," the majority of lutionary tribunes of the people. formation to pull order out of chaos. Who will walk the heavy, toilsome perilous the Monarchy could again be restored under 1848, comes in. The Manifesto is the best furrow Fettered Serfdom in Europe was ended (in Russia in them were in bitter opposition to his At the end of 1847 the rumblings of a The revolution which Lalor dreamed of Louis Buonaparte in 1851. short analysis of the crisis of capitalism. Girt with freedom's seed-sheets now? 1867). Economic power in Europe became policy, Charles Gavan Duffy particularly revolution, which tn 1848 was to rock did not materialise. Eighteen forty-eight I.L over Europe the fetters of the old, Connolly learned its lesson. For Him it was Who will banish with the wholesome, crop concentrated In the hands of the rising class so. A peaceful repeal of the Union with Europe from end to end, was making itself passed away leaving Ireland in the A largely feudal, society had become a of industrialists, thus creating the prelimin- the best statement of the creed of world of knowledge barrier to the progress of the rising manu- Free Press democracy. Its teaching Is reflected In all the Catholic landlords as an ally was In felt. When the revolution broke out in robber's grasp. The causes of its failure ary economic and social conditions necessary the policy of the Confederation. Smith The flaunting weed and the bitter thorn. facturers and middle classes. UT their struggle had echoed throughout for the eventual capture of power by the his writings. Irishmen who care for freedom Prance in February, 1848, Lalor's spirit deserye fuller study than could be at- should study Connolly. They should also O'Brien, a Catholic landowner, had joined Now that thou art but a seed for hopeful The working classes, struggling for liberty H Europe where general demands for a working-class. Not until our day have eco- rose higher than ever. ^Ireland must be a tempted in one article. The revolution in planting and to end feudal exploitation provided the Constitution which would give personal and nomic conditions developed to that point study the Manifesto. Thus they will learn UK repeal movement, und it was no acci- part of this great upsurge. Lalor started Europe subsided, with power still in the Against the Resurrection morn? ..." strong revolutionary arm of its class to carry political rights, universal suffrage and a free which provides for the removal of capitalist to fight on their part of the fiejd the univer- dent that he became a bitter opponent of out to prepare the people for revolt, doing hands of the counter-revolutionaries, as forward this struggle for a fuller and better press were being made by the peoples. production to make way for Socialist owner- sal battle for democracy. Lalor's policy. Lalor was left with no life. a tour of the counties bordering Dublin the working class had not matured suffi- In Germany, a Vorparllament (pre- parlia- ship and control. alternative but to attack and expose the and Tipperary. ciently to assume Its historic task of free- Jn 1848 these countries were facing prob- ment), representative of the professional One final lesson the workers learned in policy of the Confederation. ing society from class exploitation. lems- similar to those overcome by other ALL READERS In politics Lalor was as incorruptible as A Treat in Store countries at a similar stage in their historical middle-classes, met at Frankfurt on March blood—that middle-class leadership would v He regarded the repeal movement as the a Robespierre and the sworn enemy of On December 30th, 1849, the citizens of Field of a Stranfer is the title of a new development from feudalism: Eupland 1649 31st with Prussia and Austria too weak to never win for them the power that was to be of the "Irish Democrat" oppose it. property of O'Connell, which would never those who took politics as a career. When Dublin turned out in their thousands to novel by Olivia Kobertaon, author of that and 1688; Germany 1848; Russia 1905-7; theirs and, as the Irish workers have also should also read the found, the workers alone are proved to be the support of a people, reduced asked to take part in the founding and pay their last respects to James Finton fine story of Dublin slum life, "St. Malachy s China 1926-7. To-day India. Burma and Characterised by weakness and vacillation monthly : Court." This time she has taken rural Ire- many South American countries face some- —the hall-mark of the middle-classes every- the "incorruptible fighters." We need but to poverty and degradation, conduct of a new paper, the "Irish fteton," Lalor, as to-day we pay our respects to his look around for additional confirmation of ' to their sworn enemies, he wrote to the editor: "I feel bound to land as her theme. The book Is published what similar problems in varying degrees of where—they were unable to decide how to 'IRISH REVIEW' (3d.) grand ideals, and pledge ourselves to carry at 0/6 by Peter Davies, and will be reviewed development and Intensity. use their newly-won power and looked to this profound truth. . state that I Join on the clear understand- on in his fine tradition. In our next issue by Leslie Dalken. IRISH DEMOCRAT SUPPLEMENT PEOPLES must unite Sword and Mitre in the Two Rising —Brontierre O'Brien OST urgently do wt hope that our CLASS. >OT SECT DECISIVE Irish brethren Mill grasp the hand of M could only be carried out under the most friendship tendered to them ... A holy I \URING the 13th century the religion i. [ beheading of a fellow-churchman like archy denounced the Whiteboys and De- rigidly-defined and humiliating conditions. rose in arms to defend their food, land alliance between the oppressed of the two the Irivh people was determined I Emmet, are among the most contemptible fenders, under threat of ex-communica- It was no wonder that the 18th ceniurv and homes. Hundreds of thousands died countries is not more essential to the inter- largely by class. The ruling class: land- | in 'lie record of Irish history, tion, condemned the United Irishmen, ap- fsts of the one than it is to those of the lords, aristocracy, army officers, judiciary, was described as the darkest age in Gaelic miserably in the ditches or wasted away l > UT in the ranks cf the Church of Eng- proved the Act of Union, and declared, with famine and fever in the workhouses, other." Government officials and the like belonged history. • * land were better and braver men than meeting in full syncd in 18C8, that they but only a few hundreds could be per- * * * almost to a man to the Established It was natural under these circum- bishops or parsons. Wolfe Tone was a would recommend for appointments as suaded that it was nobler to die fighting Church. Although only one-tenth of the "Ireland has no possible means of extri- stances that the churches should react m member of the Established Church, and so bishops to His Holiness the Pope "only for their lives than be driven like sick population, they owned five-sixths of the cating herself from the frightful state of different ways to the important political wvre Thomas Davis, Thomas Russell, Lord such persons as are of unimpeachable animals to the slaughter house. land and had an absolute monopoly of developments of the last half of the cen- Edward Fitzgerald and Smith O'Brien. destitution and bondage in which iier op- loyalty to the Crown." It was O'Connell who must bear the Government 'power. tury: the American Declaration of Inde- pressors hold her, without the assistance of The Dissenters were the most en- For 20 years after the death of Emmet, main responsibility for this tragic sap- the men of Great Britain. The converse Below them in social status came the pendence of 1776, the French Revolution ligntened section of the Protestant Ascend- the pulse of revolutionary feeling beat ping cf the people's will to fight, just as tit this proposition applies with almost equal Dissenters, mainly Presbyterians, owners of 1789, the Rising of '98, and the Act of ancy. Like the Catholics, though not to sluggishly. Then, in 1823, Daniel O'Con- it was the landlords and the British Gov- force to the impoverished people of England of fertile farms in Ulster, or traders and Union of 1800. It was also to be expected, the same extent, they suffered from op- and Scotland." nell, a young barrister from Kerry, ernment, which must bear the blame for manufacturei s in Belfast. Behind them though not so understandable, that the pressive official restrictions, and their launched the "Catholic Association," a allowing millions to starve when there was * * * W. SMITH O'BRIEN were a few renegade Catholics ("Castle clergy and laity of all churches should trade was hampered by numerous English moderate nationalist organisation, which enough food in the country to feed them. Catholics," as they were known), who adopt opposing views on the great political "Seeing that the productive classes of the Son of Lord Inchiquin . regulations. in its early form, aimed at securing two islands have the same wants and the and claiming descent from were hangers-on of the Ascendancy or had issue of the time: the conflict of Jacobin Politically more progressive than the Catholic emancipation, and later advo- / VCONNELL'S gigantic bluff was finally same enemies; why should they not look petty trading interests. democracy with aristocratic privilege. Church of England, many Presbyterians cated the repeal of the Union. called at Clontarf in 1843, when with forward to the same remedy, and make com- Brain Boru, M.P. for At the bottom of the scale were the The Church of England was the church one million people at his back he meekly CLARENCE MANGAN mon cause against the common oppressor? masses of native Catholic Irish, landless, of landlordism and imperialism. There was By. gave in at Dublin Castle's order to dis- One of the gifted young poets associated Hon ? By a grand alliance between the op- Limerick, aristocratic Young poverty-stricken, uneducated and without never any hope, nor a sign of progress perse. with the "Nation." pressed or unrepresented classes of Ireland, Irelander. voice in the Government. During those decisive, formative years, with the oppressed or unrepresented classes from this direction. The official attitude of As M.P. for Limerick he always took iHPONE estimated in 1794, that out of a FLANN CAMPBELL when Young Ireland was trying to undo gathering thousands melted slowly away, cl Great Britain ..." the Church of England was one of uncom- and O'Brien, dismayed, astounded and a strong Nationalist line. He joined J- total Irish population of four-and-a- promising hostility towards any measure the harm caused by O'Connell's weak- the Repeal Association and worked sick at heart, found himself at the head, half millions, the Church of England of reform. Bishops and parsons vied with j were deeply influenced by the revolution- O'Connell abhorred physical violence kneed policy, the Church, satisfied with with Davis, Duffy and Dillon, in the numbered 450,000, Dissenters 900,000 and ; ary Jacobin democracy of the French and feared agrarian agitation against the that measure of freedom secured by the not of 50,000 stalwart Tipperary men, group which produced the "Nation." one another in the violence of their hatred "Nine-tenths or perhaps ninety-nine parts Catholics 3,150,000. ; Revolution. Most of the '98 and 1848 landlords. He was hostile to both Chart- Act of Catholic Emancipation of 1829, armed and equipped for a national in a hundred of what is called property is Prosecuted for his speeches in 1848, of the native Irish. Good livings, tithes leaders were Dissenters, including Hamil- ists and trade unions, and would have threw its enormous influence against those struggle, but a few hundred half-clad and a'quired by legalised plunder; and hence but the jury refused to convict. For The Catholics had been, in Tone's and solid domestic comfort, embellished wholly unarmed peasantry." ton Rowan, Samuel Neilson, Henry Joy been content with moderate political re- who wanted to fight militantly for Irish that eternal war of those who WANT against his part in the rising of 1848 together words, reduced "almost to the level of with good hunting and good drinking with Meagher and others, he received | McCracken and John Mitchel. It is re- form. He certainly had no intention of freedom. Connolly says of this period: those who HAVE and all the sanguinary beasts of the field" by the Penal Laws cf served for their material needs, and so far OO deep was Cardinal Cullen's antipathy a long term of transportation. markable that the first 11 committee mem- altering the basis of society, as Fintan "When the starving peasantry was called laws resorted to by the latter for their pro- 1692-1702. as spiritual matters were concerned, their ^ towards the Young Irelanders, that tection." His aristocratic prejudices were the bers of the United Irishmen were all Lalor advocated, or of completely break- upon to refuse to pay rent to idle land- Under these laws no Catholic could sit bigoted minds could see no further than when the body of Terence Bellew McManus true cause of the fiasco in Tipperary. Presbyterians. ing the connection with England, as Tone lords, and to rise in revolt against the in Parliament, go to a university or be- arid doctrinal controversies with the Dis- was brought back from America, he would O'Brien gave his men money, but re- TTOWEVER, this demopratic fervour did and Mitchel dreamed. system whiph was murdering them, the fused to permit them to requisition come a judge. Catholics could not vote, senters. Some of the most brutal joined not allow it to rest in a church in the "Those who have sprung from the "lower ' ' not last long; and when in 1828 the / VCONNELL was a devout Catholic, and clergy commanded them to pay their provisions from the houses of the gen- join the army, practise law or become the Orange Order (the first lodge was Dublin diocese. ranks" may boast as much as they like of worst restrictions on their religion were ^ in a way the spoiled darling of the rents, and instructed them that they try. He even refused to allow schoolmasters. They could not send their formed on September 21st, 1795) and took t To-day 99 per cent, of the Irish people their habits of industry as workmen and lifted and Belfast began to expand its bishops, but even he would not always should lose' their immortal souls if they ascribe their wealth to that industry, but all barricades to be built from trees until children abroad to be educated, nor could an active part with the yeoman-militia in would say that the United Irishmen and the owner has given permission that commerce, their revolutionary ardour brook clerical interference with politics. refused to do so." who know anything know well enough that they buy land nor inherit it from Protes- hunting down the hated "Croppies" of the Young Irelanders were right, and the they might be cut down for that pur- quickly cooled. "I will take my religion from Rome, but it is not as workmen they acquired it, but tants. They could not marry a Protestant Wexford and Co. Down. A M. SULLIVAN, the Catholic his- Protestant and Catholic prelates who con- pose. He was the "top-hatted revolu- Prom their economic degradation, we not my politics" was his retort when the as hirers of workmen." under pain of death. If they were manu- Hypocrisy is an odious vice, and those torian, who cannot be accused of demned them were wrong. History will, in tionary" par excellence, but had, in might expect the Catholics to be the most Pope, at the behest of the British Govern- the words of T. A. Jackson, "many facturers they could not have more than reverend gentlemen who preached "blessed anti - clerical bias, describing Smith the same way, vindicate those democrats uncompromising of the Irish people, and ment, urged the priests not to take part fine qualities" in ^hich those of a two apprentices ... if they were farmers are the poor" and were content to live in O'Brien's gallant but abortive revolt at in Eire who to-day advocate full political time and time again the Catholic peasan- in the movement for repeal. leader of revolt "were not included." they were not allowed to own a horse luxury at the expense of their wretched Ballingary, Co. Tipperary, in 1848, says: and economic freedom for Ireland against "What signifies it to us whether we are try rose in armed rebellion against their In later life he opposed the methods worth more than five pounds. fellow-countrymen, or could say "forgive Then came the Famine—overwhelming "As the people were gathering in their the conservative opinions of the hierarchy, rebbed by Whig or Tory, if in the end we Protestant- masters. Five times in 100 of the Fenians. thine enemies" and applaud the hanging and catastrophic for Ireland. thousands . . . the Catholic clergy appeared and will prove to the Six Counties the are robbed?" The practice of the Catholic religion years these starving, ragged battalions Davitt has pointed out that the most on the scene. They rushed amidst the mul- wisdom of Tone's aim: "To unite the whole took the field. appalling aspect of the Famine was not titude, imploring them to desist from such people of Ireland ... to substitute the But what the lay masses, driven desper- that one-third of the nation's population an enterprise . . . These exhortations, common name cf Irishman, in place of the ate with hunger and oppression practised died or emigrated within a few years, but poured forth with vehemence, almost in- denominations of Protestant, Catholic and conflicted with what the Church digna- that in 1846-48 only a handful of people describable, had a profound effect. The Dissenter." THE FRENCH ARE IN THE RAY tories preached. The bishops, while advo- cating Catholic emancipation and a few TN 1797 when Tone and the French were eager to tell the Commander-in-chief, petent leadership to deal with the many mild constitutional reforms, still preached problems of tactical and strategic impor- in Bantry Bay, Chief Secretary Father Murphy, how best to conduct the war, submission to the established social order, "to all of which this courageous simple man tance which daily arose?' Viscount Castiereagh suffered a severe and threatened eternal damnation to those shock when the news of mutinies crippling listened with delight." HE Wexford Army had an organisation FORTY-EIGHT IN ENGLAND , A T Duffrev Gate, before, Enniscorthy, who flirted with the tainted democratic the British fleet added to the fears of a T which in many respects resembled that and republican ideas of the French Revo- popular victory,. - ' British infantry, cavalry and artillery of the old clan system. Each Barony carried 1 O J Q classic "Year of Revolution" in It the ruling-class was thoroughly fright- Often the victim of political confusion, were drawn up in a strong position for the lution. "Atheistic Jacobinism" was the l O l' O ireiantj an(j Europe, was also ened by Chartism, it was not so much be- O'Connor lacked ability to plan ahead, and The dragooning of the suspected coun- its own flag. Thomas Cloney gave leader- defence of the town. On one side the river bogey then: "Bolshevism" had not yet a highly significant year in British history. cause of its actual programme, but because in the later forties his Utopian Land Plan ties was intensified: men were flogged to ship in the Insurrection because his tenantry protected the British flank and cn the other had turned out to the last man and he, in been invented. True, there was no revolution in Britain the "Charter" became the focus of all social, to settle workers on smallholdings /Worked death: the boiling pitch cap and the hang- political and industrial discontent, fusing flank houses gave the necessary protection. the best traditions of a chief, went with ANLY in Wexford did some patriot that year—the middle class had no need by spade-husbandrv, as a means of raising man were in constant use. The Insur- into the first powerful independent workers' wages by reducing the competition among The insurgents, eight thousand strong, with them. From the marshes of Shelmalieve priests, closer to the people than the to make one, and the workers lacked the rexion Act gave any scoundrel in a red seven hundred muskets and without artillery, movement in British history all the hatred those seekins work in the towns, dissipated came the men with long barrelled guns, bishops, rise with the United Irishmen. organised strength and political maturity felt for the inhuman New Poor Law, and ccat the power of life and death over the were committed to a frontal attack; however, keen marksmen who earned a livelihood by the energies of the moveqjent and distracted Here brave Father Murphy had his to launch a full-scale attack against the ruthless employers who preached the glories people. There was one tall legalised mur- supplying the Dublin market with wild fowl. its attention from the central issue—con- church burned about his ears by Protestant still-developing capitalist system. quest of political power by the workers. deier who disposed of captured croppies The absence of organised cavalry units in a country of sm^ll fields was no serious yeomanry, and then led a few hundred Driving force of the continental revolu- But whatever their political weaknesses, by hanging them across his own shoulder; pikemen in a desperate rising at Boula- tions of 1848 was the desire of the democratic men like O'Brien and O'Connor typified the his name was Hempsnstall, "who was By JOE MONKS deficiency. • CHARTISM • In the day when they were masters of vogue. middle-class to free themselves from the fet- traditional connection between English judge, jury, rope and all." ters of the old monarcho-aristccratic order reviewed by radical workers and Irish nationalists dating they succeeded in a daring stratagem. A their own movements, and when they moved Archbishop Trey distinguished himself nPHE National and Leinster directories were in strength, the nationalist food supplies and secure political power so that they could back to the 1790's, a connection that was to herd of young bullocks, stampeded forward in 1798 by describing those gallant priests make' the state serve their own interests. ALAN LEONARD become very close in 1848. J- betrayed and captured on March 12th upon the British line, acted as a moving were principally the meat and milk provided who took part in the rebellion as "vile pre- in the house of Oliver Bond, Bridge Street, by a herd of cattle which moved with them. Middle-class democrats were quite willing to Daniel O'Connell, skilfully holding back breastwork for the brave pikemen who went varicators and apostates frcm religion, accept the young working-class forces as Dublin. forward quickly, half concealed in a cloud But towards the end as small bands were the mass feeling he aroused, afraid of any- obliged to march fast and avoid pitched loyalty, honour and decorum, degrading allies in their struggle for power, but op- of abstinence, taught the theory that all thing revolutionary, had used his influence Lord Edward Fitzherbert, a member of the of dust. In the confusion the British line posed any attempt by the "lower orders" to first family in Norman-Irish nobility, a broke and the enemy took refuge In the battles, they subsisted mainly on raw wheat their sacred character, and the most profit was made in the last hour and forced to prevent such a link-up and ha3 prevented criminal and detestable of rebellious and carry -matters further in the direction of their workers to sign the "document" abjur- the spread of Chartism to Ireland, preferring trained and experienced officer, with all the houses. In the place of artillery the insur- picked from the fields. fuller democracy and embryonic socialism. needed qualities for national leadership, and gents used carts of burning hay which"'they Contrary to the advice of William Barker, seditious culprits." ing trade unionism. to work with the Whigs, despite the fact that Mr. Thomas Graham, the Wexford delegate, ran against houses occupied by Red-coats, in a veteran of the Walsh regiment on the con- But the Radicals betrayed their erstwhile In this setting, the influx of Irish emi- the Charter had included Repeal among its A NALYSING the reasons for the failure demands in 1842. missed arrest by virtue of the fact that they order to smoke or burn them out. But the tinent, who advised the storming of Ross, ^ of the 17S3 rebellion, Rosamund Jacob allies, leaving them still unrepresented and grants had a dual effect. The presence of a faced with the new task of winning the vote mass of cheap, unskilled labour tended to But after his death in 1847, the policy of were lafte for the meeting. appearance of an Irish Unit on Vinegar Hill the key to the Munster roads, on the 28th says in "The Ri.se of the United Irishmen," which overlooks the town was the signal for through their own efforts against the united depress wages even further, and the Irish co-operation with the Chartists advocated by Citizen Fitzgerald as he pleased to call Mav, the leaders voted for Wexford town, - . the rebels' deficiency of arms was himself, built up a new directory and the the Crown forces to fall back on Wexford and General Johnson was given an extra opposition of all the middle-class parties. were often subject to suspicion and hostility Thomas Davis, was applied by Mitchel, Lalor 22nd-23rd May was decided on as the night town and the insurgents, flushed with eight days to perfect his defences. largely due to the activities of the Catholic Launched in 1837, the movement for the on this count. and Duffy. Big meetings in England de- for the rising. victory,v established Vinegar Hill as Irish clergy who had spent the preceding "People's Charter" reached its height in But practical issues brought Irish and manded "Justice for Ireland," some being headquarters. Within a matter of hours. EVERTHELESS, on 5th June, thirteen months persuading people to give up their 1839-42, and flared up again ln 1848. British workers together ln the fight for the addressed by Irish orators such as T. F. But Reynolds, who had betrayed the direc- Meagher, while the Irish Confederation in tory, completed his foul employment and • Father Murphy was chief to twenty thousand N hours' fierce fighting for this stronghold MEMBERSHIP CARD arms to the British authorities." Universal manhood suffrage, vote by ballot, Charter. The Irish contributed their talent men. took place at the end of which both armies payment of M.P.s and abolition of the for political organisation, and their revolu- Dublin welcomed Chartist speakers. Chartist "Lcrd Edward" beloved of the people was of appeal association It is an historical fact, which no honest branches were formed in the main Irish surprised in R. Murphy's house in Thomas alike lav down from exhaustion and slept property qualification for candidates, annual tionary spirit—they were indeed true prolet- These developments in Wexford created a close by each other. Had Bagenal Harvey, Catholic historian can deny, that the hier- parliaments and equal electoral districts— arians with literally nothing to lose. Gener- towns: Confederate exiles ln Britain linked Street, on 19th May. He made a brave difficult problem for the British military their clubs to the Chartist association, and attempt to fight his way to the street and who had replaced Father Murphy as Com- to-day the famous Six Points of the Charter ally the Irish were to be found on the more authorities. The Regular Army units at the mander-in-chief, had a small tactical reservo —seem moderate enough, and have been radical wing of the movement, to which they Mltchel's "United Irishman" circulated escape, but was wounded and dragged to dagh, Father Roach proposed trying to come disposal of General Lake, were mainly con- to use at nightfall, he could have reaped a a disciplined body of Wicklow men. proposed substantially achieved without revolution, contributed several prominenf leaders. widely in .Chartist circles. Newgate prison to die. centrated In the vicinity of Dublin and in to terms for Lord Cornwallis was promising complete victory, for the gallant charges to manoeuvre his unit around the enemy granted by Conservative and Liberal Govern- O'Connor took over the leadership of the Ulster. The militia and yeomen units position. Had this been done, the plight of free pardons, so as to attract the waverers Ulsterman John Doherty had pioneered N the 23rd May throughout the country, led by Kelly from Killan and Thomas Cloney ments when they thought the workers docile militant trades unionism on a national basis Repeal agitation at Westminster, and the O men assembled but there were few scattered about the country made but poor had crumbled the defences. Cloney records Needham's men would have been discovered, awav from the struggle. Father Murphy, and sufficiently "educated" to be trusted not elements in any co-ordinated operation. his belief in victory unweakened, would hear just before the rise of Chartism. increasingly close link between Chartism leaders and no orders, so with only a few that with great difficulty he gathered six but this proposal was not acted upon. Had to "misuse" the concessions.. and Irish developments became a constant Close to Dublin insurgents' columns infested °f no compromise. Father Roache rode into James Bronterre O'Brien, the "Chartist local clashes having taken place, most of the men together to haul a cannon back out of Lord Edward or General Humbert been there Schoolmaster," an Irish lawyer who devoted source of worrv to the authorities. the Wicklow mountains; all over the land or had Father Murphy, Perry, Kyan and Wexford and was dragged to the scaffold im- But in 1848 the ruling classes were in no Insurgents returned to their homes. How- the town. mood to give way to renewed Chartist de- himself to writing and lecturing in the ser- Collection of petition signatures continued ever, on the 26th a cavalry unit led by Lieut. the people were restless and "the French those brave leaders who were there instituted mediately he reached the town. arc on the sea" \yas a live Idea demoralising The battles in Ulster, where McCracken mands. vice of radical British democracy, was the and tension mounted as the time for its pre- Bookey was overwhelmed by peasants, armed a high level command, then the British THE Wexford army fought its last pitched leading theorist of the movement. Making sentation drew near. The Press worked up the army of occupation. No wonder that led the Antrim men on 7th June, and Henry J First signs of Chartist revival came at the with pitch-forks at Camolen in County Wex- Munro led the Men of Down to the battle of force at Arklow would have been over- battle in North Wexford, on July 4th. General Election of 1847. when several some remarkable anticipations of modern the cry that the whole affair'was part of an ford. The peasants were led by their priest, Lake was afraid to move and left the initia- whelmed and a march on Dublin would have tive with the insurgents. Ballynahlnch on 14th June, were Important !t marched and counter-marched but dawn working-class candidates were "elected" at scientific socialism, he grasped the Idea of alien Irish plot to disrupt the British the Rev. John Murphy. Earlier he had inasmuch as thev tied down large -egular certainly prolonged the war until the French followed dawn and the French were not yet the hustings on a show of hands, and the class struggle, warned against Owenite Empire. advised his flock against revolution and had June 4th the commands of General nrmv units ard left the Wexford men still eventually came. in the bay. At Bnlly Ellis it met and wiped Feargus O'Connor was actually returned as utopianlsm and taught that social rhange A monster meeting was planned for April persuaded them to surrender their arms. " ' Loftus and Colonel Walpole were routed ho'dlng the initiative, but false alarms N the evening of the 9th June, the Wex- °ut the "ancient Britons." a notorious MP. for Nottingham, despite the limited could not be secured without the prior con- 10th on KcYinlngton Common, to be followed Thus they were defenceless when the by the Irish at Tuberneerlng. The victors erased the insurgents to let the situation O ford army drew away from Arklow, but cavalry formation which had long scourged electorate. Collection of signatures for the quest of political power. by a procession to Westminster, but the dragooning of Wexford started in real earn- th carried Goney town on the same dav and a slin when victory was within grasp. they were still masters of the situation and e countryside. It marched Into the third National Petition in the winter of Part of the tragedy of the Chartist failure police banned them under an old law of est with the 17th March proclamation. But position had been reached where a Wexford they still constituted a threat to the capital- counties of Kilkenny and Carlow; in small 1847-48. coincided with renewed trade de- 1661. now he proved to be the ablest of the-insur- Exactly the same thing happened at in 184B was the fact that O'Brien had out- expedition could freely link up with the Arklow on 9th June. The Insurgent artillery, In effect It made a present of the initia- bands it penetrated into the wheat fields by pression. One ln seven were on relief and lived his best period and had lost his place It looked as If the great trial of strength gent lenders, and became the living symbol the Boyne and one gallant band was finally Wicklow columns and approach Dublin by commanded by Esmond Kyan, completely tive to General Lake, who quickly concern ra- acute misery gave added bitterness to the as a top-rank leader, at a time when clear had come. 150.000 special coastables were of the will to reafct until the day he was lost the mountain routes. This did not take ted twenty thousand regulars into a move- overwhelmed In North County Dublin. It Chartist campaign. to the insurgents during the forcing of demoralised the forces of General Needham leadership was vitally needed. hurriedly enrolled; ah army larger than the place, but the Irish force which operated in by dlsinountipg a British cannon and play- ment to surround Vinegar Hill on 21st June. went down In a noble effort to stir up insur- Best-known, and best-loved Chartist leader British forces commanded by Wellington at Stallagh gap In July. \ Action around the capital. Chartism was essentially a "knife ind fork" North Wexford and attacked Arklow on 9th ing havoc with the lines of the "Durham However, many of his generals, including movement. Its main strength derived from was, of course, the flamboyant Feargus Waterloo was held reserve against emergen- Father Murphy's men regained their arms obliged Leke to remain on the defensive. Fencibles." Miles Byrne remarks that the General Sir John Moore, of Wolfe's poem, The "United Irishmen" movement was the "fustian Jackets, blistered hands and O'Connor, son of a United Irishman and cies. London was in a virtual state of war: and on the next, day they fought and won Wexford had fallen on the 1st June and a pilcerren who were left cheering the work who acted gencrouslv with the Insurgents, smothered In blood, vet it bred into the Irish unshorn chins" of the new northern indus- former Repealer MP. who split with O'Con- the Queen sought safety in the Isle of Wight the battle of Oulard Hill. great stretch of coastline was controlled by of their artillery would have been better cm- failed to keep to the time-table because small a love of liberty and a desire to be free, trial districts, who regarded the vote as a neil because he wanted more vigorous tactics and the Foreign Office barricaded itself with On the 18th May the victors of Oulard the Irish. Had the French only taken ad- ploved charging the Fenclbles, for then the Irish units hindered their progress, and mos which has endured through the dork days of means to improved conditions and a and then transferred his political attentions heavy bound volumes of "The Times." New crossed the river Slaftey at Scarawalch and vantage of it, a French landing on the Wex- Irish would have known that the British of the insurgents withdrew from Vlncfia amine and betrayal and won them a rflputa- thorough-going, albeit vaguely-conceived, to the North of England, where he founded anti-sedition laws were passed. were Joined by now contingents of "United ford coast in earlv June wouid have given were retreating, but there was no real com- III11 which had become untenable, beior Uon of being the foremost anti-lmpcriallsts social transformation In the interests of the the "Northern Star," greatest Chartist O'Connor and other leaders were faced the gap closed. At a council of war at faic - ln Irishmen," led by young leaders who were the Irish Army what it sadly lacked—a com- mander of operations. Matt Doyle, who led 'he wide world. property-less. Journal. (Continued on Page 10, Col. Two) -f- - June, 1948 8 RISH DEMOCRAT SUPPLEMENT June, 1948 IRISH DEMOCRAT SUPPLEMENT 9 THE l\l>ll\<» FLAME REMEMBER HIM WITH PRIDE By T. A. JACKSON ' yyHEREVER there is oppression. British (and Irish) Government the con- Tone and his friends Story of Theobald Wolfe Tone revolt is a sacred duty." Such cession of the vote to Catholics, and other that the two leading 'and indeed the rn the single exception of v. as the doctrine of the French Jaco- laige instalments of emancipation in 1793. N the journal in which Wolfe Tone And it was this in turn which brought a I describes his early experiences in only two) coach-builders in Dublin were w™ mes Connolly, Tone is be- • told by STELLA JACKSON bins, and such was the maxim of big influx of Catholics—landowners, mer- organising the Society of United Irish- Tone's father and his friendly rival, yond question the greatest of "the these who prepared for and led the chants. manufacturers, farmers, land- men—a journal written primarily for John Hutton. (The only alternative to faithful and the few," and shares don Corresponding Society, which was the Tone's advice, to land in the North, been liisi manifestation of native Irish workers, and town-labourers — into the the amusement of his wife and a few "Tone" was "John Hutton"). with Connolly the distinction of starting-point of English working-class taken, they might have succeeded; but intimates—Tone invents a number of having been a political genius as political organisation, but its specific pro- Republicanism — the rising of 1798, United ranks. playful nicknames for his chief col- CLERK OF PARISH they attempted a landing at Bantry Bry well as one of the heroic martyrs ot gramme included all the famous Five enc hundred and fifty years ago. The Society did more than agitate for laborators. His nickname for Tom Russell, viz. and were baulked by a violent offshore whom Ireland numbers, alas, only Points of the English Chartists, fifty years Who were these men who founded the Most of these are fairly obvious, as "P.P. Clerk of this Parish" arose from wind. The only outcome of this fame is Catholic emancipation. It proposed a pro- too long and tragic a list. before the rise of Chartism, Jrv-cietv of United Irishmen, which pre- gramme of reforms which—except that it for example the "pismisc" as a nick- a chance occasion in which Russell, re- attempt was that toughly simple ballad, pared for this rising? name for T. A. Emnret. (In England, cruiting for the United Irishmen, spoke The United Irishmen's programme was the Shan Van Vocht, and a bitter harden- did not include vote by ballot—anticipated Separated from Connolly by a a As was to be expected in the case of a an "emmet" is an ant, a vernacular at length on what was virtually a "His- largely inspired by Tom Paine's "The ing in Tone's confident gaiety. They tri d all the demands of the English Chartists tory of my own Time." This reminds full hundred years and unable, national uprising against a national op- name for which is a "pismisc"). Whit- Rights of man," probably the most sensa- again the following year; this time an on- 50 years later'. If this programme had ley Stokes who was the librarian of Tone, firstly of Bishop Burnet's book of naturally, to profit as Connolly did pression, they were drawn from all walks by the enormous advances in poli- tional political pamphlet ever written, and shore wind prevented their setting sail been carried out the power of the Govern- Trinity College, becomes the "Keeper that title, then of Swift's parody of except for the Communist Manifesto the oi life, and all social strata. Burnet which is ascribed to "P.P., tics and understanding of society from Holland. They were ready to try ment office-holders, placemen and pension- of the College Lions" or for short the most influential. L'awyers, doctors and intellectuals pre- ers would have been destroyed along with "Keeper." Clerk of this Parish." Accordingly Tom made during that hundred years, yet again, when Hoche died suddenly (of ponderated perhaps at first, but they had Russell becomes, P.P. Tone yet resembles Connolly closely Now, Paine was an Englishman: and poison, it was rumoured), and Tone had to that of the borough-mongering land- GOG AND MAGOG here we come to a weakness ol Tone's. He affinities with the substantial merchant owners who largely controlled the Govern- John Keogli, as chairman, and Wil- William McCabe, a Belfast shop- in many ways, and most notably in begin his pleadings all over again, this classes and the merchant-manufacturers liam McCormack, as vice-chairman of keeper, during the Grattanite agitation his statement of the means by identified the English people with the class time with Bonaparte. Tone convinced ment. Political power and representation for Free Trade, wrote some spirited let- that ruled Ireland, and failed to see the who were also prominent in their ranks. in Parliament would have shifted over to the Catholic Committee, were so ob- which his purpose of freeing Ireland him—as he thought. In 1798 all was viously the "giants" of the movement ters to the Pr ess to which he appended was to be reached: ready for the third attempt. The couriers Seme aristocrats were among them, of tiro general mass of the population—to the signature "An Irish Slave." He that they take naturally the names of of the United Irishmen came and went whom the best known was Lord Edward those, that is to say who had the least the twin-giants who had been for cen- accordingly remains for Tone the 'Irish "... to unite the whole people with messages to and from Tone. Bona- Fitzgerald younger bfother of the Duke of reasons for preserving and the greatest turies the mascots of the City of Lon- Slave'—and that all the more so be- of Ireland and substitute the com- We drink the memory of the Leinster, the head of the premier family reasons for ending that "connection with don, viz., Gog and Magog respectively. cause anything less slavish than Mc- dead. parte's preparation of the army for Eng- Cabe's fearless militancy could not mon name of IRISHMAN in place land were well-known; all Europe waited ol the Norman-Irish aristocracy. England" in which Wolfe Tone found the Tone refers to himself as "John Hut- of the denominations of Catholic, The faithful and the few- ton"—a family joke turning on the fac< easily be imagined. his next move; tile British Government These naturally figure more conspicu- "fruitful source of all our evils." Protestant and Dissenter"; and in his Some lie far oil beyond the ously in the United Irishmen's public oc- of course knew all about Tone's activities The Society did not during its legal confidence in the common people as the wave, casions. especially in its first period, when period avow itself openly separatist. But in France, and Nelson was lurking off the had divided the Irish people all the greater They had to face the charge of being agents of change: "If the men of pro- Some sleep in Ireland too. western coast of France to intercept the it was a legal society agitating openly for it was tacitly understood and generally perty will not support us they must fall. a reform in Parliamentary representation. significance. not merely "democrats" Poetry Ireland may not be on sale in who suggests there is not a great deal of Marx's Cal'THlE clearining o f th186e estates o7f Irelan d is publication Peadar O'Donnell says "The Britain there is nothing at all to prevent ment was not idle. During March forces' ~1\7"HAT the English do not yet know is the new Ireland, new in its freedom, thought, cheap literature going into, or pouting were poured into the country to the num- VV that siijce 1846 the economic content now the one idea of English rule in and advancement but still like all old civilisa- Government of the U.S.A., securing its interested persons subscribing diiectlv to out of, the country, and what theie is the Editors. ber of 150.000. Ten thousand troops were and therefore also the political aim of Ireland. The stupid English Government tions, ancient in its primitive emotions," credits to the exhausted nations of Wes- doesn't do any harm. But while giving a Is it worth while keeping any cultural stationed in Dublin alone. There were fre- English domination in Ireland have en- in London itself knows nothing of course .-ays the blurb on the wrapper. tern Europe, issues trade directives to the loud Bali! to the Minister I would appeal effort alive that cannot exist on the sup- to the public, at any rate to that section of quent displays of force in its streets to tered into an entirely new phase; and that of this immense change from 1846. Bu "Do ye tell me, so!" says a quiet voice in countries indebted to it. It is out of such he reviewer's mind. a directive that the British Board of port of the reading public within Ireland? it over here which reads the "Irish D mo- intimidate the citizens. The navy precisely because of this. Fenianism is the Irish know it. Prom Meagher's pro- But the British Board of Trad? restric- I remember cycling to Galway one summer Trade restrictions of the importation of crat." and say; Is this what you war,-.? If patrolled the coasts and floating bat- characterised by a socialistic tendency (in clamation (1848) down to election mani- tions apply also to Northern Ireland. so, it is not only "The Bell" and ' Irish on the strength of H. V. Morton's descrip- Irish books into that country (Britain) teries were stationed at strategic points. a negative sense, directed against the ap- festo of Hennessy (Tory Urquartitie tions of the Claddagh Ring when eventually • by * Writing" which will be effected, but ulti- proceeds." / \TIIER more insidious methods were propriation of the soil) and by the fact 1866, the Irish have expressed their con I arrived 011 a gray afternoon there was the mately the "Irish Democrat" and all pro- gressive papers. used. Detectives were sent as "agents that it is a lower orders' movement. What sciousness of it in the clearest and mos-. famous Claddagh before me. a collection of These restrictions apply not only to Irish dirty vermin-ridden hovels nestling in a huge EWART MILNE provocateurs" among the many branches can be more ridiculous than to confuse the forcible manner. . . . publications but also to those of New Zea- The reading public will get more and barbarities of Elizabeth or Cromwell, who [ N my opinion we must make the repeai cluster of puddles — and, the things I land and Australia. I do not know whether hairier Miss Blandishes all right, but tn°re of the confederation, where they advocated whispered about H. V. Morton and the paul- * * * wanted to supplant the Irish by English ' of tho Union (in short the affair of 17S.S any official protests by the Governments will be increasing empty spaces in the treason and riot. Placards were erected henry poets "110 mortal man should know." of the two Dominions concerned have been "Irish Writing" publishes stories and warning against the atrocious designs of colonists (in the Roman sense), with the only democratised and adapted to the con poems by such writers and poets as John bookshops where "culture" was used to re- Macken, however, is no sentimentalist in made to Whitehall, but I think they might side. "Communists" and "Jacobins" whose only present system, which wants to supplant ditions of the time) into an article of their that sense. Indignation, undisciplined but be. And only official protests stand the Boyd, John Hewitt, and other well-known object was plunder. They were designed to them by sheep, oxen and pigs. pronunciamento. . . . nevertheless fierce, continues to impart a North of Ireland men, but it is not on sale There is one final point. The American smallest chance of success. But would the in Belfast or Derry. frighten the wits out of the urban middle •rpHE system of 1801-46, with its rack- What the Irish need is: lather naive propaganda-ish quality to much Eire Government take up the cudgels on loan is used up, and one would therefore Again I insist the problem is part of a imagine that the notorious Clause 9 was class, both within and without the con- J- rents and middlemen, collapsed in 1. Self-government and independent- of his dialogue. behalf of its editors, writers and artists? wider problem. It is part of the problem no longer operative. Yet the restrictions federation, where it was hoped they would 1846. (During this period evictions were from England. Suddenly the reader is jerked back into Does the Eire Government care two of a whole conception of society which pro- the unhappy reality that he is being famous hoots if Irish cultural magazines remain. Are they to remain during the create suspicion between the bourgeois exceptional and confined mainly to ^ein- 2. An agrarian revolution. With t'.tr duces literature, as other commodities for run cf Marshall aid? It is bad enough ster, where the land is specially good for best will in the world the English can preached at. This is perhaps forgiveable in close down, while, at the same time, the profit rather than for use. The editors of leadership and the working-class member- a country where so many writers ignore or that the U.S. should be getting an increas- cattle raising.) The repeal of the Corn Irish market is flooded with cheap Ameri- cultural magazines wish to give the pub- ship. not accomplish this for them, but the-, pretend not to see the poverty and ignorance can and British books? ing stranglehold on all European economy Laws, partly the result of or at any rate can give them the legal means of accom- lic work of a high standard by artists and and even cultural activities; but when IN ALLY, on May 12th, the Govern- that Macken lashes against. When the The more the restrictions of the British genuine craftsmen, but they cannot do so, ment took the inevitable step. They •hastened by the famine, deprived Ireland plishing it for themselves. author forgets consciously to present a case Board of Trade are considered, the wider Ministers—British or Irish—take to bland- or continue to do so, when "Trade direc- ly assuring us that the noose round out- arrested and Tried John Mitchel for the of its monopoly of England's corn supply 3. Protective tariffs against England. and writes of Galway and its people, he says become the implications. The problem can tives" are issued. Such trade directives the same things a thousand times more necks is really a most attractive Ameri- newly-invented crime of "treason-felony." in normal times. Wool and meat became Between 1783 and 1801 every branch of be stated in one sentence—namely: .is the are not concerned in the least with cul- the slogan, hence the conversion of tillage effectively. cultural life of small countries to con- ture, with the presentation of National life, can necktie then we can truly say that Irish industry began to flourish. The such Ministers don't feel what we feel, and into pasture. Union which overthrew the protective Particularly irritating is a certain guide- tinue under the increasing competition of but solely with the sale of bales of paper! The Crisis book tone which crops up from time to time a monopolistic capitalist society? wood', and the like. ask ourselves whether it is not about time ENCE from then onward the sys- tariffs established by the Irish Parlia- they were replaced, for otherwise the fFHE trial of Mitchel was the crisis of the —"but it never seemed to happen that way. In part the answer has been made clear But does capitalist society offer nothing tematic consolidation of farms. The ment, destroyed all industrial life in Ire- The sale of a cow could never be conducted "American necktie" will surely choke us to Young Ireland Movement. A convic- H to us. "The Bell" suspends publication, to the public? Certainly it does. It offers JOHN MITCHEL Encumbered Estates Act, which turned a land. . . Once the Irish are independent without the most extravagant histrionics." but the flood of cheap and trashy Ameri- death. tion was certain as the jury was well mass of previously enriched middlemen necessity will turn them into protec- Extravagant histrionics! forces had dwindled to some few hundred can and British books continually grow. packed. The rank and file of the con- into landlords, hastened the process. tionists. The above remarks are applicable to the There is a danger that "Irish Writing" and federation were eager to attempt a rescue men, beseiged the police. The police flaws, in what otherwise is an extremely "Poetry Ireland," which, apart from "The and thereby to precipitate the revolution. opened fire, killing some of the peasants. well-written book. The author has not a lot Dublin Magazine" will shortly follow "The YOU CAN STILL OBTAIN The confederate leaders decided against The peasant force dispersed and O'Brien which is very new or strange to say but he Bell," unless they can obtain a consider- Irish Writing:, Poetry Ireland the move. They fought hard against the took to flight. He was finally arrested, and says it extremely well and some of his des- able increase in sales by private subscrip- rising spirit of revolt among the ranks. like most of the other leaders received a Grand Fighters but bad criptive passages hold bright hopes for the tion over here in England. T)UT THEY CANNOT BE BOUGHT ON BOOKSTALLS. It is necessary future. A.D. They even tried to get Mitchel to sign an long sentence of deportation. "Irish Writing" is a quarterly miscellany to take out a subscription. This cajn be done either by sending 6/6UT the psychological moment had tion, have already shown the way by hold- English literature. fhairrge cheart ata innti. Lionann agus the principal speaker at this gathering was Army represented the part played by the technical excellence of "The Russian traghann an taoide ann, agus an ait i gCo. an dtragha le na fatal agus eile do leasu duinn. passed. As there was little chance of ing a series of street corner meetings in Question" one expected better. James Larkin, T.D. Other speakers were Irish workers in the struggle for Irish Paddington, Hammersmith, Kilburn, Cam- TTNFORTUNATELY this was to a large Chlair is» giorra duin ar an dtaoibh eile de'n Rith se le m'aigne og uair gur bh'i an fhairrge success on the basis of the conception of mo mhathair altroma. Nach ar bhrollach revolution accepted by the majority of the Roddy Connolly and Mr. J. McGougan, of national and social freedom. den Town and Tottenham at which collec- ^ extent lost by the interpretation of Carmen Hjjl, and the characterisation, na fairrge do togadh me, agus nach i do confederation, it is probably a good thing the Belfast T.U.C. Mr. Wally Carpenter tions of 10/- and 12/- have been made. bheireadh biadh agus beatha dam? Ba lei presided. YOUTH CONTINGENT though extremely able, was of a practical that a rescue was hot attempted. In suc- If every seller of our paper would col- northern housewife-manager steering her me, agus baNiom I. Mac de cloinn na fairrge ceeding weeks there was an inevitable re- The C.I.U. procession marched to Ar- One of the most noteworthy features of lect 10/- a month for our Fund then our way through trial and tribulation, not r,o Imitation Hollywood a bhi ionnam! action of despair. The only potential bour Hill wh»e a ceremony in honour of this year's parade was the large con- financial troubles would be over. If every much by drawing on reserves of spiritual Is deacair ailneacht na duthaige seo cois leader had gone. From now on there was James Connolly was performed, including tingent estimated variously from 50 to 100 reader of our paper would send half-a- strength, as on sound plantation-stock T seems such a tremendous pity that the doesn't care particularly what happens to fairrge do sharu, dar liom. Ce is moite d'aon people in control of British film industry a falling-away of support in the towns. volleys fired over his grave and wreaths which marched behind the banner of the crown through the post, then we could common-sense, and in losing some of the I any of them. One knows anyhow.' Its been ard-chnoc amhain ta an talamh reidh—acht laid. _ Socialist Youth Movement of Ireland. This essential greatness of the characterisation of have now decided to accept the American done so often before and been done so much ta sleibhte i gcein uainn ar gach taoibh, agus launch a political campaign which would formula for entertainment for the masses. FASCIST LEAFLET is the first time for many years that the the mother, the play inevitably suffered. better. Mind you Gainsborpugh Studios d'a bhrigh sin saidhtear bun na speire siar astonish Ireland. It means that the exciting possibilities that would probably slaughter the finest script. The Aftermath A prelude to the whole proceedings came youth have received recognition in this "Your boul" man, Joxer, was a brilliant uainn thar fhainne na sleibhte.' Mar sin ta May we appeal once more to ALL those seemed to be opening up for the industry The film's greatest failing though is its com- leargus ag duine ar aiteanna ata triocha mile irpHE Confederate Council decided to in the form of a leaflet Issued to workers way, and the faces of old Trade Unionists study, rather over-broadened, perhaps even during the war, when it was reproducing who think the "Irish Democrat" is doing bordering on the music-hall, but a Joxer plete lack of' atmosphere. There is no sense slighe uaidh, agus rud ata nios tabhachtaighe carry on with the preparations for a coming out of mass that morning. One and Labour supporters as the head and a good job to send something, no matter films in a world class, whioh could compete of urgency, no tension, no suspense, no sur- na san, ta airde d'a reir sa speir as a chionn. that never came out of the Dublin slums. with the best in any country because, chiefly, general rising in the autumn when the half of the leaflet attacked the principles tail of the procession passed each other at how small, to our Fund this month. Con- The wit, shrewdness and malice savoured prise and there is no feeling of the vast Ar an adhbhar san chidhtear do dhuine go they were essentially British and remained snowy dangerous wastes. It might just as crops were in. The partial disillusionment of Connolly, the other half whilst laying a turn, lighted up with pleasure as they tributions should be sent to the "Irish more of the village pump than the back- bhfuil a leath de'n speir os a chionn agus an remembered the great youth parades of true to the best tradition, have now come well have been made in a studio with painted leath dhireach eile fe'n domhan. Da mbeirti of the townsfolk led them to change the claim to his soul called for a "witch hunt" Democrat," 374 Gray's Inn Road, London, streets. to an end. years ago. backcloths. Stars are Phyllis Calvert, Mar- Copernicus no Galileo i n-Ath-Inis ni rith- direction of their policy. Some attempt against those trade unionists still in- W.C.I. N the positive side, William Leighton got Grahame, James Donald, Francis L. spired by the teachings of the great man Instead it is trying to compete with the feadh se choiche lc n-a aigne .narbh' e an was now made to prepare the peasantry. "There is no doubt," said one official, Our most sincere thanks to: T. Cuddy, O gave a very Arm interpretation of Sullivan. Raymond Huntley, David Tomlin- domhan corp-lar na Cruinne! Duine ata 'na A War Council of five was elected, and its and who continue to fight for his ideals. "the- youth have come to stay." Captain Boyle, perhaps a shade too vigorous Americans or rather with Hollywood, Douglas Hyde, Katharine Tynan, should apply to the Hon. Secretary, 0 the rest of it. Stars; Patricia Roc, Nino Ciarrulgheach Itom! _ At Balllngarry, a large force of armed the price of this Supplement the "Irish Democrat"; Mr. Eoin O'Mahony. Martini, Stanley Holloway, Bonar Colleano. potted appeared upon the scene and took dead. Mitchel's arrest kindled renewed ex- Justin Huntly McCarthy, Alfred Perceval Doughty Street, W.C.I. citement. and many protest meetings were of the Anti-Partition League. Many of iVl» a Anaun shelter in Widow MacCormack's house out- staged, leading to further clashes with the those present had come considerable dis- jfijde ,.vUlage. Smith O'Brien, whose police and arrest* for sedition of sev«<»| THREEPENCE p,c 1 - TT ^ - - • • • • tances at short notice. '

1 12 THE IRISH DEMOCRAT June, 1948 IRISH AMERICANS FOR WALLACF E IRISH-AMERICANS HAVE BEEN CALLED UPON MANY TIMES TO SERVE PROCLAMATION W OUR COUNTRY, AND TO-DAY ONCE AGAIN IN A CRITICAL TIME WE ARE AMONG THE FIRST TO ANSWER THE CALL. of the provisional All the institutions and freedoms for which we have fought over the centuries an National being threatened. The politicians of both old parties have become American Castlehacks; the} IRISH-AMERICAN have sold out the people to the bankers and the monopolists. For the sake of their dividends and profits, they are building up a war hysteria and COMMITTEE FOR threatening to take our young men back to the army with new selective service and universal WALLACE AND military training legislation. We stand with all peace-loving Americans, including leading churchmen like Cardinal PEACE Dougherty of Philadelphia and student organisations like the National Federation of Catholic College Students, in opposing this attempt to militarise our country. WE Irish are jbuilders. We helped mon man, we are with Henry A. Wallace people's march in the tradition of Kevin New York City build the' bridges, railroads, in iiis demands for housing, for a return Barry, Willy Pierce and Colin Kelly. We canals and churches of this country. to price contrc'" and fcr peace and secur- call upon all Irish-Americans throughout ity in old age. Councillor Agrees God forgive us if we should let the the land to form Irish-Amencan Conunit- We call upon Irish-Americans all over tees for Wallace and for Peace. We will re- politicians and generals now running "EUGENE CONNOLLY, well-known the nation to join with us in rallying be- mind the naticn that it was the lr?sli whj our country lead us into another war and popular New York City Coun- hind Henry A. Wallace. We call upon Irish built Jefferson's new party, the Irish WHO and another Dark Ages. The Irish cillor, signed a statement saying that trade unionists to unite behind Wallace to built Lincoln's new party. We will !>e if Mr. Henry Wallace were elected helped save the culture of the world fight for peace. We call upon Irish young among the leaders in buiiding Wallace's president " the atmosphere would once and we will help save it again folk to stand irp and -be counted in the New Party of the People! soon change and we would immedi- now by supporting Henry Wallace, ately have peace and international the candidate for peace. comprehension." We Irish are a brave people when it Message to Committee The statement continued that the Ameri- comes to fighting for independence and can people wanted peace but President freedom. In Ireland our people are still rpO-DAY the leaders of both old parties, were organised and the right to strike was Truman was heading his policy towards war fighting agafhst partition, divided one J- concerned for the profits of our mono- won. under the guise of peace. Referring to the from another. Here in Amerca the Irsh polists, are seeking to drag our country Who more than the Irish-Americans Marshall Plan, the statement said most made up the largest contingent in Wash- into war. I know that Ir'.sh-American can be expected to fight back against the Americans were more interested in the eco- mothers, like other American mothers, present loyalty oaths and witch hunts nomic difficulties and crisis which ington's army; the Irish provided some of threatened the Uuited States and which the the best soldiers in the Civil War. It was don't want their sons going off to war to and threats of dismissal against civil Marshall plan would not solve. in great part the Irish who struggled U> fight for bigger dividends. service employees, film writers and pro- build the trade unions—A.F. of L., C.I.O. We can look to the Irish-Americans, fessors daring to oppose the dangerous and the railroad brotherhoods. And we, with their gtorious traditions of valiant policies of the bi-partisan administra- who have fought so long and so hard for struggle for freedom and independence, tion? Inter-Party independence and freedom in Ireland and to be in the front ranks of the fight for In their history are men like William here, are determined to keep what we h^ve peace. Prendergast, who led the revolt of the won and strengthen our democracy for our In the light of their history both in this New York farmers against the big land- Campaign in children. country and in the country of their origin, lords before the revolution, and fiery John Good trade union men that we are, we Irish-Americans will not be fooled by the Sullivan, called the Father of the Revolu- Czechoslovakia stand behind Henry A. Wallace in fighting fancy words of our bi-partisan leaders. For tionary War, and that great people's pre- the Taft-Hartley strikebreaking legislation centuries the Irish have battled against sident, Andrew Jackson, and the thous- Events in Czechoslovakia nave shown of the two old parties. British exploitation, and the fact that the ands of Irish-American fighters who how the superficial barriers of party poli- misnamed European Recovery Programme formed the core of the armies of the Revo- tics can be broken down when the funda- Lovers of liberty and fighters for free- lutionary and Civil wars. dom that we are, we stand behind Henry will result in a sell-out of Ireland's eco- mental interests of all working people are The American people do not want war; A. Wallace m battling against loyalty nomy to British and American industrial- at stake. The regenerated National Front they are sick of war hysteria; they op- oaths, witchhunts and intimidation of ists should come as no surprise to them. is more than a renewed agreement between pose selective service and military train- people who don't go along with the pre- The Irish-Americans who marched up the different political parties to work to- ing. They want housing, price controls, sent war mongering, profit-mad policy of Fifth Avenue this past St. Patrick's Day gether; it is a return to real unity, to the continuing prosperity and international the two old parties. We remember the with banners calling for an end to parti- pursuit of common aims of social reform goodwill. They want a return to the Know Nothing movement, the days of "no tion, demand that our government express and economic prosperity. Franklin 0. Roosevelt tradition! Irish need apply," the days when we were itself sharply and clearly in favour of the To-day we are developing a great cru- The political programme of the new called "Shanty Irish"; we remember the unity of Ireland and an end to the cen- sade to return this country to the people. Gottwald government consists not so much smear campaign against A1 Smith. To-day turies-old suffering of the Irish people. Fundamentally, the Irish are fighters, and of points on which all parties can agree, we will fight any smear campaign against When it comes to the Taft-Hartleyism when it comes down to a real battle the but of vital proposals with which no re- Henry A. Wallace, who seeks to bring this of the two old parties, Irish-Americans will Irish are always right there. I am sure sponsible politician or private citizen could country back to the traditions that Irish- recall that it was in great part through we can count on them in Gideon's army! agree. Questions of social security, edu- Americans have fought so hard to build. cation, fusing, land reform—all to be the hard fighting of their fathers and solved in the interests of the people rather In our tradition of fighting for the com- grandfathers that our great trade unions HENRY A. WALLACE than in the interests of a minority ruling class. Free and Democratic Dublin Letter Groups in many In these circumstances it was not easy to see what lines an election campaign by in- CIRST indication of a consciousness among the working-class that the dividual Parties could talce, for counter- • 'inter-party' Government does not make the defence of living standards U.S. Cities proposals could only be put forward by a unnecessary but on the contrary is by its policy making life more difficult, Party with a clearly expressed anti-Social I T is already announced that groups of and reactionary policy. Such a Party would comes from Dublin in a message from 'Irish Democrat* correspondent, Irish-Americans for Wallace have beea be doomed to failure from the beginning. PAUL O'HIGGINS, who writes:— set up in Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, The proposal, first put forward by the Trade During the first week-end in May, Dun- Philadelphia, New Orleans, New Haven, Union leader, Zapotocky, for a single list of LITTLE COMMENT lin experienced its first serious strike since The new Budget caused little comment Rochester, Albany, Buffalo and Schenec- National Front candidates, was accepted by tady. James Gavin, patrolman of the all Parties as the logical outcome of the the General Election. Gas workers struck in Labour circles. The rank-and-file are situation; energies needed for work will not in support of their claim for a 48-hour still too bewildered by the coalit.on. Mr. CIO National Maritime Union was elected be dissipated in political rivalries, while week. At present the men work on a rota- McGilligan has made economies to th provisional chairman. Other provisional voters who do not like the idea of the tional system of one week of 48 hours and total of £6,646,000—at the expense of the officers are Mary Murphy, attorney, who National Front candidates will be able to two weeks of 56 hours each. After a two- following: is on the staff of Local 65 of the CIO express their disapproval by a blank voting Warehouse Workers; Grace Keefe, author, day strike the men returned to work pend- Agricultural and food subsidies, de- paper. It is open to any political Party, too, community and women's director; Frank ing negotiations. fence, widows and orphans, education, to set up in opposition to the National Front McMahcn, formerly of Fordham Univer- and offer a list of candidates based on that turf, mineral development. Despite the domestic inconvenience sity, youth and veterans' director; Paedar opposition—the elections will be free a fid This sweeping attack on the living caused by the strike, public opinion fa- Nunan, of the School teachers' Union, fund democratic. -- standards of the people and suspension of voured the gas workers' claim. raiser; Seamos Dempsey, former IRA many spheres of employment for young member, treasurer; Ray Condon, pamph- Fusion The workers in the "bakery industry people at home. Is in flagrant contradic- lets, and Kelvin Mullen, publicity. Needless to say, the energetic campaigning threatened strike action on Friday, May tion with Labour's policy. New it is be- of the Communist Party to win new members 14th unless their demands of wage in- ing said that further cuts, this time in Among those at the organisational meet- will continue—but with the difference that, creases to meet the cost of living were social services, are to be expected. ing were eight former Irish Republican after the elections, the two working-class granted. The employers stated they could Army men, Gerald O'Reilly, president of Parties, the Communists and Social Demo- not grant wage increases without a rise BUDGET PIPE-DREAMS the Connolly Commemoration Committee, crats will form a united workers' Party. In in the price of bread. That this is some- The Budget has made many of the de- and James Durkin, international presi- this, political developments in Czechoslovakia what doubtful can be seen from the re- clarations by Mr. Norton, the Minister for dent of the CIO United Office and Profes- are following the line already taken in ports of profits shown by Dublin millers Social Security look silly. Recently he sional Wooers of America. Poland and Rumania, and to be followed, outlined a broad scheme of soeial security too, in Hungary. and bakers. to the annual meeting of the Irish Reconstruction Women Worker*' Union, expressing the PROTEST AGAINST GREEK hope that ii^ would be possible to have The main task before the new united Party marriage dowries provided for young EXECUTIONS after the elections, will be the speeding up DESMOND GREAVES girls, on a contributory basis; the State At a meeting of the West London branch of- economic reconstruction. The Czecho- employers and workers contributing of the. Connolly .Association, it resolved that: slovak Two Year Plan, to be bcmpleted by speaks at "We demand that the foreign secretary of December 31st, 1948, Is going to be com- Jointly. As a contribution to the problems this country make a strong protest to ihc pleted earlier—by the national holiday, the Boll Ring, Birmingham of how to lower the marriage age and in- Greek Government, oondemnlng the execu- anniversary of the founding of the first crease the birth-rate in Ireland this can- tions of Greek Democrats. CseehMkjrak Republic thirty years ago, Sunday, 13 June, 4.30 p.m. not be taken seriously, when at the same "We deplore the fact that the British October 28th, IMS. This Is no Idle boast, nor time Mr. McGilligan and Mr. Dillon are Government has not taken any humanitar- Is it * ease of the authorities putting a doing their best to lessen the opportuni- ian action before now." heavier task on the workers; in every factory RELEASE THE ties for employment at home, and thus art* bustaeS* the workers are drawing up a •Printed by Rlplev Printing Society Ltd. "Vountarplan" of increased production— drive the population across the channel (T.U.), Ripley, Derbys., and published by Ulrfl MmWt to the Government plan, going PRISONERS ! as soon as It reaches the age when it is a saleable commodity in Britain. the Editor, 374 Orays Inn Road, London. beyond It is a speedier return of better time*. W.C.I.