ARCHB'SHOP O'SHRA'S SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 261, 23 July 1918, Page 6

ARCHB'SHOP O'SHRA'S SPEECH

Sir,—"Titus OatesV reference to the "Black" North roads like a joke when we bear in mind the Casement affair and the recent Dublin Revolution. _ If Germany was persuaded that Ireland was oti the verge of a revolution it was the "noor" Son f hs Hint did the persunding nrd also endeavoured to bring about the civil war. The "Black" North is perfectly satisfied with the liberty and freedom of the good old Britisli flag—not so full and free. 1 Kraut, as that accorded to the White (?) Soutli.-T am etc., CiUllfo FAWKES.

Sir,—"Guido EawkcsV strictures reilHlerncv in Catholic countries 'which he quaintly refers lo ;>s the lio•n,in Church's "own countries," heedless •if the circumstance that the-.- are in nearly every case ruled by Governments ■iclivelv hostile to that. Church* are old ■■iid worn-out properties in the "no I'opery" pantomime and a poor compliment, to our knowledge of the world. In Franco and Italy the Church has long lost control of popular education, yet illiteracy is none the less prevalent.

The simple fuel of the matter is that it is duo to causes other than religion, lii Southern Europe the people live mostly in country districts, and are widely oe»»lered, instead of being conveniently overcrowded into cities unci dense industrial areas a hindrance lo education for a start. Again, their work is mostly in the open air, in vinevard, garden, and field, and they begin at a very early age. How can they regard bonk-lci>rn-ing as other than unnecessary drudgery? Their temperament is and their climate disposes them, to ease, and inactivity. A country which, however, completely refutes "Guido Faivkes's" statement that "the darkness of Great Britain is brilliant sunshine compared, wifh Iloman Catholic countries" is little Belgium, the most Catholic nation on earth; and, also (and consequently) the happiest, wealthiest, and. most prosperous—until 1914, when, alast destroyed by the most Protestant nation! Let "Guido Fawkes" search for illiteracy in Belgium before he again, stigmatises the mother of learning and of w-ieine as indifferent to education. The .£100,000,000 which "Guido Fawkes" bewails as having been paid by England under the land purchase scheino to help Irishmen buy back the land which had been previously taken from them still falls short of the i'MO.MO.OOI) which is estimated to have been screwed, out of Ireland in unjustifiable over-taxa-tion during the Inst one hundred years. As regards Ireland's exemption from conscription, I sympathise with "Guido Fawkcs's" bitteiness at the loss to the, ' Empire of the assistance of the finest fighters.in tho world; but does not the v.'liolo sad story of our treatment of a brave and intelligent ]>eople make it impossible for us to expect Hint their point; of view will coincide with ours? "Guido Fawkoo's" brilliant parting shot suggests reasons why "pressure was brought to bear upon tho Government to cease publishing the religions of criminals." Well, I presume "Guido Fawkes" refers to the Government'* decision to cense publishing statistics of the religions of "arresled persons," which is a totally different thing.—l am, el it \ TITUS OATES. TNo good purpose can be served by continuing tins controversy on the lines on wjiich V is now proceeding.!