CALL TO ARMS IN IRELAND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 286, 22 August 1918, Page 5

CALL TO ARMS IN IRELAND

AN APPEAL TO MEN TO-VOLUN-TEER. The following appeal to Irishmen to. enlist voluntarily, was issued recently by the Irish Recruiting Council on liolialf of the Irish Government. It is signed by Mr. A. M. Sullivan, Sir Maurice Dockrell, Mr. H. ll'Laughlin, and Captain Stephen Gwynn, M.P.;— "Fellow-countrymen,—At ! tho request Of His Excellency, we four. Irishmen Jiave undertaken to organise a campaign of voluntary enlistment, to be carried on by our own people by their own methods, and in their own way. Wo are quite conscious of the difficulties that beset our path, nevertheless we believe that Bve shall receive the' willing support of all, even those who are'suffering under mismanagement and* disappointed hope, for all must realise that the first.necessity for tho peaceful settlement of our .country's troubles must be the defeat of the traducer of honour and of our common Christianity. . "Tho very darkness that broods upon our country urges each man of courage and true heart to seek some enterprise •where forgctfuiness of sorrow may be found in 'honourable duty bravely done. 'Hie steps are few that Ireland need retrace to find again the path on whioh two short years ago our sons and brothers marched shoulder to shoulder. Our memories arc not yet too dim to recall tho scenes lhat augured a new birth of Irish nationality. "Through tho nngry turmoil of our disappointment and distress our 'hearts can Still remember the tramp of thousands iwhom wo cheered and blessed. They went in_ answer to Ireland's call; they left behind them tho joy and promise of their youth, home, plighted loved one or laughing child,, and niarclyd forth fcpon the Great Adventure. As they pledged their lives, our country pledged her honour that they should liot die in Tain nor should their ranks lnck comrades while there was a ; soul' in Erin. Tho voices of the living, and the dead implore ns to keep faith. "War-worn remnants of the Irish brigades are reeling beneath the blows of a tyranny that would quench the lamp of freedom in Europe. This island is but the cradle of a. greater Ireland that lies beyond tho seas. That greater Ireland overseas, from Adelaide to Brisbane, from San Francisco to New York,,is heart and soul behind tho men in Flanders. Our countrymen the world over stand .'i?hast at our inaction, and their friendship is fiiowing cold. "This is no hour for truck or bnrcnin. Whatever bitterness, must be. felt over the record of opportunities lost or promises unkept, we are confident that an answer to our appeal mii6t como from the heart and conscience of a nation that never yet has sold herself to wrong or nsked a price for doing right. Wo do bcliovo that response to tho voice of dutywill always'prove (,] lO truest wisdom and the most, far-sighted statesmanship. Conscious of the weakness of ourselves, but never doubting the. power of justice and of right to move the hearts of Irishmen, we appeal to ail to join ns in this work of patriotism. If all who love liberty 'and truth and honour will range themselves by our side our Irish heroes with new strength and hone will (illicitly restore tho name of Ireland to its honoured place among tho nations of ihe Jforld."