THEY!

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 752, 1 August 1922, Page 8

THEY!

THE IRISH REPUBLICAN' BROTHERHOOD. “They” are the real rulers of Ireland. Who are “They?” Ask any Irishman, and he will deftly turn the subject; but the reference comes into his conversations' with the frequency of revolver Hhots in Tipperary (writes James Dunn in Da'iy Mail) Always it is “They" who have done this, or who are going :o ■!,> that, ami duiina the last live years Ireland has' lain under the terror of “They.” “They" is the Irish Republican Brotherhood, one of the most powerful secret societies in the world. Its object is “to establish and main!a n a free and .independent Republican Government in Ireland." There H a Supreme Council of which 11 members are elected, and four others, whose names are never divulged, chosen by the eleven. The council holds the powers of life and death and recent years have shown that they use these powers mercilessly. Every Irishman, irrespective of class or creed, whose character for patriotism, truth, valour, sobriety atui obedience to superior officers, can bear scrutiny is eligiide for membership of the f.R.B. The candidate must take an oath that he will bear true allegiance

to the Supreme Council. implicitly obey its officers, and preserve inviolable the secrets of organisation. Xo man who is a member of any other such society shall be admitted to membership. The Supreme Council alone has power to inflict a sentence of capital punishment in cases of treason, which consists of “any wilful act nr word on the part of any member calculated to betray the cause of Irish independence, or subserve the interests oi the British or any other foreign Government, to the detriment of Irish independence.” The Military Council of the R. 1.8. i s subject to the Supreme Council, and has no power to direct or interfere with the policy of the Government of the Irish republic, oi in any way to alter the constitution of tlie Irish Republican Brotherhood. This Might glimpse of Gie secret power which prevails in Ireland will give British readers a clearer insigdu into the reason for the chaos, which now exists from Portadown to Cork, and from Dublin to Galway. The Roman -Catholic ‘ Church, which abhors secret societies, has thundered. denounced, even threatened, to excommunicate members of the 1.RR.P,., and its most 1 ileimi proclamation's have been a.s the dripping'of rain on (lie hogs of Roscommon.