THE SINN FEIN REVOLT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 187, 30 June 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SINN FEIN REVOLT.

GERMAN COMPLICITY

By Dr. PHELAN, Bishop of Sab

The part Germany has played in tile Dublin rebellion, and the position of Sir Roger Casement as the connecting link in the matter, has not, I believe, received due prominence in the press notices. Speaking at the St. Patrick's Day celebration, I had occasion to refer to a pamphlet from the pen of Count Reventlow, at the German Foreign Office at New York. The fourteen chapters of that pamphlet uere devoted, for the most part, to liish history as that subject presented itself to the German view, or w.'-i r.-'.'fiii to the' German purpose 11' incensing the Irish-Americans .iga'nst British rule in Ireland; and imploring T he European Powers to rescue Ireland, as the "key of the Atlauti-,' iron, England's grasp. W thin the past few days another 'olunio on the same subject has come I.) my hands. No one can read tit's work oi 313 pages—"'The the Kaiser, and Irish Freedom"--w.iho'.t seeiog the Irish rebellion in a new tied str ng light; that -s, not the ln-:tv action of a few irresponsible, wild spirits, but the result of a deep plot maturing for the past two years. The author of the work is James K. MeGuire, and his qualifications for the task are set out by the editor of tie* " Deutsche Union," Syracuse, New York:—"James K. McGuire is peculiarly fitted and especially endowed to write a book friendly t° Germany. The first education ho received in Syracuse was in a Co:man school, and his next schooling took place in the German school then in the basement of the Lutheran Church in Butternut Street. Long time mayor of Syracuse, he always held the support of the German peop'e. It is perfectly natural for him to defend German ideals and causes, for he is ti student and writer of German history, philosophy, and poetry." When dealing with the German thoroughness, McGuire speaks of his own education: —"The writer attended two German schools in Syracuse when a boy, and was trained first to think in the German way. Your true German scholar is the most scientific of men, because he has mastered the difficult art of being thorough." Bearing an Irish name, and the passport of a connection with some Irish societies in America, he went to Ireland before the war. He tells of his visit to Armagh. Cathedral when the bells were tolling at the death of Pope Pius N. (August 18, 1914). In connection with this visit lie observes that Cardinal Logue, "Primate of All Ireland, is, marooned or sequestered under the amending (Home Rule) act, as agreed to by Redmond, to get along as best he may or be thrown to the Orange vo'vos of Belfast." The object of the writer's mission to Ireland, as revealed in this work, was of a twofold character—to establish a contrast in the minds of the people between the condition of Ireland under British rule and what she would be under the German, and to organise an opposition against the Irish Parliamentary party under the leadership of John Redmond.

After dealing with the ruin of the Irish trade, he says :—" England, eternally jealous and hateful of Ireland, has never given her people any chanee for scientific development. The door of hope is closed in thi- age of specialisation to the sons of Ireland. In no sense could Ireland become an economic or commercial rival of Germany. Her geographical position, the character of lu-r soil, her language, and the difference in her basic productions would prevent her from becoming a trade rival of Germany. The lat:• i country would always want a friendly nation, just to the left of England, who could always be counted on as a friend in th n time of need. . . Lv.iking ahead. Germany wou'd plainly Me that she could insure her future in ■■lieAtlantic Ocean and weaken Engl in 1 in the struggle for the world's trade by strcngtheivng Ireland, who .voiud also have the aid of the vast and ,>rosperous German and Irish population :n the United States."

During tlio first months of the war Mr. McGuire had a difficult task m Ireland to explain away the German atrocities, especially those commit >d on the convents and churches. But lie met the charges, first, by denying that there was any truth in the press reports; and then by putting in parallel some historic atrocity in Ireland under British rule. Thus: —"A few days alter the taking of Louvain l>y the German army 1 met a Roman Catholic bishop on the way from Dublin to Belfast. He was a strong character, and a great prelate, at the head of an important diocese. The only news of the alleged atrocities at Louvain the earnest bnhnp had taken from the Dublin 'Fro.'man's .lournal' na.l the Belfast 'News-Letter.' The news turned out to he false, as we have learned from the American correspondents who visited the scene. . . But the good bishop of Ireland swallowed the story, ami in righteous indignation sa'd lie would publicly denounce the German Huns and Vandals on the morrow. . . The writer was reminded of the fact that the existence of an Irish senrnary at Louvain was merely another historic" evidence of the dn'-s when the Knglish conquerors, under Cromwell offered a reward of Co for the head of every priest, and the sal) " rate for the head of wolves. T! e priests were hunted like wild beasts, and. in older to maintain a seminary, tliev were forced to Bee to the sl.el'er of Louvain. We asked the l>is»i m it the worst charges at Louvain were (rue, could Belgium approach the horrors ol Droghodn under the leig'.i of Oliver Cromwell P" Till'. ANTI-UKDMOND Cid *\T>-]. Fierce as i- Mr. McGuire's de'.i.M - .- ciation of British policy in Ireland, he i- equally strong in mi !; iz down all that lias'been built ill) by the Cutstitutiona' party under the leade'rh.p of John Redmond, and advocating a policy such as that which exploded 'ill Dublin on Faster .Monday. The Irs !i party, he considers, has lost it-- youth and vitality and usefulness; it hys fallen a victim to the social atmosphere of London- it is a political machine in search of power and offices. "The time is ripe,'' he dec-lares, "in Ireland for an uprising against the weak, compromising West British leaders, who accepted a measure which will give them a few hundred local offices, and who refuse to continue the struggle for liberty and nationhood. The rescue of the Irish Benedictine nuns by the Mun-t.T Fusiliers from the ruined convent at Yprcs is regarded by Mr. McGuire as absolute "fake" —possibly because the terrors of the siege were written by Mother Teresa Howard, a niece of John Redmond. Since the battle of Ramillies (17i>t>) an Ir's'n flag, won by Clare'- dragoons, was shrmed within the cement walls, and i> now lodged with the exiled sisters at Wexford.

'The nuns, who kept, with pious care, Thai piicelr-.v, tattered rag. Amid the war-sounds hold their breath, In fevcre,] fear of worse than death."

THE "IRISH REPUBLIC." The writer makes no attempt *,o conceal his iclations with, and admiration for, the Sinn Fein leaders, and quote." at length from the suppressed organs of the physical force party—the "Sinn Fein,'' the "Irish Volunteer," and the " Irish Worker."

But what must surprise the reader of this work is to find on the concluding page of a book published in March. 1915, specific references to the form of government the rebels would establish in Ireland, and a description of the flag which, only two weeks ago floated for a few brief hours over the Hall of Liberty in Dublin! -Freedom for Ireland-an Irish Republic—is by no means an idle or wild dream should the war terminate in favour of Germany. . . The old myth of Britsh supremacy passes away with the defeat of England. Liberty for Ireland can only lie won through the triumph, of Germany-Austria. Then, and then only, will the Republic of Ireland be a glorious reality, and the flag of green and gold wave on the seas and over the Emerald Isle. "God Bios* Germanv! God Save Ireland'' -

SIR ROGER CASEMENT'S MISSION TO GERMANY.

In view of the fact that the trial of Sir Roger Casement opened on Monday last, the chapter devoted to him in "The King, the Kaiser, and Irish Freedom'' is of peeul ar interest. Sir Roger was formally welcomed to Berlin bv the officials of the German Foreign Office on November 20, 191 I. The mission of this special envoy was explained in an authoritative artie'e: — He had come to combat statements circulated in Ireland that a German victory would infict great injury upon the Irish people; that their land, houses, churches, and priests would be handed over to the tender mercies of an army of invaders; that Mr. Redmond, in his recruiting tour, aroused indignation against Germany, and the British press widely circulated this view: that Sir Roger wished to get an official assurance for his fellow-coun-trymen in Ireland ami America. The Acting Secretary of State drafted a reply, which was confirmed by the German Chancellor. In this document Ireland was assured that "Germany cherishes only sentiments of goodwill for the prosperity of the Irish peop'e, their land, and their institutions. The Imperial Government declares formally that Germany would not invade Ireland with any intentions of conquest or of the destruction of any institutions. If. in the course ol this war —which Germany did not seek ■ —the fortune of arms should ever bring German troops to the coast of Ireland, they would hind there, not as nn army of invaders coming to rob or destroy, but as the lightmg forces of a Government inspired only by goodwill toward a land and a people for whom Germany only wishes national prosperity and national freedom."

The writings of Sir Roger Casement before the war make it abundantly evident that his efforts for years have been directed to placing Ireland under German protection. In season and out oi season he has preached thin doetrine openly:—Thai the vital importance of Ireland to England is understood, but never proclaimed by any British statesman: that the power of the British Fleet can never be jiermancntly restrained until Ireland is restored to Europe; and that Germany is the champion o f European interests, and had she the "key of the Atlantic" she Mould balance the world's sea-power and find an outlet for her crowded population.