PRIEST’S EULOGY OF FREE STATE

Shannon News, 25 September 1923, Page 3

PRIEST’S EULOGY OF FREE STATE

REIGN OF TERROR OVER

, PERTH, Aug. 25. | •' testimony to the"'' great courage and Irish- Free State Ministers ivas given by. Father F. Carroll, a Brisbane priest on board the Hobson’s Bay at Fremantle to-day. .••Father 'Carroiris* bringing a party of 22 Irish girls for St. Joseph’s Convent, Sydney. -Interviewed he said he had seen, Ireland before the signing of the treaty and after, and the change in the people was wonderful. “To-day,” said Father Garroll, “the Irish admit that the British Government has kept all its pledges and has never attempted to interfere in. the administration. Life is becoming normal and people who some time ago d'ared not utter a word about politics or express an. opinion. about a faction may freely say what is id their minds. “Before the signing of. the treaty a smallpercentage-' of terrorists, probably not five per cent., completely silenced the balance of l'the people. The terrorists kvere brut'al and their actions generally those"’ of - criminals. It was indeed a waveyof ins'anitv which .had affected the Ration. However, the Free'*State Ministers in the fade of a Terrific handicap set a splendid lead to the people by declaring that there should he peace ■at 'all costs, and the Ministers hay'e come through with wonderful success. - “The Minister for" Home Affairs, Keven O’Higgjiis, has brought order out of chaos, struck terror into the hearts of the madmen and established a judiciary that has nopw won the respect of 'all Ireland for its unbiassed verdicts. To the President of the Cabinet, Mi Cosgrave, Father Carroll paid a high tribute. He had .shown taict, genius and extraordinary foresight - . j