MR. STEPHEN GWYNN AND MR. PATRICK FORD. [To TEN EDITOR

OP THY " SPECTATOR...1 Sus, I was much interested in Mr. Gwynn's explanation of the reason which has removed his conscientious convictions

against handling the dollars collected by Patrick Ford. So far as I can understand from his letter, his scruples have vanished as the result of his belief that his paymaster has for the last twenty years refrained from advocating the use of dynamite. It is with regret for disturbing Mr. Gwynn's peace of mind that I have to question the accuracy of the statement.

Less than twenty years ago—in November, 1899—in the Irish World Patrick Ford's signature was attached to an article from which I take the following extract :— " If any set of Irishmen see their way to successfully attack England by physical force, why, let them go ahead, and God bless them. If there is any dynamite or lyddite that will blow the British Empire up into the clouds or down into the bottomless pit, why, let it be used and forthwith. We believe in all that sort of thing. And we feel quite sure that the men at the head of the United Irish League are not contrary minded."

I should add that the article in which these words appear is an appeal for funds for the United Irish League ! The money

then collected was actually given in the belief that those who controlled the United Irish League were not opposed to the use of dynamite. I do not know whether Mr. Gwynn will reject the extract on the plea of antiquity, but at least that argument cannot be applied to the following. In the Irish World of June 8th, 1907, an article appeared by Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet in defence of the use of dynamite in Ireland. To it Patrick Ford added this significant comment :—

" I am in entire agreement with the views expressed and the conclusions reached by Dr. Emmet ; but like Dr. Emmet himself, I am also in sympathy with the United Irish League and the Irish Parliamentary Party, so admirably led by Mr. John Redmond?'

Mr. Gwynn says that "Patrick Ford and the Irish World have been backing Mr. Redmond for the last ten years." There can be no question that Patrick Ford was actually expressing approval of the policy of dynamite at the same time that he was supporting Mr. Redmond's Constitutional agitation and securing contributions to its funds. I presume that the question is not only one of approving or expressing disapproval of this particular argument by force, but generally how Irish Nationalists can expend Patrick Ford's funds and at the same time boast of their "Constitutional agitation" and, like Mr. T. P. O'Connor and Mr. Redmond, of their loyalty to the British Empire. Persons, like myself, who are regular readers of the Irish World have no doubt as to the thoroughgoing character of Patrick Ford's disloyalty. Week by week he publishes the foulest attacks and libels upon

everything that a patriotic British citizen holds dear. I do not wish to fill your columns with extracts of that character.

It could easily be done; but with your permission I should like to reproduce one or two. I take it that Mr. Gwynn would express disapproval of the murder of Sir Curzon Wyllie ; but what of Mr.. Gwynn's paymaster P It afforded

him an opportunity to denounce British rule in India and to apply every opprobrious epithet to Great Britain. Mention was made of her " infamous rule." He spoke of the three hundred millions of Indians whom she " ruthlessly plundered and then mercilessly left to die of starvation":— "Like other criminals," he continued, "England is not so much concerned about the commission of crime as she is about its exposure. She would go on placidly robbing and murdering the unfortunate natives of India without a qualm of conscience to the crack of doom, but she does not like the world to know the character of the nefarious work in which she is engaged."—July 17th, 1909.

Not a word of sympathy with the relatives of the unfortunate victim : but of the murderer the description—" latest martyr to English Tyranny executed in London. His death an

inspiration for Indian Nationalists" (Irish World, August 14th). And Mr. Gwynn is " certainly " going to help to spend the money which Mr. Patrick Ford and the Irish World are raising !

To show that Patrick Ford is unrepentant, although a supporter of " Constitutional agitation," I give, without comment, a. few extracts from issues of the Irish World of the present year:—

"Bloody Kitchener visits Australia."—February 26th.

" Some time ago a renegade Egyptian, who held the office of Prime Minister under the alien government, saddled upon his native land, was shot to death by Nationalists, who adopted that method of protesting against what the Nationalists regarded as

treason to Egypt No doubt he [Mr. Roosevelt] has earned English praise for his unseemly approval of English rule in India, in the Soudan and in Egypt. But the question suggests itself, is the laudation of a system of government resting on bayonets worthy of an American, who approves the great principles of universal application set forth in our Declaration of Independ- ence ? "—April 2nd. " John Bull's habit of prowling about in search of spoils of all kinds has grown to be a veritable passion that he vainly tries to gratify Casting covetous eyes upon Africa, he bided his time to steal a good slice of it. . . . . . England tried to gobble a big slice of Alaska His thieving propensities England has been compelled by force of circumstances to descend to petty larceny Her robber instincts."—May 7th. " In this absorption of Corea, we have a repetition of the methods with which the British Empire was upbuilt. First a foothold was obtained in one pretence or another, and then in the course of time English sovereignty was proclaimed and enforced by brute

'force If she [Japan] should enter upon this career of land piracy, she would be able to plead in justification the example set by her English ally; who pursued a similar course in planting her

robber flag in every port of the globe If the question of right and wrong be eliminated, as it was eliminated by England in carrying out her buccaneering policy, Japan may not be condemned for annexing Corea or any other country she may be able to lay her hands on."—August 27th.

Of Patrick Ford, the author of these opinions, we are told that at a meeting held in the Carnegie Hall, New York, on Sunday, October 2nd, he "created a tempest of cheering by announcing 10,000 dollars from the readers of his great news- paper, the Irish World" (Freeman's Journal, October 4th). Mr. Redmond, who declares " We are entirely loyal to the Empire," will have the spending of those dollars collected by a man through a paper whose regard for the Empire has been gathered from the extracts I have given. Mr. Gwynn is " certainly " going to help his leader spend them. How the Irish Nationalist leader can combine "loyalty" with the acceptance of Patrick Ford's dollars is a question :which Mr. Gwynn will find it difficult to answer. Until British electors know that the dollars have been returned they will be wise in placing little trust in Nationalist " loyalty." "He who pays the piper calls the tune."—I am, Sir, &c., 25 Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W.