IRISH-AMERICANS AND HOME RULE. [To vox EDITOR or vs. .Sescraros."1
Stn,—An active life in New York and in a New England city during a period of thirty-five years (of which you, Sir, have some knowledge) enables me to confirm many of the state- ments of "American Friend" and of Mr. White in the Spectator of April 25th. The numerous Societies of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and of the Clan-na-Gael in the cities on or near the Atlantic coast are organized for the avowed purpose of " unalterable opposition to anything less than an absolutely free and independent Ireland," in the words of the Catholic Irish Societies of San Francisco which are quoted by Mr. White. It must not be forgotten that these Roman Catholic Societies are large contributors to the fund which is in the hands of the Irish Nationalists, and that "he who pays the piper has the right to call the tune."
Pending the accomplishment of their aim of an " absolutely free and independent Ireland," there is a settled determination to take advantage of every opportunity to create or promote friction between the Governments of America and Great Britain, in the hope, apparently, that the former will take up "Ireland's cause," or for the purpose of wreaking vengeance on England for past wrongs. Hence we have the extraordinary paradox, that while the present English Government is engaged in giving to the Roman Catholic Irish that measure of " Home Rule" which they want as a first step in the direction of "absolute independence," their Transatlantic allies are array- ing themselves in opposition to President Wilson in his efforts to satisfy the protest of that same Government against the violation of the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty in the matter of the Panama Tolls (Exemption Clause). In the vote of the Lower House of Congress on this question I have counted the names of no less than twenty-four Roman Catholic Irish-American members (at least twenty of whom were elected as supporters of the President) who voted against the measure which was designed to remedy the breach of Treaty right against which the English . Government has protested. Three of these gentlemen were born in Ireland : their leader was born in Galway. In the Senate the opposition to President Wilson is led by another Irish-American, Senator O'Gorman, who was also elected as a member of the President's party. This Irish. American opposition is of so pronounced a character as to draw out a caution from one or two more thoughtful of their race that its effect mny injure the cause of "Home Rule," and to elicit from the New York Evening Post—a paper which has consistently favoured " Home Rule "—the comment: " Instead of debate, we are treated to a prolonged Irish yell."—I am,
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