week's issue of Socialist marked the centenary Scottish Marxist and workers' leader JOHN MACLEAN, who died at the age of 44.
The following article is an extract from a pamphlet written by MacLean at the end of the hirst world war. he issues it discusses democracy, Ireland and 'terrorism' — are still stunningly relevant. It is the socialist answer to the harrage of hypocrisy propaganda which has filled the media in the wake of the IRA's military actions on 27 August.
THE ALLIES have wonwon. Has recognised? Have rights? The piteous plight of Ireland gives the lie direct to those profound prevaricators called the Coalition Government...
To ally right-thinking retention of Ireland is the world's most startling instance of a britain rules Ireland against Irish wishes wit olicemen armed with bombs and a huge armi equipped with over 40 tanks and as aeroplanes, machine guns galore, other beautiful manifestations of Christian brotherhood, love and charity.
Democracy in Britain means rule by a clear majority vote, alhout i some cases tace ded Ireland vore at the General Election in 1918?
Sinn Feiners and 1,211,516 votes or 79.3 per votes; the Unionists polled 271,455 or 17.8 per cent; and the Independents and Labourists polled 45,939 or 2.9 per cent. Obviously, the vote shows that by 4 to 1 the people in Ireland wish to look after overwhelming vote satisfies the most stringent demands of democracy inside trade union and co-operative circles.
This Irish decision was reaffirmed in January 1920 at the municipal elections, when 95 per cent of the townships outside Ulster fell into the hands of the Republicans under a system organi on presentaken from the Lurgan Unionists, and in Lisburn, Dungannon, • Cookstown the Carsonites have only a bare majority.
The complete statistics of municipal elections show that in Leinster 36 out of 38 towns were won by Republicans and Connaught 9 out of 10, in Munster 32 out of 32, and in Ulster 21 out of 47.
That is not all. controlling and policing 21 counties, and news Challenge birth of the and anti-Irish For at any rate, • democracy been small nations had their person Britain's 'dictatorship by terrorists, many and all the Redmondites • polled cent of the total their own affairs.
and of taken from and verdict.
Nationalists, in The Republicans are now has just arrived that in Ulster the Sinn Feiners Nationalists combined have County Tyrone with 11 against 9, and County Fermanagh also with 11 against 9. Great gains have also been registered in the other four of the special Ulster results are not out at the moment of writing.
If all these decisions do not clearly indicate the mind of the majority in Ireland, will never Britain has obviously, to excuse for the flooding of Ireland with troops, and it must be British labour's bounden duty to see that these soldiers, mainly boys of 18, be withdrawn and let the Irish settle their own affairs...
and other captured Irish press. although the final 20 Sept. then establish any definite Nov.
Nov.
10 Dec Britain's brutal treatment of Ireland, more blatant today than ever before, indicates that quite clearly. Immediately the AHHNSLICC Was signed more troops poured into Ireland, not as a precaution against a possible rising but as an irritant. Meetings were deliberately suppressed with brutal arrogance, then football matches sports were stopped spectators and players scattered with violence, concerts and entertainments were forbidden even d concert all lo provide money establish a Labour College in Dublin.
Thereafter, De Valera went to America to get funds to help the Irish Parliament or Eireann. Appeals for funds also appeared in the Then followed suppressions right and left, as Britain was determined to stand no rival parliament in Ireland:The entire Republican press in Ireland was suppressed.
Sinn Fein and Republican organisations in Dublin suppressed.
Weekly meetings of Sinn Fein Central Club suppressed Military and police headquarters of the Republican government and arrest and imprison the staff Sinn Fein and organisations suppressed throughout Ireland.
Sinn Fein and headquarters ordered to be closed 92; murders, 4: a total of 1,513..
to the real situation in Ireland.
Acts of Aggression in Ireland 1919 the Curragh Camp 6 April Limerick Hospital.
Dungarvan Longford, 5 June dead by soldiers at Dundalk. 16 June 14 Aug F. Murphy, midnight. 9 Sept.
6 Nov. 12 Nov 20 Nov. not halting. 24 Nov. police.
Dec. Laurence
police at Phoenix Park, Dublin. 1920 6 lan Dr. police while on his medical rounds 19 Jan. police. 20 Jan. M.
22 Jan.
by soldiers and police. 14 Feb. by police.
pamphlet murderous business.
detectives.
to men driven country. The Dail counties.
again to be re-established. raid British Labour Republican and Republican This information is carefully suppressed by the government so that ordinary people are forced to come to entirely wrong conclusions as 12 Feb. Pat Gavin shot dead by soldiers at Robt. Byrne shot dead by police in 26 April M. Walsh shot dead by police at April Two men shot by police at Matthew Murphy, Dundalk, shot Michael Rice (60 years) and his son, Martin, shot dead in his house by police.
Glan (15 years) shot dead by soldiers firing into his father's house at Fermoy sacked by soldiers.
Boy shot at Banbridge by police.
Kinsale sacked by soldiers Cork partly sacked by soldiers.
Motorists shot by police at Sligo for Civilians shot at Tipperary by : Kennedy murdered by Keane , Ennismyon, shot by Civilians at Enniscorthy shot by Darcy, Cooraclare, drowned while police held off would-be rescuers Thurles wrecked by soldiers.
4 Feb. Man and girl shot dead in Limerick Jas. O'Brien shot dead at Rathdrum So I might continue itemising the bloody butchery right down to the time of writing this sick whole To expect the Irish to accept crushing and blackening both is to stretch expectation and endurance beyond the limit. So the Irish have naturally replied by laying low policemen and Policemen are now resigning by the hundred. Police barracks have been blown up and policewhole stretches of the Sinn Feiners are however, establishing their own police and their own courts, which now control 21 of Ireland's 32 Britain's police system is virtually destroyed in vast stretches of Ireland, never Britain is pouring more and more troops into Ireland, and now the navy is being called into play. A terrible tragedy may be perpetrated bs Britain before labour has realised the full gravity of the situation. It is therefore essential that drastic action be taken very soon.