Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Labour and Easter Week (Author: James Connolly)
Chapter 11
A Labour Day Speech in Dublin
Mr. James Connolly said that, despite the doubts, the
fears, and the hints of some people, we had this year a magnificent turn
out. He found some difficulty in speaking to them that day. To make
himself heard he would require to have the lungs of a bull, and to steer
clear of the Defence of the Realm Act required the subtlety of a lawyer,
so they would understand his position. We were living in strange and
moving times. The powers that be had seized upon Seán McDermott,
Seán Milroy and Francis Sheehy-Skeffington for saying what had
already been said a thousand times. He, at least, had no desire to go to
gaol. They had powers that they used to think were oppressive and
tyrannical fighting for liberty and the freedom of small nations. ‘And
when I’, continued Mr. Connolly, ‘who have been all my life
fighting, in my own way, for these same objects, see such a great change
come to pass why should I want to go to prison’? (Laughter and
applause). He was therefore going to give them good advice. He advised
them all to join the army (Cries of ‘what army’? ‘Is it the
Citizen Army’?) ‘Well, I won't insult your intelligence by saying
which army, but if I am charged for anything I may say here to-day I
will call you all as witnesses (if I am allowed) to prove that I advised
you all to join the army’ (Laughter and applause). His advice then
was, ‘join the army’. ‘fight for freedom’, ‘defend
yourselves’. He had spent a good deal of his life in decrying force
as between man and man, but if force was to be the sole arbiter, then
let those who have right on their side gather all the force they can to
help them. His complaint with the resolutions was that they did not go
far enough. They asked the Government to rebuild the slums, but there
was more spent every day on the continent
p.64
than would rebuild
all Ireland. All Governments were doing this, and would continue doing
it until the workers took the world into their own hands, and ran it for
the benefit of those who alone did the world's work—the workers.
Sir Thomas More had well expressed the position when he wrote ‘I can
see nothing in the Governments of the world but a conspiracy of the rich
for the purpose of robbing the poor’. He was beheaded, and was it any
wonder that they cut off a head that gave utterance to so much wisdom?
Peace was a virtue they were told, and for forty years the Home Rule
party had been preaching peace, and had got very little for their pains.
On the other hand Sir Edward Carson had preached force for a few short
months, and had got all he demanded; and after Carson had poured
contempt on the law, and had on a hundred platforms urged defiance of
the law, he was now Attorney-General, having supreme charge of the
enforcement of the law (laughter). I am a law-abiding citizen
(laughter). I believe in the law—when it's big enough (laughter).
Why had not the Government squelched Carson as they had always been
prepared to squelch the labour men? As the result of all this law-
breaking Carson was now in the Cabinet, and Home Rule was indefinitely
shelved. If they turned to the ranks of labour they would see the only
class that never sold Ireland (loud applause). When you stand for labour
you stand for Ireland. Join your union and help in the fight to win back
your own land for labour. Join in the fight for a free and regenerated
Ireland, which will emancipate not alone yourselves but your children
and your children's children (loud applause).
Workers' Republic , June 5, 1915.
p.65