Note 9 — INTRODUCTION.

The following is a copy of a letter addressed by the author to Mr. Thomas O'Donnell, M. P., on the 1st of January, 1916:

San Francisco, January 1, 1916.

STOP RECRUITING IRISHMEN, PREACH PEACE, AND VOTE AGAINST CONSCRIPTION.

Dear Sir: I understand that it is the intention of the British Government to introduce a bill for conscription. Since I left Ireland, I notice many strange changes have come over the National leaders of Ireland. They are not as fearless as they were in the days of Parnell and they completely lost or destroyed their independence. I suppose England will now want Irishmen to fight for her and therefore extend conscription to Ireland:

My views are:

1. FOR PEACE, first and last.

2. NEUTRAL as between the leading nations responsible for the war, viz., England, Germany and Russia.

3. STRONGLY OPPOSED TO IRISHMEN being sent OUT OF IRELAND to fight.

4. England is not fighting to protect the nuns of Belgium from the ravages of the Germans, because the British soldiers destroyed the women of their own land by thousands before leaving for the battlefront.

5. England is not fighting for the protection of little nationalities, because that country was the greatest exterminator that ever appeared on the face of the globe. She put out of existence the two Boer Republics, as recently as 1902.

6. That the war is a mass murder of human beings carried on for greed.

7. Opposed to secret treaties or invisible governments, especially those binding the people without the full knowledge, consent and vote of the people of the contracting countries, especially treaties made in support of an unjust cause.

The history of this war now raging in Europe is still in its making. To the one standing here it appears to be a monstrous mass murder of human beings who are made the victims of a scramble of European financiers, their rulers and supporters, for many years plotting to rob one another of trade profit and territory. It is plain to a child that each of the nations of Europe for many years were struggling to out do each other in building murderous equipment and forming compacts for the same purpose. The sudden killing of the Crown Head of Austria was like setting a lighted match to oil barrels already in position for the blaze.

The plain leading facts as they appear to me are that Germany wants the expansion of territory and sea power, and England is jealous of the rapid growth of sea commerce of Germany, and therefore avails herself of this opportunity to destroy it for ages. I honestly believe that all the other arguments about militarian little nationalities, etc., ought to at once be rejected as manufactured excuses to justify war.

Having come to the conclusion that this is legalized murder of the people carried on in the false color and pretense of patriotism for the benefit of gold crazed human wolves, as between the three leading nations at war, the author is neutral. However, he is opposed to the shedding of blood in such a wicked cause, or fond Irish mothers raising children to be targets for rifles at the becking of every false leader. Look at the fruits those rulers and politicians of Europe produced; they have washed the frontier red with a sea of human blood; peaceful homes are in ruins; the wild wail of women, children or aged parents cannot stop their hungry craving for human slaughter; by soldiers at home and abroad women are ravaged; the flower of Europe are drawn from the common people by thousands, and most of them must pay for militarism with their life's blood in the trenches. Cattle, sheep, hares and deer, will take the places of Irish, Scotch, Welsh, and English, shot down in this war.

England, contrary to the rules of warfare, tries to starve the civil population of Germany, and in return Germany in a more scientific manner does the same thing to England by sinking great liners, thereby causing death on the ocean, of innocent people. Hatred for the people of the nations at war with each other, will live in Europe for the next generation. The slaughter of human beings, now going on, is shocking. It is clearly against the mandate of God, reason and common sense. Civilization is trampled on; barbarism is substituted; bands of legalized murderers sit in gilt chambers, drinking wine bought with the blood of their countrymen in the trenches. They fill their pockets with gold, make their homes comfortable, while their neighbours hearts are sad, their hearths cold, their pockets empty and their sons and relatives slaughtered in the battle fields. I honestly believe that it is much nobler to die in thousands in the cause of humanity and freedom than to draw a single sword in this disgraceful war. You leaders of destruction and legalized criminals in power, remember God's commandment—"Thou shalt not kill."

Murder, no matter whether judicial, legalized or church sanctioned, will still remain murder, and will continue to cry to heaven for vengeance. "To-day thou art," great and mighty men; "to-morrow thou art not"—yes, a cold lump of clay with the skeletons of murdered men, the tears of widows and the crying orphans you caused, standing before you. You may be sure a just God will not be fooled by the arguments of cunning counselors, judges, ministers, priests, bishops or pious frauds, who may be hired or engaged to bring their country's youth to the slaughter house.

God protect the children of Erin from being drawn in amongst those mad dogs. Those who do the fighting ought to ask themselves what are their interests in the war, and what is the price agreed upon to be paid before they are thrown to the wolf-dogs.

GOD SAVE IRELAND.

Yours, etc.,

P. M. FOLEY.