THE CONDITION OF IRELAND.
(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—Although no doubt you receive many letters from Iieland I think the English people can have no idea as to its real condi- tion. In my county, which is regarded as one of the least disturbed, there is absolutely no law save that imposed by Sinn Fein, with the result that there is scarcely a single police barracks that has not been destroyed. Men who have sons in the police are threatened with death. A would-be police recruit had his leg shot off. Men whom Sinn Feiners consider obnoxious to them in any way are subjected to all sorts of fearful perse- cution, one recently being tied to a tree and fired at; another fastened in a bag until he acceded to their most outrageous wishes; railway lines torn up; mail bags robbed; people com- pelled to part with land under fear of death whenever the cove- tous demand it; houses of people who have no land broken into and rifled, &c., &c. In fact, no words could describe the abject misery and terror of loyal subjects, who are simply stupefied that England, for whom they suffered in the war, should allow them to be treated in this fashion. Who could believe that any heathen nation, not to speak of a Christian one, would hand over its friends to the barbarities of its enemies ?
Now the court houses are to be burned down, and all the Government proposes to do is to try and protect the police. Is the splendid force only to be preserved as an ornament, instead of being supplemented by military to protect life and property? Ah Sir, you have not the remotest idea of what we have to endure—insulted by day, and not knowing what hour of the night we may be raided, plundered, or slain. For God's sake use your influence to help us, for the arrogance of our oppres- sors is going to such a pitch that if something is not done soon it will be too late. I cannot subscribe either name or address, as letters are frequently opened owing to so many Sinn Feiners being employed in the post-offices, and if my identity was discovered my life would not be worth sixpence, but in the name of common humanity do what you can.—I am, Sir, (to.,
Use OF MANY THOUSAND DESPAIRING MEN.
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