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experience for me , and I must be on my guard against its fascination ,
methods of the Plan of Campaign and boycotting as intrinsically unjust
rettes upon it will probably be marooned in the end . Some of you will
and the latter as essentially un-Christian ; and for that , and that alone ,
remember the early years of my episcopate , when the correct thing
agitation were acceptable to God's laws . I was heartily in sympathy
politically was to treat me as the enemy of my country , because I had
the authority to think and to say that the methods of the political
was held here in my own city , under the shadow of my own cathedral ,
with the farmers in their movement to emancipate themselves from the
not indeed that I over attached much importance to it , or sought it .
great humour conferred upon me , but I confess that I feel somewhat
strange in these surroundings of public favour . Popularity is a novel
in attempt was made to hound me down and silence me . A meeting
yoke of an intolerable landlordism , but I condemned as immoral the
We all know the folkleness of the popularis aura , and the man that
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen , I think you very heartily for the
to the address presented to him by the Limerick Corporation ,
FIS Lordship , who was enthusiastically cheered on rising to reply
speech
Made by HIS LORDSHIP
Conferring of the Freedom of the City of Limerick
on him .
The Most Rev. Dr. O'DWYER
said :
on the occasion of the
on September 14th , 1916 .

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pride in myself , to stop to the methods of the demagogue . At the
respect for my people , and perhaps I ought not to say it too much
as my own experience , of the unsteadiness with which the view of
the displeasure of some politicians , who think they can deal with
spoke in defence of the moral law of which I am , however unworthy ,
Apart from that higher view of duty , I have too great a love and
my duty as a Bishop . I did not interfere for the sake of politics . I
and defume me . Some men prominent in the agitation took part in
right all the time . I knew I was right , and that testimony of my own
the guardian . But that did not save me from abuse and misrepre-
conscience was more to me than the cheers of any multitude . Now
popular favour blows . And therefore , Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen , I
that meeting , and seemed to be borne along on a full tide of popular
exclassistics after the manner of Combes or Niviani , and the other
again , gentlemen , I have been drawn into collision with politicians in
sentation . At other times , particularly in connection with education ,
continental infidels , and resent the action of a bishop , inside or outside
enthusiasm , yet within six months I saw those mighty leaders hooded
mark of your favour which I have received to-day , if I remind myself
the sanctuary , if it does not square with their notions . But I was
the discharge of my ecclesiastical duties General Maxwell had the
and pelted in the streets of Limerick , and guarded by their enemies ,
before you , and to speak the truth with the freedom of the gospel .
feelings for my own ends , but to put God's her without fear or favour
time to which I refer I was drawn into controversies by my sense of
trust you will not imagine that I am the less grateful for the signal
and the full strength of a powerful organisation was exerted to discredit
the police , from the fury of their own friends . It was a lesson , as well
that the weather may change at any moment , and the wind blow from
which is closely related to religion , I have had to interfere and incur
another quarter . '
My duty as a Bishop is not to flutter you , or play upon your

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to stand up to English brutality . But beside the protection of two
was I to join in the condemnation of Pearse , MacDonough and Colbert ,
the military power of England at his back that I would not dare to
hadly armed Volunteers attempting to overthrow the British power in
effrontry to give me directions for the government of my diocese , " but
priests against this military dictator , there was the question of my
have a proud tradition , and who have been shown by our predecessors
and South Africa , and was brought back . He thought because he had
attitude towards the young men he had murdered in Dublin . Was I to
disoby him . " He did not know much about Irish ecclesiastics , who
confession of the wrong of England's Rule in Ireland . I should like to
be lawful , must be the act of a nation as a whole ; but while that is
I hardly think he will repeat the experiment . He was trained in Egypt
of Home Rule which they keep in lavender on the Statute Book but a
mercilessly , has proclaimed its own condemnation . What is that ghost
that perhaps is the worst that can be said against them . Rebellion to
Ireland . The Irish Volunteers were too few for the enterprise , but
utrocious crime against this country , and if as a nation we have ever
the hopelessness of the rising and the folly of a couple of thousand
true , see the case of the Irish Volunteers against England . The very
trial , were deported from their country in thousands .
government against which they rose and which dealt with them so
condemn them ? Even if their rebellion was not justifiable theologically
ask Mr. Asquith if the destruction of the Irish parliament was not an
condoned it or forfeited our right to redress ! If he were an Irishman
would he submit timely to the perpetuation of the misrepresent of
the country ! Would he patiently look on at the deceit and chicanery
The British government and their friends ring their changes on
who were shot without trial , and of the men and women who , without
and inform me of your decision . "
" General Maxwell's letter says , " In this case I would be glad if your
lordship could advise the necessity of such ( military ) action by moving .
" General Maxwell's letter says , " In this case I would be glad if your

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tantalising perfidy , which after years of strenuous agitation pretended
the young men of any nation would have the patience to bear with the
themselves if it was not all British cant and hypocrisy , and in error .
mediums , of Europe , does it not hold good for Ireland ! When Lord
not natural , in view of the state of their own country , they should ask
more searchiously than for the last ten years ! Does he imagine that
heart . It is the dream of our people for generations , and to see it
was worse for every interest of their country than any number of had
laws in detail that a foreign government forced on an unwilling people .
to protect them from oppression , and to allow them to live and develop
on their own national lines . No appeal could so deeper into the trial )
criminal folly , as they call it , of those who raised the standard of revolt
that it was usuration , and that resistance to it was a duty . Of course
itself . One could not be surprised if Irish Volunteers said : - If all this
to go to Murders and give their lives for Rome Rule in Belgium was it
is true of Belgium , and Servies , and Poland and all the other small
had an indefenable right to govern herself ; that the deprivation of it
then hung it up and announce that before it could be put into execution
Wimborne and Mr. Redmond and Mr. Devlin called on young Irishmen
war broke out , and the political leaders of Ireland took up the cry
realised our fathers before us suffered poverty and exile and death
country , but not against England , the home of freedom , the chivalrous
break out into rebellion . These Irish Volunteers imagined that Ireland
from their masters in England that this was a war for small nationalities ,
they were wrong . These reasons might hold good against any other
In the very height or depth of this fussaling the great European
which which this supreme interest of Ireland has been treated and never
it had to be amended .
to concede their chines , and pass into law a measure of Home Italy , and
and disinterested friend every where of small nationalities that take her
British Ministers and their allies in Ireland may condemn the
middle .

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in Dublin , but whether they were right or wrong , I submit that , at
the behest of their party . But he has not the manifest to concede
days after , how England would appeal to heaven for vengeance on
country by religious is the way to emancipate it ! If Germany were
would never disown them ; and some day or other , when the light of
of England , and will stand for ever as the vindication of the victims of
sible , that no people in the world that could help it would stand being
preoccupation of the war upon him Mr. Asquith from his retirement
revell against Germany , or the Serbians in revolt against Austria , or
the Greeks against their own king to joompel him to enjoy the luxury
least for a semblance of justice , people should remember that the Irish
of " wait and sex " speed across the channel to discover what was the
of war . Then see the result of the rising in Ireland . With all the
roll out his resounding periods in denunciation of such an outrage on
the rebellion . What frightened him ! It was not the number of the
National rights , and if some young Belgiums , with more courage and
when they surrendered were shot in cold blood in twos and threes for
tehels only carried into practice their rulers' principles , and must be
judged by the same standards that were applied to the Belgiums in
gang of carpet-baggers who came here for their personal interests at
they were the true representatives of Ireland , and the exponents of her
matter with Ireland ; and what did he find ! That the Castle Govern-
they be rejected ; with what burning indignation would Mr. Asquith
ment had failed . That is the recorded judgment of the Prime Minister
patriotism in their hearts than worldly wisdom , faced the German
governed by strangers men like Wimlorne and Birrell and Nathan , a
soldiers , and fought like men until their resources were exhausted , and
their murderers . One thing I know , and that is that their country
rebels nor the strength of their armaments , but the knowledge that
nationally . He knows that English government in Ireland is indefen-
how to offer corresponding proposals to Belgium with what scorn would
what he knows is our absolute right . ' Does he think that partitioning
of England , and will stand for ever as the vindication of the victims of
sible , that no people in the world that could help it would stand being

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prosperity will mean our people from the old cause ; that education will
will be men in Ireland to dare and die for her . It is that national
province . We are like Egypt , governed by English satraps of an
in its greatness and our duty towards its That argument does not
parliament had relied on it , instead of putting their faith in Asquith
judgment there is deep down in the heart of Ireland the sacred fire of
Nationality , which such influences can never reach , much less extinguish
are ruled not by ourselves but by some English barrister from Bristol
that is not the case as between England and Ireland . ' We are a subject
Kingdoms , each of which is a unit self contained and self governed , but
spirit that will yet vindicate our glorious country , and not the petty
or Manchester , or by some few from Shoreditch . That is our share in
large classes , by an insidious system of bribery ; but in my humble
intrigues of parliamentary , chicane . And if our representatives in
war began we have heard a good deal about the Empire , and our place
appeal to me . An Empire , in any true sense , consists of a number of
all of which come together for their mutual support and benefit . But
the Empire , and I for one view that it does not fire my enthusiasm for
world is against them . Ireland will never be content as a province ;
which tyrants are always laying to their souls , but the history of the
inferior kind , but in no sense are we constituents of the British Empire .
Dammula and Australia are parts of the Empire . but we are not : for we
of corruption ; they may buy the National press ; they may mislead
God made her a nation , and while grass grows and water runs there
herves would be set up in the Place de Martyres , in Brussels . Since the
the members of Parliament ; they may recognise individuals , and even
freedom broke again over their land , the monument to these young
turn their thoughts into other channels . It is the lattering auction
and which will yet burn on the altar of freedom . They may think that
the Union Jack . Ireland is a nation , and never will be at rest until the
centre of gravity is within herself .
Olover and plausible English ministers may do a good deal by way

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nation . " These are my alternatives . I think they would have been
bility for the present deplorable condition of things , yet I will state my
the captain of a ship , after running her on the rocks , invited the pas-
like to hear from some one or other of our great politicians a clear
today . By way of defence some of them have been asking recently for
It would be much more to the purpose for him to tell them how he
members of parliament , " Come home , shake the dust of the English
and Lloyd George and the Liberals , they would not be where they are
an alternative policy to theirs : it is rather a cool demand : it is as if
sengers to give their views of how the vessel should have been navigated .
that is ) , and you will be rewarded like the Irish agricultural labourerere
House of Commons off your feet , and throw yourselves on the Irish
her difficulties , and " trust to her generosity when you have sent her out
proposed to get her off the ranks . And for my part I should greatly
in Dublin ; and we are with you . Again this very year , when the
alternative to trusting the party who trust the Liberals , and are now
parliamentarians . O'Connell used to say that England's difficulty was
in Lincolnshire . It sounds like a poem , but there has not been much
Ireland's opportunity : but the modern maxim is - stand by England in
of them ; shed your Irish blood like water for her in France and
reduced to the statesmanship of November-waiting for something to
Gallipoli and Mesopotamia and Egypt and the Cameroons ( wherever
ffective , but I fear that they would not be in favour with our present
English government played false , I would have said to the Irish
poetry in the history of England in Ireland . The gratitude of over-
When war was being declared I would have said to the English
But although , like the mass of the people of this country on whom
government , " Give us our national rights ; set up a genuine parliament
the confidence trick has been played so disastrously I have no responsi-
statement of the plan of action which they now have before their
toissue wages .
mands .
House of Commons off your feet , and throw yourselves on the Irish

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place once again as freemen in our own country .
political leaders , and believe that they have led and are leading the
Some people imagine that because I condemn the policy of certain
National cause to disaster .
querors is not much . Sinn Fein is , in my judgment , the true principle ,
matters at issue are of vital consequence , and touch my deepest
views strongly , it is not for the purpose of offence , but because the
wolf : and it is at this point precisely that I differ from the present
wrong . I entertain no envity to my living person , but if I am to
again to thank you , and pray that God may bless you , and all belong .
speak at all on public questions . I must speak the truth , and if I put my
politicians I am their enemy , even their bitter enemy . In this they are
and alliance with English politicians is the alliance of the Lamb and the
ing to you , and have our city in His keeping until we shall take our
elings . And now Mr. Mayor , and Alderman , and Councillors , I bay

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Rebellion Leaders & Bishop O'Dwyer
For Battle or Presentation Princess from any Photograph ,
memorial cards .
Patriotic Christmas , New Year ,
Beautifully framed Portraits , all sizes and prices , of the
enlargements .
executed quickly .
Rubber Stamps and Letters for lettering and printing Music .
Any views painted on a SOD " Mr. M.R.F a bit of the old
Gallagher ,
Designed and printed .
black and white
Send Photo , I will # and insert on cards .
Patrick's Dav & Easter Cards
12 Nicholas Street ,
oil paintings , water colours ,