The fathers of the American Revolution were likewise pursued in turn by the venom of Governments.  Could they have been snatched from their homes and haled to London, what fate would have befallen them?  There your noblest patriots might also have perished amidst scenes of shame, and their effigies would now bedeck a British chamber of horrors.  Nor would death itself have shielded their reputations from hatchments of dishonour.  For the greatest of Englishmen reviled even the sacred name of Joan of Arc, the stainless Maid of France, to belittle a fallen foe and spice a ribald stage-play.

It is hardly thirty years since every Irish leader was made the victim of a special Statute of Proscription, and was cited to answer vague charges before London judges.  During 1888 and 1889 a malignant and unprecedented inquisition was maintained to vilify them, backed by all the resources of British power.  No war then raged to breed alarms, yet no weapon that perjury or forgery could fashion was left unemployed to destroy the characters of more than eighty National representatives—­some of whom survive to join in this Address.  That plot came to an end amidst the confusion of their persecutors, but fresh accusations may be daily contrived and buttressed by the chicanery of State.

In every generation the Irish nation is challenged to plead to a new indictment, and to the present summons answer is made before no narrow forum but to the tribunal of the world.  So answering, we commit our cause, as did America, to “the virtuous and humane,” and also more humbly to the providence of God.

Well assured are we that you, Mr. President, whose exhortations have inspired the Small Nations of the world with fortitude to defend to the last their liberties against oppressors, will not be found among those who would condemn Ireland for a determination which is irrevocable to continue steadfastly in the course mapped out for her, no matter what the odds, by an unexampled unity of National judgment and National right.

Given at the Mansion House, Dublin, this 11th day of June, 1918.

LAURENCE O’NEILL, Lord Mayor of Dublin,
Chairman of a Conference of representative
Irishmen whose names stand hereunder. 
JOSEPH DEVLIN,
JOHN DILLON,
MICHAEL JOHNSON,
WILLIAM O’BRIEN (Lab.),
T.M.  HEALY,
WILLIAM O’BRIEN,
THOMAS KELLY, and JOHN MACNEILL: 
  {Acting in the place E. DE
  VALERA and A. GRIFFITH,
  deported 18th of May, 1918,
  to separate prisons in England,
  without trial or accusation—­communication
  with whom has been cut off.}

APPENDIX B

UNIONIST LETTER TO PRESIDENT WILSON

CITY HALL, BELFAST,
August 1st, 1918.

To THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

SIR,

A manifesto signed by the leader of the Irish Nationalist Party and certain other Irish gentlemen has been widely circulated in the United Kingdom, in the form of a letter purporting to have been addressed to your Excellency.[110]