KILDARE COUNTY COUNCIL. ANTI-CONSCRIPTION RESOLUTION OF PROTEST

The Kildare Observer
4 May 1918

KILDARE COUNTY COUNCIL
ANTI-CONSCRIPTION
RESOLUTION OF PROTEST

A special meeting of the Kildare County Council was held on Monday in the Council Chamber, Courthouse, Naas, Mr. M. J. Minch, J.P. (Chairman), presiding. There were also present:-Messrs. Geo. Wolfe, J.P.; M. Fitzsimons; C. Bergin, J.P.; Jos. O’Connor, James J. Lube, J.B. Malone, James Coffey; J.P.; Joseph Connelly, John Healy, J.P.; John Kelly, P. Coffey, James O’Connor.
Mr. W.E. Coffey, Secretary, was in attendance.
Lord Frederick Fitzgerald wrote regretting inability to attend.

DEATH OF MR. EDWARD HAYDEN
Before the business of the meeting commenced, the Chairman said since he came into the room he noticed a vacant chair, and he felt sure they all felt the loss of their valued and esteemed colleague who usually occupied that chair. Mr. Edward Hayden had been a constant attendant at all their meetings, and in conjunction with every committee of the Council. It often struck him as marvellous how Mr. Hayden in his old age was so active, and was able to devote so much time and attention to the affairs of the county. Speaking for himself, he (Chairman) always looked up to Mr. Hayden for sound advice on all difficult questions. They offered to Mr. Hayden’s family their sincere sympathy in their great bereavement. Mr. Hayden’s death was an irreparable loss to that Council, and it would be very hard for South Kildare to fill the vacancy. He wished to propose the following resolution:-“That we, the members of the Kildare Co. Council, hereby record our sense of the loss which this Council and the county have sustained by the lamented death of our esteemed and respected colleague, the late Mr. Edward Hayden, J.P., who always took a deep interest in the welfare of his native county. We deeply deplore his untimely death, and we hereby convey an expression of our sincere sympathy to the members of his bereaved family in their great grief.”
Mr. Wolfe seconded the resolution. He endorsed everything that the Chairman had said. Mr. Hayden’s whole heart was bound up in the welfare of the county, and from the very beginning of the Local Government Act, now almost 19 years ago, he had given his time, attention, and great ability to the interests of the county. There was no more regular attendant at the County Council meeting. He was shocked beyond measure when he read of Mr. Hayden’s death, as only a few days before he had been speaking to him. Never had a man left a better record or better earned the thanks of the people of the county than Mr. Hayden. Mr. Phelan associated himself with the resolution, as did also Mr. Coffey, Secretary, on behalf of the staff. The resolution was carried, the members standing in their places.

THE LATE MRS. PHELAN
Mr. Healy moved a resolution of sympathy to their colleague, Mr. Phelan, on the recent sad bereavement he had sustained by the death of his mother. This was the second bereavement which Mr. Phelan had sustained within a short period. The Chairman in seconding the motion said that he was sure all their sympathies went out to Mr. Phelan. The motion was passed in silence, and Mr. Phelan briefly thanked the Council.

CONSCRIPTION
The Chairman said the first item on the agenda was to consider the proposed application of conscription to this country. He was sure they would agree with him that it took its rightful place first on the agenda, for that question was now engaging the whole attention of all the people of this country. Personally he would like to say that from the beginning of the war his sentiments were altogether on the side of the Allies, because he believed it to be a just and righteous war. His sons had joined the colours with his full approval because he considered it right that they should give their services in defence of small nations. He believed it was Ireland’s as well as England’s war-a war to crush militarism. He was from the beginning in favour of the policy of their late leader, Mr. Redmond, and he was there that day holding the same views. He was always opposed to coercion of this country in any shape or form. He was opposed to this latest Act of coercion that was now proposed. They were determined to support any action decided upon by the leaders (hear, hear). He had advocated voluntary military service, and he had supported all war charities such as the Red Cross, but he was determined to oppose conscription in any shape or form. He hoped even now the English Government would not be so foolish as to try and enforce it. If they did the consequences would be serious. Mr. Lloyd George, who was an opportunist, had paid more attention to political manoeuvres than to the winning of the war. He moved the following resolution:- “That we, the members of the Kildare Co. Council, regard the application of the Compulsory Military Service Act to Ireland without the assent of the Irish people as oppressive, and an outrage on the national rights of the country. We, therefore, record our emphatic protest against its enactment, and resolve to oppose it by every means in our power.”
Mr. Phelan seconded the resolution, and in doing so said he thought conscription would yet prove to be a blessing in disguise, for there never was so much unity in the country. No matter how many camps were in it before, there was only one now (hear, hear). It was a disgrace that England should attempt to take away the remnant of their race to try and remedy the blunders of the English Government and its generals.
Mr. Joseph O’Connor said that he wished to join in the views expressed by the Chairman in protesting in the most emphatic manner against conscription being applied in Ireland. Of all the cruel, unjust and harsh laws passed by the Government of England during the long years our country was subject to English rule, this latest panic piece of tyrrany was the worst. To attempt to conscript this country against the will of the people was a gross injustice to our rights as a free people claiming the rights of small nationalities, one of the many avowed objects for the attainment of which, it was stated by the British Government, it was their object in declaring war on Germany (hear, hear). The feeling of the people, and as one who travelled a lot around the country, he was in a position to know their feelings, was one of unity and of determination to oppose in every possible way this mad Act. It was nothing short of madness on the part of the people supposed to govern us. In the commencement of the war all his sympathies were in favour of the Allies. He had changed his mind since that. The hollow and hypocritical way in which they had treated the Irish representatives and their leaders’ offer of Irish aid was a gross scandal. Their representatives were insulted. When the late lamented Irish leader offered the services of the Volunteers the offer was sneered at, and they were practically told they could win the war without them. Now, when things had changed, in a fit of panic they had lost their heads. Sir. Edward Carson had set an example to them of preaching rebellion. The people could now claim a distinguished example in rebelling against this Act. Sir Edward Carson was promoted to the highest position whilst for the same thing other men were put with their backs to a wall and shot. It was a cruel thing to see, that there was one law for one section of the people and another law for the rest. Mr. John Healy, in supporting the resolution, said that he also was in favour of the war. They saw that the finest of the young men of the country had gone to fight under the impression that they were fighting for the rights of small nations. The Government knew that the handful of men they would get in Ireland would make no difference in the war. If this Conscription Act were permitted or be enforced it would be the ruin of the country (hear, hear). The young men should be guided by the advice of the leaders. There should be even discipline, so that no man or woman would act on their own (hear, hear). By that means they would defeat this conscription. He hoped they would meet later in happier times to congratulate themselves upon defeating it.
Mr. Wolfe also supported the resolution, and said that he had spoken on the subject several times in Dublin and on public platforms. He had taken a large part in promoting voluntary recruiting in the county. If they looked back upon the communication between the two countries they would find that there had been periodical violent upheavals caused by movements on the part of the Government on the same principle that a nurse made a naughty child take medicine by holding its nose (laughter). That was the principle that England acted on towards this country. They were now faced with one of these crises. They were not slaves, and did not intend to be treated as such (hear, hear). The Government were well aware of what the consequences of this attempt would be. The Government technically had the power to do the same to Australia and Canada, but they knew that they could not do so. Australia would not be forced. Neither would we be forced to do more than what we considered right (hear, hear). He was not opposed to conscription on principle. He thought there were circumstances under which conscription would be right in a country. Any free country possessed that right to call upon its people to resist foreign invasion (hear, hear). But this other matter was difficult. We were under-populated; we were not free. We had given largely and more freely of our manhood in proportion to other countries in defence of which we considered right- 120,000 men, he would say, had answered the call. They went to war for the upholding of international purity and the defence of small nations. But when examining into them he though that charity began at home, and England hadn’t acted up to those principles in Ireland. When the war broke out Mr. Redmond offered the Volunteers to defend the shores of Ireland, and expressed the opinion that many of them would volunteer for foreign service. That offer was accepted, and Lord Kitchener said that when the first 100,000 men were trained they would take the Volunteers in hand. That was not done. The offer was made again later, but no notice was taken of it. That showed a want of confidence in the people. If one treated a servant as a thief or a nation as a pack of rogues, what could one expect from them? The Government had simply got what it deserved. A certain number had to be kept in a country if the people were not to starve. Here in the Naas district no more men could be spared. He worked himself at the land, and he knew that if more men went the work could not be done. If they had accepted Mr. Redmond’s offer they would have had men to defend this country and release other troops. He had no pity for the Government, for they had brought the present position of affairs on themselves. Even now if they chose to give a proper free constitution to this country they would get the men they required, and if they did they would be getting more than they deserved (hear, hear).
Mr. Fay, on behalf of the people of his district, supported the resolution. He agreed with the Chairman that Lloyd George was a political o

pportunist. He was always playing his own game. He had taken the final step on this conscription. He thanked God Irishmen were united against it. Lloyd George was now up against a stone wall. There was not a country in the war conscripted against its will. If the people were loyal to the leaders and to each other no power could defeat them.
Mr. Kelly also supported the resolution. We were all anxious to win the war, and Ireland in proportion to its dwindling population had contributed more than its share as compared with England, Scotland and Wales. When the farmers were appealed to to increase their tillage they had responded. The reward for that was that the remaining men were to be made fodder for the guns, whilst the crops would be left to rot. The demon of famine would stalk the land if this insane measure were tried to be enforced; every Irish industry would be destroyed, and the end would be the extermination of the Irish race-Protestant and Catholic.
Mr. Jas. O’Connor said they need not be afraid of the young men of Ireland. They were in good hands, thoroughly disciplined and loyal to their leaders. He was speaking as an Irish Volunteer, and, thank God, they had the Irish Volunteers. They could be got good of and would not act as a mob. The resolution was passed unanimously.

CONSCRIPTION MEETING IN NAAS

Under the auspices of the North Kildare Sinn Fein Executive, an anti-conscription meeting was held in the Square, Naas, on Sunday last. The meeting, held in the evening after a football match, was largely attended by young men and women from the rural districts. The Newbridge  band headed a contingent of Volunteers and Fianna boy Scouts, who marched to the meeting place.
On the motion of Mr. Connell, R.D.C., seconded by Mr. Stapleton Rev. M. O’Brien, C.C., Kill, was moved to the chair amidst loud applause. The Rev. Chairman said he had first to apologise to a section of the meeting-the people there since 4 o’clock. The reason for the delay was that the football matches were in progress and the people of Kildare, true to their ancient habits, he supposed seemed to think more of football and horse racing than of the terrible crisis through which the country was passing. If they were so fond of sport he could tell them that they would have another kind of sport after a while which would not be so much to their taste (hear, hear). He didn’t believe in talk at the present time. He was not an orator, and did not believe in oratory. Actions spoke louder than words and the present time called for careful, serious and considered action (applause). He would not inflict a speech upon the, but there were a few truths-brutal and naked truths-which ought to be brought before them. A lot of people thought conscription would not be enforced. Such people were living in a fool’s paradise. He believed it would be enforced, or, rather, they would attempt to enforce it. One truth had come to light from this affair. Some of them had known it, but some soft people and some of the West Briton’s amongst them did not known it, and that thing was that John Bull was always the same (hear, hear)…. From a national as well as a conscientious point of view they must be prepared to oppose conscription (“We are,” and applause). Another thing was the inspired reports circulated by their enemies, one of which was that this was to be a very mild form of conscription, only intended for shop boys that sold bits of ribbon (laughter), and there were some selfish men that might be dreaming of exemptions would pay attention to those reports. Let them do not believe them. If the harrow of conscription was once put on the country the people relying on exemptions would find themselves in the wrong box (hear, hear). They were not their to formulate plans for resistance. They were there to renew the pledge they took last Sunday to oppose conscription by every means in their power (hear, hear). Let them ask God to strengthen, help and comfort them in the most terrible ordeal their beloved country had ever faced (loud applause).
Mr. Stapleton proposed the following resolution:-“That we deny the right of the English or any other foreign Government or Parliament to impose a blood tax on the Irish people, and that we renew our sacred pledge to resist conscription by every means in our power.” (Applause).
In proposing the resolution, Mr. Stapleton said that while John Bull professed to be fighting for the freedom of small nations like Poland and Serbia, he tried to extract a blood tax from Ireland, one of the oldest of the small nations. It was their duty to see that that tax was not imposed (applause).
Mr. N. Byrne, secretary Naas Branch Irish Transport Worker’s Union, who seconded, said that labour was now all powerful. Labour had said that it would not have conscription, and they would not have it at any cost. Some people said that they did not count. Well, they counted last Tuesday (applause).
Mr. J. Fitzgerald, Chairman Co. Kildare G.A.A., said that a fortnight ago he had stated at Newbridge that this was not a time for speeches, but for action. He had not altered that opinion since, and he would not delay them with a speech. England would not get many recruits from that meeting. We deny the right of England to say if we should be conscripted (applause). They defied the English Government (applause). They told them to go on. They would not fight-not for them, anyway (applause).
Mr. Arthur O’Connor said they were faced with a crisis in their national life. We were up against the question whether we were going to survive or not-whether we were going to live our daily lives or going to be pitched into eternity (hear, hear). Some people thought conscription was dead. He would tell them that England was not in a position to be frightened by any pledge. England was like a mad bull in a china shop. The more he heard the china rattling the more he tossed his head. John Bull thought he could break us like china. This was a time for calm, cool deliberation. The English Government thought the people of Ireland would be divided, and that they could conscript them, party by party. They had got a h— of a drop (applause). Irishmen recognised that his opponent was an Irishmen, and that his duty lay by him, and not by anyone else (applause). In 1642 when a similar danger threatened the country was united under the Confederation of Kilkenny, and everywhere they met the English they were defeating them and winning all along the line, but unfortunately they made terms with England instead of wiping her out (applause). This conscription was sweet, for it had aroused and united the people as nothing else could have done. During the past few years he had often spoken to people, and when he mentioned the actions of England in the past to this country they would say: “Oh, that was long ago; but England has changed.” Had England changed? (“No.”) They were worse. Cromwell was a gentleman compared to Lloyd George. If the latter thought he was going to get an Irishmen, well, he was welcome to think so. Continuing, Mr. O’Connor read pamphlets containing the war aims of the Allies, and with regard to treaties asked: “What about the Treaty of Limerick? What about the rights of small nations? What about Ireland?” Why were not these aims not put in force in Ireland? We did not want more than that-the professed aims of the Allies, but applied to Ireland (applause). Concluding, Mr. O’Connor advised all those who were not members of an organisation to join one. The man that was not a member of some organisation could do good for himself or anyone else. The man that thought he could stand alone was a fool. If they didn’t wish to join Sinn Fein or the Volunteers, then join the Hibernians or the U.I.L. or the Labour Union, but get into some organisation. Then, when the time came they could be told what to do. He came there to advise cohesion. Referring to some men who had worked on last Tuesday in his district and accepted two day’s pay for it, Mr. O’Connor said that drastic action should be taken against them. Such men should be either whipped back or thrown into the enemy’s camp (applause). They should sink their differences. Take their orders when they got them. Keep in their minds that they were not going to be conscripted (applause). If they stood by their leaders Lloyd George would be sorry he ever touched the Irish question.
The resolution was passed with acclamation, and the Rev. Chairman having advised that there should be no selfishness, but that they stand together, and go home with the spirit of determination in their hearts, the meeting concluded with applause, and the vast crowd quietly dispersed.

A report from the Kildare Observer 4 May 1918 on an anti-conscription resolution of protest from Kildare Co. Council