A few more interesting points to highlight from the above chapter:
- " 'The James Connolly Literary Society' leads one to believe that you seek to attract Irishmen to the cause for which the martyrs of the Dublin Easter Day Rebellion gave their lives, which is certainly not the cause of socialism."
- Connolly "was given his last chance to proclaim to the world the motive of his activity, neither directly nor indirectly did he refer to Socialism. But rather, Mr. Connolly clearly set forth his burning desire to rehabilitate Ireland as a nation."
- "It was, no doubt, providential that this brave man, who would have laid down his life for the socialism he held to be socialism, sacrificed his life for the independence of his native land. "
Goldstein, a contemporary of Connolly and a man intimately aware of the socialist movement in America during his time there confirms what we have been saying is obvious for all to see;
James Connolly was a socialist, but of his own version of socialism.
- " 'The James Connolly Literary Society' leads one to believe that you seek to attract Irishmen to the cause for which the martyrs of the Dublin Easter Day Rebellion gave their lives, which is certainly not the cause of socialism."
- Connolly "was given his last chance to proclaim to the world the motive of his activity, neither directly nor indirectly did he refer to Socialism. But rather, Mr. Connolly clearly set forth his burning desire to rehabilitate Ireland as a nation."
- "It was, no doubt, providential that this brave man, who would have laid down his life for the socialism he held to be socialism, sacrificed his life for the independence of his native land. "
Goldstein, a contemporary of Connolly and a man intimately aware of the socialist movement in America during his time there confirms what we have been saying is obvious for all to see;
James Connolly was a socialist, but of his own version of socialism.
" Thus while the rich proceed with their schemes for the aggrandisement of their class, the working class are betrayed by their representatives who spend their time in political intrigues for personal profit."
"We do not like to theorise upon the function of force as a midwife to progress – that, as we have ere now pointed out, is a matter to be settled by the enemies of progress – but we cannot afford to remain blind to the signs of the time. If, then, we see a small section of the possessing class prepared to launch two nations into war, to shed oceans of blood and spend millions of treasure, in order to maintain intact a small portion of their privileges, how can we expect the entire propertied class to abstain from using the same weapons, and to submit peacefully when called upon to yield up for ever all their privileges? Let the working class democracy of Ireland note that lesson, and, whilst working peacefully while they may, keep constantly before their minds the truth that the capitalist class is a beast of prey, and cannot be moralised, converted, or conciliated but must be extirpated."
"Have you seen the Socialist papers?"
"No," said she, "why do you ask?"
"Because they will not understand why I am here. They all forget that I am an Irishman."
These are precious words for those of Irish blood in the socialist movement to ponder. They are the last words of a patriot, words of regret that the comrades he worked with for economic betterment could not understand. And why? Because in the mind and heart of Connolly there lived the patriotism of a David, but related to Ireland; in the minds and hearts of real Socialists there abides the treason of Marx and Engels. The contrasting sentiments are here presented in parallel columns for the benefit of Irish Socialists.
Psalm 136
"If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten. Let my tongue cleave to my jaws if I do not remember thee: If I make not Jerusalem the beginning of my joy."
The Communist Manifesto
"The Communists are further reproached with desiring to abolish countries and nationalities-- The working men have no country. We cannot take from them what they have not got."
Right you are, James Connolly, they could not understand that you were an Irishman, for love of country is not in the philosophy of socialism. Ireland was your country, while they who have the whole wide world for their country have no country, they are traitors to every country that flies not the Red Flag of Revolution.
(David Goldstein, Autobiography of a Campaigner For Christ, pg. 191-192)
"No," said she, "why do you ask?"
"Because they will not understand why I am here. They all forget that I am an Irishman."
These are precious words for those of Irish blood in the socialist movement to ponder. They are the last words of a patriot, words of regret that the comrades he worked with for economic betterment could not understand. And why? Because in the mind and heart of Connolly there lived the patriotism of a David, but related to Ireland; in the minds and hearts of real Socialists there abides the treason of Marx and Engels. The contrasting sentiments are here presented in parallel columns for the benefit of Irish Socialists.
Psalm 136
"If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten. Let my tongue cleave to my jaws if I do not remember thee: If I make not Jerusalem the beginning of my joy."
The Communist Manifesto
"The Communists are further reproached with desiring to abolish countries and nationalities-- The working men have no country. We cannot take from them what they have not got."
Right you are, James Connolly, they could not understand that you were an Irishman, for love of country is not in the philosophy of socialism. Ireland was your country, while they who have the whole wide world for their country have no country, they are traitors to every country that flies not the Red Flag of Revolution.
(David Goldstein, Autobiography of a Campaigner For Christ, pg. 191-192)