James Connolly

 

College Green:
A Labour Candidate

(1915)


From Workers’ Republic, 12 June 1915.
Transcribed by The James Connolly Society in 1997.


At a special meeting, held on Monday, June 7, 1915, the Dublin Trades and Labour Council unanimously decided to contest the above Division against John Dillon Nugent. It could not be otherwise. The selection of Nugent was a studied insult to the Dublin working class, and that class would not be worth its salt did it not answer this insult by striking back. Once and for all it must be understood that he who strikes at labour in Ireland will get blow for blow in return. It may be necessary to wait patiently for years; but when the opportunity comes the blow should be swift and decisive and relentless.

When labour strikes against Nugent in this contest it will have its arm nerved by remembrance of the poisonous lies and slanders poured upon it during the great lock-out. It will remember the thousands of homes into which Nugent brought hunger and misery by the active assistance and encouragement given to the employers. It will think of all the poor victimised girls and women whose places were taken by the scabs procured by Nugent’s agents. It will reflect that when it was sought to reduce the working class of Dublin to the vilest slavery, to break up their unity and disorganise their forces, it was John Dillon Nugent that stood forth as their bitterest foe and the most valued supporter of those who sought to enslave them.

All who stand for the best and holiest interests of Ireland at this crisis in her history, whatever be their attitude towards the British Parliament, should now join with labour in its rally against this man whose malign influence wherever it has spread has tended to sow the seeds of discord and hatred amongst Irishmen, and to prevent national unity for truly national purposes. He has set Irishman against Irishman, brothers against brothers, has broken up family ties and the ties of community, and been the ready agent of every evil thing that sought to darken the national soul and sully the character of the race. He is the incarnation and flowering of the results upon Irish character of seven centuries of slavery.

Away with him! Send him back to his intrigues, to his slandering, to the associates of his secret plots to poison Irish life and hound down Irish patriots, away with him and vote for Thomas Farren, the candidate of labour, the President of the Dublin Trades and Labour Council, a man known by all for his stainless record of work in your service, and loved by all that know him.

 


Last updated on 14.8.2003