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THE CONTINENTAL TIMES
Berlin, Germany
11 August 1915
(page 2)
THE IRISH REPUBLIC.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND WAR
IN NEW YORK.
Ten Irish patriots, led by the
well-known poet, Aleister Crowley, read a Declaration of the
Independence of Ireland from England at the base of the
Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour at dawn on 4th
July—the historic date of our own freedom’s birth. A long
and eloquent address was made, and then the Secret
Revolutionary Committee concluded the ceremony with this
Declaration:—
1. That we put our trust and
confidence in the Judge of the whole world, appealing to Him
to witness the righteousness of our intent.
2. That, declaring England
the enemy of civilization, justice, equity, and freedom, and
therefore of the human race, we do hereby lawfully establish
the Republic of the Men and Women of the Irish People, free
and independent by right human and divine, having full power
to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliance, establish
commerce, and to do all other things which independent
States may of right do.
3. That we do hereby dissolve
all political connection between that republic and the
usurper, absolving of their allegiance to England (a) all
free people of good will that are of Irish blood, (b) all
free people of good will born in Ireland, (c) all free
people of good will who may hereafter desire to partake of
the benefits of the Irish Republic, and effectually acquire
these rights by the forms provided.
4. That we do hereby declare
war upon England until such time as our demands being
granted, our rights recognized, and our power firmly
established in our own country from which we are now exiled,
we may see fit to restore to her the blessings of peace, and
to extend to her the privileges of friendship.
And for the support of this
declaration, with a firm and hearty reliance upon the
protection of God, we mutually pledge to each other our
lives, our fortunes, and out sacred honour.
Long live the Irish Republic!
The official copy of this
Declaration of Independence is “signed by order, and on
behalf of the Committee” by “Aleister Crowley, 418,” and
“attested” by “L. Bathurst [Leila Waddell],
77.”
On the way back, the Irish
patriots and the Green Banner were cheered by the sailors
upon the interned German liners.
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