James Connolly

James Connolly was an Irish socialist politician and freedom fighter. He became involved in the socialist movement while in Scotland, and when back in Ireland founded the Irish Labour Party. He was Commandant of the Dublin Brigade during the Easter Rising, and after being captured by the British, was shot by firing squad.

Sourced

• If you remove the English army tomorrow and hoist the green flag over Dublin Castle, unless you set about the organization of the Socialist Republic your efforts would be in vain. England would still rule you. She would rule you through her capitalists, through her landlords, through her financiers, through the whole array of commercial and individualist institutions she has planted in this country and watered with the tears of our mothers and the blood of our martyrs.
  • Shan Van Vocht (socialist newspaper) January, 1897. Reprinted in P. Beresford Ellis (ed.), "James Connolly - Selected Writings", p. 124.

• Yes, friends, governments in capitalist society are but committees of the rich to manage the affairs of the capitalist class.
  • Irish Worker (socialist newspaper) 29 August, 1915. Reprinted in P. Beresford Ellis (ed.), "James Connolly - Selected Writings", p. 248.

• 'Those who live by the sword shall perish by the sword' say the Scriptures, and it may well be that in the progress of events the working class of Ireland may be called upon to face the stern necessity of taking the sword (or rifle) against the [English capitalist] class..."
  • The Worker (socialist newspaper) 30 January, 1915. Reprinted in P. Beresford Ellis (ed.), "James Connolly - Selected Writings", p. 210.

• Under a socialist system every nation will be the supreme arbiter of its own destinies, national and international; will be forced into no alliance against its will, but will have its independence guaranteed and its freedom respected by the enlightened self-interest of the socialist democracy of the world.
  • Samuel Levenson, "James Connolly" (Martin, Brian and O'Keeffe, London, 1973), p. 56.

• Such a scheme .. the betrayal of the national democracy of Industrial Ulster, would mean a carnival of reaction both North and South, would set back the wheels of progress, would destroy the oncoming unity of the Irish labour movement and paralyse all advanced movements while it lasted.
  • P. Beresford Ellis (ed.), "James Connolly - Selected Writings", p. 275.
  • Referring to partition of Ireland.

• The cause of labour is the cause of Ireland, the cause of Ireland is the cause of labour.
  • Workers' Republic (socialist newspaper) 8 April, 1916. Reprinted in P. Beresford Ellis (ed.), "James Connolly - Selected Writings", p. 145.