'The Irish Tragedy: Scotland's Disgrace' by John MacLean, published by the John MacLean Society. ([illegible])
As one of MacLean's sole surviving associates, Harry McShane says in the introduction, "It seldom happens that a pamphlet dealing with [illegible] political events merits re-publication fifty years later on the grounds of its appropriateness. This is that kind of pamphlet."
Published originally in 1920, and distributed in 20,000 copies all over Scotland by MacLean's "Tramp Trust Unlimited" (a small group of roving socialist agitators), the pamphlet sets out to reveal the facts about the brutal suppression of the Irish struggle at that time. Fired with anger at the use of Scottish troops to crush the Republicans, MacLean heaps fact on fact, tearing away the hypocritical excuses of the government of the day.
But he goes further than mere accusation, he attempts briefly and simply to explain to Scottish workers the economic reasons for the attempt to retain a hold on Ireland. This he explains in terms of rivalry between the USA and British imperialism: as Harry McShane explains, a common theme among Marxists of his day, and one which Trotsky emphasised.
But one of the most interesting aspects is MacLean's understanding of the nature and significance of the Irish struggle, which he explains thus: "Should Ireland get a Republic, the class war will then burst out and be fought out till Irish Labour wins and establishes Communism finally again in the 'Ould Counthrie'." "Ireland's victory is obviously the undoubted prelude to Labour's triumph throughout the World, when robbery shall give place to justice in the mighty Communist Commonwealth."
In other words, MacLean, like Connolly, saw the victory of the Irish national struggle as the prelude to a rapid victory of the socialist revolution. If this concept is not a developed expression of the permanent revolution, it is nevertheless very far from the Stalinist "two stage" theory, and offers further proof that this reactionary concept was artificially grafted onto the Irish struggle in later years.
Robin Mor