Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-30
THE SIM rg1N MISTAKE

As John Redmond stated ~ his In
teryiew published IN the journal or
yesterday morning. the Irish revolt Is
the worst thing that could have pos
sibly happened for the cause Of Irish
freedom.
That ireland from the days OF
Cromwell to tho middle Of the last
half century, suffered great oppres-
sion al the hands Of England, IL true
Hut as Redmond points out, condl-
lions have improved steadily for the
last forty years and home rule Is now
IN sight.
The strange thing about II Is that
The revolt was undertaken in the in-
tcrcst OF Germany, a nation that has
ruled It's subject peoples with far
srcater harshness than ireland ever
knew at British hands.
OF course, the revolt will be sup
pressed In the very nature Of things
Il could not succeed. The number
Of reyolutionists Is small, and they
can not have much In the way ~
arms ana ammunition with which 10
fight But II the Irish people were
10 revolt and cxpel the british army,
blockade would be established which
would s'arve all Ireland within four
weeks.
The end ofyii all VIII he simply the
death of ainumhcr Of hundreds OF
ffiiseuided but brave men, and home
rule may be set back for dozen
years, though that In hardly likely to
Z ba one OF the penalties Incident 10
the revolt.
Responsible Irish statesmen reeog-
nlge that. IN the realm of practical
hlnly, ireland can hope for autonomy
only within the british empire. They
reeoRniEe also that for protective
purposes, IL no more, membership
within the empire Is desirable. per-
haps Imperative. Redmond under
stands az much, as do Botha and
smutz for South Africa
A band OF passionate idealists'
however. have started the revolt, be-
rauso, just as Hergog In South Africa,
they desire the whole loaf or none.
Idealists never have aud never will
Wcept the fact that compromise is
the basis " about all political poRs-
mlircs. The sympathies OF a gener-
uns nature might be with the IDEAL
lists, but sober Judgment goes for the
practical statesman.
Ireland never can gain absolute In
dependence. unless Great Hrltain's
enemies strike her down aud cast about
Tor means 10 keep her down. Hut were
ireland TO conspire with such an ene-
my and accept recognition from him,
II il probable she would be begin
ming her own descent, instead Of re-
hatAlpation
In the first place the smaller island
and the larger are economically and
commercially united, and l.nRland's
ruin might ruin ireland again IN
the second place, continental enc
my. bent upon supplanting England
40 ruler OF the seas, would regard oc-
cipnton OF al least part OF Ireland
az essential to his ambitions.
Botha tells south Africa that, II
she - not member OF tho British
empire. she will be the conquest of
military power. Ireland has the
same alternative.
But for Patnelrs indlseretion IRE
land would have had home rule
twenty-eight years ago. Had not the
war broken out, there would have
been a parliament in Dublin today.
Instead ~ working for the benefit
and The freedom aud the national as
pirauons Of the Irish race. the Sim
Feiners are today doing all in then
power. as Redmond has pointed out
10 pui such distrust In the minds Of
the British people as to impel the
latter TO postpone home rule for am
other period of years. IT is probable
however. that Great Britain Will &C.
cord home rule Ia recognition of this
heroic loyalty Of a vast majority OF
the Irish race TO the welfare OF the
empire.