New-York tribune., 1916-07-08
GREAT BRITAIN VS.. EASEMENT
The international Forcbc Dominion Over Unwilling People
The Defendants Right to a Trial by Impartial Judges
Failure to Act.

Influences Of politics. For people as human
beings. of differing races even, fall into har-
mony until political coalition may OF itself
result But this. which should be a natural
growth to be permanent. and therefore sue
cossful, cannot be forced politically. That is
putting the cart before the horse, and ls the
root of every unsuccessful international COM
bination in Europe, as We know II people
may enter union freely, as they wish; II
they can see cooperative advantage in IT,,
they are likely 20 do so either by agreement
or by gradually growing INTO Il. It IS the
secret of the success OF free federations of
states But where one party 70 such pos
sbe union insists upon being the dictator,
ne is more than likely to defeat his own end.
/ believe this is a theory applicable TO the
English and Irish relationship.
There is no liberal minded Englishman
now who would not want the condition of any
country 20 be free. democratic and content,
or if he could see where his government
were at fault would not wish and endesvor,
as he does. TO alter its politics But the fact
remains that large number Of Irish people
desire an independent Ireland. believing II
to promise for them opportunity TO develop
q national life that they consider Englands
usurpation OF authority over them has marred
ard arrested in its growth. The methods
England has followed and not only in the
distant past, give them good basis for this
contention. On the other hand, there are
those who appear 70 find political union 10
their advantage. commercially or officially
though II seems statistically proven in many
directions that Englands measures with re-
ation TO Irish trade and enterprise are not
always TO lreland's advantage. and that
therefore she might likely do better for her
self without Intervention Of another state
Il refer to statistics of present-time trade
and industry; the past was unquestionably
disastrous to Ireland in respect Of her enter
prise and industrial life)
But whatever opinions may be on one side
or the other, the point Of the present matter
is that IN the Easement trial there
has been clear opportunity. indeed fair duty.
to hear the Irish side fairly and throughout,
on its merits, and to regard the consensus
Of opinion Of the Irish people themselves,
both relative 20 the question Of nationalism
involved and relative TO the specific action
O. Easement and the episode Of the rebellion
Instead. the world is so laggard in nterna-
tional ethics that one nation has been able
boldly 10 deal with another through it's citt-
zen by procedure based on claims 10 do.
minion repudiated by the other nation; 10 do
this without any referee by which the merits
Of either claim to dominion or its repudiation
might be impartially judged and although
this was necessary preliminary legally. TO
make just premise for The trial Of the per-
sonal phases Of the case
Yet where shall we look for referee? Just
row what nation dare say il would he referee
or even complainant against another ma
ton in such a case, 70 call a court and ar
raign her? BY her principles America should
b able TO say that. standing for indepen-
dence and fair rights OF all, men and ma
tions. she would champion the cause of in
dependence and to the best of her oppor-
tunity probe the merits OF every case whore
rights to it were questioned But we have
not now the aspect of a nation capable Of
leading world arbitration for higher interna-
tional ethics while We are vacillating as 10
whether or not shall impose our will on
weaker people by force. As a government
great hour is passing for US some seem
already TO have passed in which we might
do such things move the ages but which
We refusing 10 notice, or are even ridi-
culing.
As the liberal minded people Of England
are struggling against the dead traditions
which still cling to governmental procedure
in most Of the Old World countries. so we in
America-hampered by an oficialdom that
long and often bellies us-cannot work homo.
generously as yet to speak the national prin
cipes upon which we are founded Only as
individuals and groups. it seems, We may
conserve an honest Amercanism 10 hand on
70 future perhaps grown strong enough 70
speak II out as national, and with authorize
before the world
ANNE THROOP CRAIG,
New York. July Z. 1916.