New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-06
An Untimely Convention.

The clownish performance we have late
1v Witnessed under the style of an Irish
race convention has been Cause o. hd.
initiation TO many Irishmen in this coun-
try. who are not unnaturally panied to
see their native land held up to derlslon
and ridicule by an impudent set OF up
starts with no authority whatever to eX-
press the sentiments of Irishmen at home.
They may console themselves with the
reflection that in Ireland the work OF these
foolish medders will he regarded only
with contempt The breach between the
Irish at home and the vulgar agitators
who play the part Of patriots here Is
wider than ever it was before. and IN
Ireland to-day the truculent typc OF Irish
American who has been shouting so brave
Iv about what he would do if he were
here is looked upon with about as much
esteem and respect as is felt in Germany
toward those German-Americans who took
rCfuge i'm this country to escape military
service
The real Irish ought not. However. to be
too hard on these lougdiStencc patriots
or TO condemn them all Unfortunately.
Il T.. impossible for lrishmcu al home to
understand the peculiar situation "ere, and
the best service lrishmen IN this country
can do is TO consider it patiently and IN
terpret it with as much candor and IN
diligence as possible. It Is true that
very large number Of the orators who
have been mounting threadDare sentiments
here are not lrishmen at all and know
rothing about the country they are so
solicitous to set free. II is true that very
many of them are mere simpetons VINO
have been turned to account by such clever
scher1ers as Herr Niereck. whose concern
for Ireland is perhaps as deep and SIN
ccre as their own. Il is true that some
are common impostOrs. But not few arc
cutie earnest in the belief expressed by
the poor old man who took the chair on
Saturday. that Ireland's supreme desire
today is "to see England. the tyrant and
Iorpressor OF Ireland. the evil genius Of
France and every nation blighted by her
alliance, defeated"
In Ireland (if news Of this eXtraordi-
nary convention ever reaches there such
a sentiment will be heard with amazement.
Yet IL is under standable. and 1t must be
remembered that even in Ireland there is
still small faction sufficiently influenced
ty German agents 70 applaud and support
il. And though vast majority Will, OF
course. laugh at it. they will be able upon
due reflection TO account for il. They will
remember that those who speak for them
are. 20 all intents and purposes. OF another
generation. The Irish Of to-day are strong
or. more virile and self-confdent than the
diluted sort we see here. They are no
longer afraid Of England, and find it a
little difficult TO adjust themselves TO the
mean and craven spirit of the lower sort
Of Irish-Americans But if they look back
little they Will have no difficulty in
understanding this spirit. If they con-
sider the thousands of injustices and intol-
cradle expressions that their country suf-
fercd under for centuries they will easily
understand the hatred and dread Of Eng
land that survives even 10 this day among
the descendants Of the Irish in America.
Dcan Swift in one Of his letters remark
IN foreign service a Distinguishing them
above all other nations, "a circumstance